Cha Kwetu (Our Own) Poem by Mariam de Haan

Jamani leo nimeamua
Kuandika wangu husia
Kuhusu langu ziwa
Linaloitwa Pemba.
Ardhi yake imebahatika.
Unacho kipanda kinaota
Iwe embe, fenesi au mbatata.

Wapo watu wanaosema 'hatuna ila maskini'
Lakini wao hawajui,
Wetu mchanga ndo utajiri.
Na asije akakuahidi
Ukaiuza yako ardhi.
Kwa watu ambao ni wageni
Wakaja kujenga hoteli.

Tizama dada yetu, Unguja
Kila sehemu hoteli zimejaa
Mpaka bahari huioni tena.
Majengo ya kifahari kila kona
Halafu nenda Uswahilini, kumebadilika?
Huko pesa zimefika?

Kweli ninaogopa
Vile siku itakuja
Miti ya Pemba yatakatwa.
Majani yatadondoka.
Ardhi itachukuliwa.
Mpaka nyumbani sitakujua.
Na sisi watatudanganya
Na kutuambia maendeleo ndo haya!
Hivi ndo bora!

Ewe Mpemba wenzangu
Usisikilize maneno ya watu.
Likiuzwa ziwa letu
Wakichukua nyumba yetu
Tuna nini chengine cha kwetu?

******************English version*******************

Today I have decided
To write my advice,
What might be an untold prophecy.
About my island
By the name of Pemba.
Her soil is blessed,
Whatever you sow will grow
Be it mango, grapefruit or potato.

Some say 'all we have is poverty',
But they are too blind to see
Our sand is our riches.
The spice island covered in green.
Don't let his promises fool you
Until you sell your land,
To those who are foreign and new
They'll come back, with hotels too.

Look at our sister, Zanzibar
Hotels are all over her.
Even the coast they cover
Until you can't see the sea anymore.
Grand structures at every corner
But go to where the locals live, has it changed?
Has the money reached there yet?

I am truly afraid
That the day will come
When Pemba's trees will be cut.
When the leaves will fall.
When the land will be taken.
Until I won't recognise my home.
And we will be misled
Told that this is development!
That this is better!

Oh my sister, my brother from Pemba
Don't listen to the words of people.
If our island is sold
If our home is taken
What will we have that is our own?