This morning in Fitzroy we launched a single. Africa (Waving At You) by Jonny Fitch. It's a co write between myself and the very talented Jonny and is now available on Bandcamp!
I wrote the lyric on the 12 hour bus journey from Arua to Kampala on our first trip to Uganda in 2015. The waving was my way in, as on that journey every mile or two Ugandan children were waving at us, waving at them.
More serious is my prayer. It is basically that hope that, as Uganda and Africa develops, it doesn't get the bad habits of our wealth. Unaccountable wealth is over rated. Africans have riches in many more important things that I hope don't get squeezed out with decadence and greed.
The last lines might not be the best I have ever written but, when I shared them with my brothers and sisters in Onialeku Primary School at its opening in August 2015, they became my favourite!
Jonny has turned it into the catchiest of songs and added the "My name is not Muzungu" line. He has added that African sound of exuberance and the children you hear are the children of Onialeku Primary School in Arua, West Nile, Uganda.
All proceeds from the sale of the song go towards a new building for the Nursery School in Onialeku. Feel free to donate more than the pound you are asked for!
buy the Africa (Waving At You) at jonnyfitch.bandcamp.com
Africa, I am waving at you
And you always wave back and smile
Roads teeming with fascination
Red dust mile after red dust mile.
Africa, I am staring at you
All the wildlife through the trees
Elephants under the mangos
The smell of your welcoming breeze.
Africa, I am singing with you
Your joyful songs of being free
Ubuntu, what a great refrain
Without you, I can’t be me.
Africa, I am praying for you
Water and education and health
That you don’t get all our poverty
With justice, peace and wealth.
My name is not muzungu
We may have a different skin
But all of our blood is red
The same grace colour
That Jesus bled.
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