I go to my little black girl My little Moorish girl with ebony skin The star that shines in the shade of the tomonon * The unique beauty of the Moorish region I go to Aiché, the Moorish girl Oh, thank you God! To have put her on my path That all envious pass Because I do not want to lose her like I lost the great cailcedras* on the banks of the river Kayidin I am afraid you will disappear from my sight Where are you then my little ebony girl? Are you dancing on the festival square? Namania, despite your aquiline nose, your limpid eyes Your slenderness, your long neck Your long arms, your clear skin You will never equal the little black ebony girl Mama Djombo! guardian of young initiates Come to my aid... she is so beautiful. (* types of trees found in Kayes, Mali)

The sons of Africa wanted to walk... An adventure that took them far away From the frontiers of the continent An adventure that taught them How things work elsewhere. Before, we welcomed the whole world with our Innate sense of hospitality, in dignity and nobility. We walked but when we wanted to enter their door, Those in Ceuta told us: "We don't have your innate sense of hospitality" The sons of Africa returned home, saying: Better an ugly woman than an empty room Because they'd heard that invaluable help Had been offered to them there But they've had enough of empty promises Poverty will be Africa's destiny, Corruption will be Africa's destiny Governments will always get stuck in the sand Africa is destined for war, for genocide Until the United Nations In their development programmes, Decide to help Africa to: Reduce its poverty, Reduce its AIDS pandemic Reduce the death of its children Reduce what Mother Africa owes to others Broken promises, of equity, solidarity. The illusion is false, even if the dream is allowed Africa will make its own way, after a fashion, because My Negro pride will always be called Mambo And we are all in the same boat Help! Enough helped Africa Africa will make its own way, in its own way!