Marula Ubuntu Poem by Diana van den Berg

Felicitations
to the Themba people
of unspoilt Ngwanase -
and the Mozambiquans
and the Swazis
who join them
to dance, sing and
celebrate
once in each February country
for these festivals of umtayi –
harvesting with joy, marula fruits
and brewing traditional beer -
and in so rejoicing,
linking hearts and nations,
and,
with integrity,
luring tourists here
and to the nearby
elephant park
half-owned by the community
and thus seeding the dream of alleviating poverty;
for this is how it is done -
revive
a primitive ritual
of intrinsic values of humanity
to strengthen, empower and honour
a civilized, cutting-edged future.

(19 February 2011)