THIS IS MOM --- MY WONDERFUL SON SURPRISED ME ON MY BIRTHDAY WITH A LIVE CONCERT FROM MOZAMBIQUE! IF YOU'VE BEEN READING THIS JOURNAL, YOU KNOW THAT HE'S PART OF A COMMUNITY CHORAL GROUP, AND HE HAD ARRANGED FOR THEM TO DO A FEW SONGS FOR ME AS PART OF A REGULAR REHEARSAL. WHAT A THRILL! BEAUTIFUL VOICES, BUT IN PORTUGUESE AND CHANGANA. I JUST RECEIVED A FAIRLY LIBERAL TRANSLATION OF ONE OF THE SONGS, AND THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU ALL (ALTHOUGH I THINK I'D RATHER NOT HAVE KNOWN HOW IT TRANSLATED...) ALICE:
THE LAND TOO LARGE
This great land makes them suffer greatly
We help them, the poor people who are sick in our family
Most of all, Africa
Where it's worst, Africa
Making them suffer
We are leaving this lie behind
I am the majority of this fight against cruelty.
They suffer the most
They live life without direction
In this place where things are thrown away
It was the children who wanted less
Slowly it is the children who are healthier
And perhaps it will be made right in all of them
Africa is too large.
Help!
...Like the spirit
Bless Africa.
