They danced on their chains
Laughed at the merchant’s gains
Like birds of the sky
Did not believe in the lie
That shackles are cages
To men as for birds
Measure steps and limit space.
Across the desert they walked
Their way to an unknown world
Bemused the master’s son
With wits of humorous souls
That could never be caged
And battle songs from Sudan
Which spoke of days ahead
Rains and shines…they sang
Shall pass as testaments to times
When the slavery yoke will crumble
And a new age of freedom begins.
Mayen Ayarbior, Ifo (Kenya), 1996