JOSEPH KAIFALA CONSULTING (SL) LTD

Lion Mountains

By Joseph Kaifala

In the Lion Mountains I was conceived
In her absence I have redefined myself
I was compelled to leave you Romarong
But I am strengthened by your blood
The blood of free blacks mixed with natives
On the western side of a continent
A home for Africa’s abandoned children

How I long to coil in your black belly again
And smell the aroma of foufou and tola
Cooked with hog-foot and canya pepe
And the tang of Mama Jeneba’s pemahun
Dispersed by the smell of kenda and dry-fish
To fold my index finger and lick the masangé
That made me a strong and healthy boy 

Land that we love our Sierra Leone
Where lunch was never salad or sandwich
But fine Bo gari and a slice of kanya à la carte
Where dinner was served at the bottom of a pot
As numerous hands competed to feed each owner
And the children were left to scrape the krawo
Knowing hands and ages do not play fair

Land of my humble birth where I belong
I weep for you in the silence of my night
Knowing your children still struggle for life
As you attempt to arise from the ruins of war
Slowly and painfully your head penetrates the rubble
Hope and your children pulling you up
To manifest your zeal that never tires