Through regions where savannas extend
And mountains rise and rivers wend,
A spirit stirred, a people yearned,
For freedom’s flame to brightly burn.
Amidst the rugged veldt’s embrace,
Echoes of resistance grew apace;
Voices raised in unity’s call,
As dreams of liberation stood tall.
From Sharpeville to Soweto’s streets,
Where courage toppled colonial seats,
The drumbeat of a defiant throng
Challenged injustice with righteous song.
In the shadow of apartheid’s reign,
Lessons of struggle were not in vain;
For in the hearts of women and men,
Seeds of sovereignty were born again.
With Madiba’s unwavering guidance
And countless souls’ steadfast stance,
A nation’s soul, once bound, arose,
To claim its place, to allay its woes.
Through trials fierce, through pain untold,
South Africa’s new chapter does unfold,
A kaleidoscopic quilt of hope and pride,
Where franchise and prospects now reside.
Independence, hard-won and dear,
Sounds today, a clarion loud and clear,
For every child, for every soul,
On South Africa’s evolving scroll.
So let us cherish, let us heed,
That nation’s history lesson as our lead,
And strive for justice, strive for peace,
To ensure that all find deserved release.
© 1995, Kenneth Koziol. All rights reserved.
