Skip to main content

DARK STONES – ENGLISH VERSION

When there will no longer be precious stones in my land,
These cursed stones,
When there will no longer be any shining stone
These stones that shine the curse
When they will no longer be,

Perhaps we’ll say goodbye to sounds of cries.
And the sounds of gunshots
Perhaps those ladies will therefore feel safe.
And will go cultivating their fields.
And children, longtime dreaming, or the future
Will explode their foolish smiles and will go for studies.
To assure a golden and Diamond future
Perhaps those men, with sweating face, will be back from battle.
And scattered families will be united again around the fire.
As it was in the time of our ancestors.
When all these evils will get to end
I’ll get into my land to greet the Sun.
Talk to the Volcano and waters of the Lake.
I’ll go to embrace my land and drink nectar from trees.
Because the curse of being rich will then be going
And the eyes of everybody will no longer be focused on us.
I’ll go to love my brothers and sisters.
I’ll go to greet their hearts that suffered for a long time.
And with a speech like those of Lumumba from the DR Congo
With a punch waved like Mandela from South Africa
I ‘ll speak loud and strong:
YES, ALL LIVES MATTER
BUT CHILDREN LIVES MATTER THE MOST

DARK STONES – FRENCH VERSION

MINERAIS SOMBRES
Quand il n’y aura plus de pierre dans ma terre
Ces pierres maudites
Quand il n’y aura plus aucune pierre qui brille
Ces pierres qui brillent la malédiction
Quand il n’y en aura plus,
Peut-être qu’on dira aurevoir au chant des pleurs
Et des crépitements des balles
Peut-être que les femmes se sentiront enfin en sécurité
Et iront labourer leurs champs
Et les enfants, longtemps apeurés du lendemain
Exploseront leurs fous rires et iront étudier
Pour assurer un futur en or et en diamants
Peut-être que les hommes, la sueur au front, rentreront de la bataille
Et les familles dispersées se réuniront autour du feu
Comme au temps de nos ancêtres
Quand tout ce mal sera fini
J’irai dans ma terre saluer le soleil
Converser avec le volcan et les eaux du lac
J’irai embrasser ma terre et boire la sève des arbres
Car la malédiction d’être riche sera enfin partie
Et les yeux de tout le monde ne seront plus braqués sur nous
J’irai aimer mes frères et sœurs
J’irai saluer leurs cœurs longtemps soufferts
Et par un discours comme ceux de Lumumba
Et avec le poing en l’air comme Mandela
Je dirai haut et fort :
Oui, Toutes les vies comptent
Mais les vies des enfants comptent beaucoups.

DARK STONES – SWAHILI VERSION
MADINI YA LAANA

Wakati ambapo hapatakuwepo tena madini inchini mwangu Congo
Madini haya yaliyolaaniwa,
Wakati ambapo hapatakuwepo tena na jiwe linaloangaa
Mawe haya yanayoing’arisha laana
Wakati hayatakuwepo tena,
Labda ndipo tutakaposema kwa heri kwa sauti za vilio
Na sauti za milio ya Risasi
Labda wale akina mama ndipo watajihisi salama
Na watakwenda kwenye kulima mashamba yao
Na watoto, mda mrefu wakiwa na ndoto juu ya wakati ujao
Watatokeza tabasamu la ukichaa wao na wataenda kwenye mafunzo
Ili kuhakikisha wakati ujao wa Dhahabu na Almasi
Labda akina baba wale, wenye nyuso zilizojaa jasho,
Watakuwa wakirejea kutoka vitani
Na wafamilia waliotawanyika wataungana tena wakiuzunguuka moto
Kama ilivyokuwa enzi za Mababu zetu
Wakati ambapo maovu yote haya yatakuwa yamekoma
Nitaiingia nchi yangu kulisalimia Jua
Zungumza na Volkano na maji ya Ziwa
Nitaenda kuikumbatia nchi yangu na kunywa seva kutoka kwenye miti
Kwa sababu laana ya kuwa na utajiri huwo itakuwa imeondoka
Na macho ya kila mtu hayataelekezwa tena kwetu
Nitaenda kuwapenda ndugu na dada zangu
Nitaenda kuisalimia mioyo yao iliyoumizwa kwa mda mrefu
Na matamko kama yale ya Lumumba wa DR Congo
Pamoja na ngumi inayozunguushwa hewani kama Mandela wa Africa ya Kusini
Nitaongea kwa Sauti tena kwa nguvu:
NDIYO, MAISHA YOTE YANA THAMANI
BALI MAISHA YA WATOTO NI YA MUHIMU ZAIDI

Prepared by: Anne Nabindu Sepa, True Vine Church www.truevinechurchmi.org

Action step:

Partner. Reach out to local churches serving diaspora communities and build relationships with them and their congregants, such as True Vine Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

Your story matters.

Have a story to share?

We'd love to share your story with the rest of the world!

Submit a story

You can make a difference

We believe there is a clear biblical mandate to care for people on the move, including those who are involuntarily or forcibly displaced from their homes and are seeking refuge. Will you join us?