Lucky Dube Different colours , one people

I had the good luck of being on the same plane with The Late Singer Lucky Dube

He was a very humble man and spoke very little. In our talk I asked, which of the South African tribes he came from? He replied “ I am a South African “ all in his soft voice

I took another look at him from head to toe , and he asked why?

I replied I admired him a lot. He asked ,why ,again

The reason was simple . The settlers in South Africa where he came from had for years, to make it easy for suppression tried to make South Africans

Identify with their tribe. They split them into units called homelands

There was Kwazulu, for Zulus

Xhosaland (Transkei, Ciskei) for Xhosas

Pedi land for Pedis

Qwaqwa , for the Qwaqwa

Basotholand for Sothos

Venda for Bavenda

Bophutatswana for the Tswana

It therefore amazed me that he did not project a tribe but a nation

It is in the light of this I reproduce one of his songs , a favorite of mine

“Different Colours , one people”

Breaking those barriers

All over the world was not an easy thing

Yesterday your mouth was shut, yeah

Couldn' t make a sound, eh boy

But it' s such a good feeling today

When I can hear them from across the ocean singing this song

The whole world should be singing all the time

Chorus: (x3) We' re... Different colours / one people

Hey you government, never try to separate the people

Hey you politician, Never try to separate the people

They were created in the image of God

And who are you to separate them

Bible says, he made man in his image

But it didn' t ,say black or white

Look at me you see black

I look at you I see white

Now is the time to kick that away

And join me in my song

\

Different colours ,one people

Different colours, one people x3

Hey you politician

Never separate the people, here

Hey you man, hey you man

Never try to separate the people

Some were from America

We were from South Africa

Some were from Japan

We were from China

Some were from Australia

We were from UK

Some were from Zimbwabwe

We were from Ghana

Some were from Jamaica

We were from Russia

Some were from Aha ha ha

We were from Uhu hu hu

Different colours, one people

Different colours, one people

I believe if some can over come the tribal and racial chasm . we all can

Kojo Tamakloe is a Pan Africanist who believes it is time for Africa to Unite