I Am An African Poem by Hopeful Voyager

I am Nyerere: a nation-builder, a sagacious leader and committed pan-African. I am Chinua Achebe: a pioneering writer, extraordinary wordsmith, and general master of all literary forms.

I am Wangari Maathai: a Nobel laureate, relentless environmentalist, and fearless, undaunted campaigner for women's rights. I am Nelson 'Madiba' Mandela. Tremendously forgiving, a visionary and a leader who selflessly put the interests of his people first before his own.

I am Fela Kuti: a trail-blazer who fuses catchy and rhythmic African musical sounds with politics. I am the brightly-lit Lone Star George Weah who conquered the world of football with a distinctively signature swagger and then incredibly ascended to become the president of Liberia.

Perhaps, though, most of all, I am me Lloyd Elipokea: an African who is striving to learn the most from those who memorably walked before me and leave behind a praiseworthy legacy for those after me to build upon.