Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela of Africa,

You are the hero of Africa,

Not an icon of South Africa.

The legendary struggler of Africa,

The gifted father of Africa,

And the charismatic leader of Africa.

I salute you from a far distance,

I extol you for your distinct stance,

And for your inborn suave conscience.

I felicitate you on your fighting colonisation,

I congratulate you on your goal of liberation,

And your building of this giant African nation.

I am a student of your excellent school,

I am influenced by your noted example of a rule,

And on the way to sit on that humanistic stool.

Nelson, the acclaimed historian of Africa,

Mandela, the outspoken academician of Africa,

Rolihlahla, the globally celebrated politician of Africa.

The African school of literature

That reminds me my rich African culture,

Which I forgot because of other exposure.

Perusing your "Long Walk to Freedom"

Makes my mind sometimes dim and doom,

But your liberation gives me hope and room.

My author,

My warrior,

My teacher.

I salute you from a far distance

I extol you for your distinct stance

And for your inborn suave conscience.

Please, listen to me and stand still,

Tell your South African people not kill,

My Somali fellows working there for a bill.

Mohamed Abdikaadir Daud (Stanza)

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