In remembrance of Oury
The cell is a hard place to burn
To burn a young man alive
to burn a young life alive
to burn hopes and dreams alive
to break our motherly sisterly brotherly heart
The cell is a hard place
to torn a security system apart
to push humanity apart
to torn iron bars
to crush our African flesh
The cell is supposed to be an egg
To protect and allow to restore and grow
Not a playing ground for fallen angels
Not a grey nasty silent killing field
Not a death row
Na e bi
Na e bi nje boli mba e
But many of those who rule
And many of those who wear
green and grey fluorescent colours
Do not seem to know
Or how could one explain why
oury Diallo, marieme, Kalimou
sisters and brothers so many so plenty
Died in the hands of their friends and
helpers
Na e bi
Na e bi nje boli mba e
Nde Sango Loba momene
Nde a bi mambo mese
Na e bi
I do not know
I do not know
What has happened to me
only god knows it all
But I do know that once
missisipi was burning
and the flame of courage
are still to be seen today
But we do know that once
mississipi was burning
And the torrent of salvation
Stoke the ocean of tears
But we do know that once
mississipi was burning
When Justice came to light
The daydream of mothers
The nightmare of murders
Tomorrow we tell you say
mind our eyes
mind our souls
mind your steps
The flame that your lighter lit
Will burn
your
hatred
consume
oppression
and chains
to finally revive
the everlasting bound of our community
O brother if we fail
Stand up, stirr it up and trouble us
o brother in your rest
Sow the seeds of peace
may your mother and your family be blessed
Your son be strong
Only god knows it all
only god may reveal it all
only if you and me together be bold
Amen
Marianne Balle Moudoumbou