I am birthed from the banks of the Kavango River
From a people that mastered the skills of navigation system above the river
A people that carved a canoe (wato) out of a tree and did so without a manual
A people so friendly and determined.
I am birthed from the banks of the Kavango River
It is a river in Africa with a meandering tenor of its own
It originates on land and empties on land Traversing thousands of kilometers from Angola through Namibia to Botswana
I am birthed from the banks of the Kavango River
I learned hard lessons of swimming;
thrown into the river and fished out with a full tummy
Near death, a reed is taken to beat your stomach
The beating pumps the swallowed water out of you like through a horse pipe
I am birthed from the banks of the Kavango River
Fishing was survival not a sport
The hippos and crocodiles are neighbors to tolerate
At 12 years of age, a hippopotamus attacked our canoe
Survival was not guaranteed, at least I am here to tell the story
I am birthed from the banks of the Kavango River
From the womb of a proud and hardworking people
They work the land for food na ngimbu, na litemo na vangombe
Culture flows in them and with traditional leadership of bravery
I am birthed from the banks of the Kavango River
From a people very enterprising and skillful in animal husbandry
Where Black people once owned businesses like the Siteketas, Ngondos, Kalengas, Kamalangas and Sindanos
Where the Kampungus, Mbambas and Dieschos paved the torch to education
Tata told us that the Kangayis, Sitentus, Kangowas, LyaNgurungundas, Kapokos endured hardships for liberation struggle
All said and done, Kuvangu, Cubango, Kavango is an African song and of an African people
Yesterday or today, the banks of Kavango River are still life
A conduit to tomorrow by those being born
And those to be birthed on the banks of the Kavango River to posterity
