Wambui, our warrior

The Mau Mau uprising
Found you and left you
You fought with the white man
Like a man
And won
Wambui our warrior

You chose with your heart
The bead to place
In your life’s necklace
Girding yourself
Like a soloist
Singing praise songs
To Nyalgunga
For bearing you a lover
Wambui our warrior

Your love, like honey in a hive
For your children, husband and country
Was fresh and abundant every day
You fought for your husband’s love
Like a wounded animal
Their stabs to your heart
Left you bruised
But not dead
Wambui our warrior

For your husband’s body and his will
You fought
But lost
And they adorned themselves his curse
Like a bride for her day
Wambui our warrior

A pack of vultures surround your remains
You
Their possession
You,
Like a child
Had no right
Raising your voice to grown men
Wambui our warrior

May women try filling your shoes
Fight for truth
Fight for justice
Fight for what is right
Like a lion with its prey
Wambui our warrior

You have now found peace
At the bosom of your lover
Wambui our warrior

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

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