The first time in a month in a local church
At an event memorable for a priest and kin
The first Mass at Lome Salesian Parish
One from the community after years
Of training and preparation for his goal
To serve his people and those he is sent
A celebration vibrant from the heart
Energetic singing and dancing
It began three hours earlier with a procession
Into a Church yet to be completed
The church is alive with liturgical music
Vibrant speeches interspersed with claps
Energisers to drive home and lift spirits
Many a movement and action, and never a lull
The Church as a people of God is here
The magnificent house of God may not
Or elsewhere with dwindling spirits
All dressed in Sunday best, a Uniform
Designed for the event, gifts with love
Appreciation a plenty to last him a lifetime
Glad to be here to see and witness.
Be a part of a people and their journey
Millennial and Recent in local church
Emergence of a people, a generation
Subdued long and misunderstood
Misrepresented by history writers
Linguists and Anthropologists
When do we hear the voices of the Silent
It’s gladdening to be here from elsewhere
To feel at home and be a witness
Knowing a bit of the waters that have flown
These terrains in centuries past.
Roots, the history of slavery and more
Ships laid out with today’s wealth line
The Guinea Cost just a kilometre away
The place where the Human Resources
Found its way as chattel of the cattle class
In ships of Yore, of faded memories but persist
This generation will answer back
In gentle understanding despite vicious
Concoctions of trade deficits and debts
To loot and further exploit the oil resources
Gold, diamonds, gas, and metals precious
People, friendly and familiar families
The joie de vivre is French and local
Parole smashing langue of diverse regions
The breeze from sea to land and the vibrant voices create a sensation rare
Spontaneous physical expressions
Of concurrence with what’s said
In movements, claps and song
Collective Joy.