Soweto Uprising
"LET THERE BE A STOP TO THE TYRANT’S MIGHT!"
Exclaimed BLACK youth against Robben Island—
Calmly crowding the tough and tattered streets
Fermenting, though, with ferocity of placards—
Exhibiting their utmost rejection of the Afrikaans:
The racists’ communicative means tilted towards
The subjugation of Bantu youth: elites and communists.
"The shackles on our fathers’ and guardians' necks
Must loosen and pave a way for perfect peace;
THINE infuriating constitution in totality we detest!"
With words wildly etched…feebly painted on placards,
They marched on for freedom and stainless steel liberty."
Multitudinous oppressed faces of SOWETO gathered;
Co-ordinated and collected, aghast with songs of solidarity.
Alas! Midway, were they cruelly struck,
Badly beaten by the crude militia’s oppression:
Schoolchildren were squeezed, bruised and brutalized,
Aided by rattling, rumbling guns and hippo vehicles.
In an exchange of schoolbags, sticks and bricks
At the expense of their civil, citizenship rights,
The massively aggrieved youth were butchered!
In Orlando West, were they mercilessly marched upon—
Along Moema street, so close to Kumalo—
Farewell to the radical souls of the unforgotten:
Unfortunate Hastings Ndlovu +
Ever famous Hector Pieterson +
And Black Consciousness leader… the greatest Steve Biko +.
IMMORTAL MATYRS TO THE TYRANT’S MIGHT.
AdeRemi AdeGbite
