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Dr Rehab Moubarak
By Munyal Markus Manunyi
Email: [email protected]
The International African Writers Association – IAWA, a network of African Writers home and abroad, is on the road to set a landmark that will record yet another remarkable history in Africa. Recently, the organisation has launched its anthem titled: The tree IAWA, under the theme: Rewriting the African narratives. The event began to unfold when the convener, Mr Tarqui Jalloh Mohamed (Sierra Leone) introduced the guests, shortly followed by the IAWA-Global President’s welcoming address – Munyal Markus Manunyi (Nigeria).
The occasion was graced by Dr Rehab Moubarak (Egypt), a lecturer of English Literature at the International Institute for Languages and Translation, New Cairo, Egypt, as she spoke on the topic: Opening up Africa to Africans – the opportunities endowed in Africa, that Africans were not noticing, speaking from IAWA anthem’s perspective, highlighting the richness of Africa.
The anthem reads:
Verse 1
From lands far and near
We congregate under the tree, IAWA
Uniting in words and songs
Rewriting Mama Africa’s narratives
Made sacred and praised,
Archived from ancestral barns of wisdom
Verse 2
Fish play hide and seek with fisherman
While crocodiles watch closely
In the Mighty rivers of Africa
In the thick forest legendary melodious echo
The light mirrors the beauty of its scars
Telling of life lived and life to come
High up the Kilimanjaro we stand
Looking at Africa’s future
We see a continent full of hope
The erection of United States of Africa
Bringing the diaspora home
The land of honey and milk, not milk and honey
Yes, we do things differently here
Chorus
IAWA changing the narrative
Let Mama Africa rise
Uniting in words and in song
IAWA changing the narrative
Let Mama Africa shine
Telling the tales of our land
Highlighting the review of the anthem, Dr Abubakar Othman, Dept. of English Language, University of Maiduguri (Nigeria) wrote: ‘The anthem adequately reflects the artistic spirit and passion for the continent that members of IAWA share among themselves. That the anthem was composed by different people, at different times and locations, yet had a unity of vision and harmony of sentiment, attests to the much desired spirit of unity and diversity that the continent needs in the current crudely globalised world. In the anthem, we learn that Africa is the future and fulcrum the world needs, to find its balance’.
Other activities which took place during this occasion included the presentation of certificates of appreciation, to the writers, composers and the singers of the anthem by Jennifer M. Zulu (Zambia), the IAWA-Global Vice President-1. In an interview, Jennifer disclosed that: ‘IAWA will be dominant in the continent’s literary sector. I see more collaborations between countries and many more African publications’.
In another interview with the vocal lead singer of the IAWA anthem, Patience Gumbo (Zimbabwe), said: ‘My mind was focussed on changing the narrative. I pictured a fulfilled Mama Africa; whose many stories could soothe the soul of all who heard her story. So, the melody had to be soothing, but possessing the vibe which resonates well with the African beat and sound’. She said this in response to the question thrown at her, regarding what she felt during the time of singing/producing the anthem.
The launch of this anthem which was hosted virtually on the IAWA Facebook group on the 29th January 2022, came to a conclusion with the IAWA-Global General Secretary – Mamer Abraham Kuot from South Sudan giving his closing remarks.
Names of IAWA anthem composers:
Anaclet Msafiri – Namibia
Patrick Juma – Kenya
Tadala Nkanaunena- Malawi
Adama Zango – Burkina Faso
Donald Mushove – Zimbabwe
Munyal Markus Manunyi – Nigeria
Moustapha Cisse – Senegal
Juanita Graves – USA
Arranged and by:
Patience Gumbo – Zimbabwe
Mohamed Tarqui Jalloh- Sierra Leone
Sang by:
Patience Gumbo- Zimbabwe
Produced in Zimbabwe by:
Mr Antony Gasani,
Gart Media Production.
Wow this is fantastic ♥️