Black stars in the dark that shone so bright,

Pan continental sparks were reignited,

In a flood-lit calabash, man what a sight!

Eleven Ghanaians became Africa United.

 

For the global Diaspora of Africans whose numbers stretched to billions,

A short but welcome distraction from conflict and debt,

From the highest to the lowest, military to civilians,

The togetherness observed there we won’t soon forget.

 

Not a state of mass hysteria - it was collective sanity

In which differences were briefly cast aside by all

Instead connections re-kindled to the cradle of humanity

By a team in red and a Jabulani ball.

 

Its conclusion could been seen as a downright tragedy,

But something bigger than a penalty would be missed

If the result on the pitch which was an obvious travesty,

Obscured the euphoric unity by all witnessed.

 

It was here, we felt it, in spite of the result,

This game of beauty reminded us that whilst life is still unfair,

As we journey through it from childhood to adult,

It’s less about the winning than the experience we share

 

Black stars in the dark that shone so bright,

Pan continental sparks were reignited,

In a flood-lit calabash, man what a sight!

Eleven Ghanaians became Africa United.

 

Hear this with images from my world cup adventure here