African Homeland

Dear Celie
Oh, I love you
Years go by and still you're with me
All we share is one big sky
I pray for your reply

When Mister threw me out that day
I was so mad
I ran straight to the church
But when the reverend's wife opened the door
She had two little children with her
And something about those children
Made my mad go away
So, I asked them
If they needed help with those children
And they told me they were going to Africa as missionaries
And maybe I could come with them

Nettie a missionary

And then one day
On that boat over here
The reverend asked me about my family
So, I told him about you
And everything that happened to you
And he told me, Celie
He's the one pa gave your babies to
Adam and Olivia are right here with me

My babies

I teach your children ABCs
For a missionary family
These babies sent by God are yours
Adam and Olivia
Alive, alive!

I vibrated like a bell
When I saw the African coast
And I kneeled down and thanked God
Thank God, thank God!
For letting us see the land
Where our mothers and fathers died
African homeland, homeland
Land of my people, people
People!

We are going to be working
With a tribe called The Olinka
Linga (linga)
Oba (oba)
Batuwanga
Ada doon da yay

Linga (linga)
Oba (oba)
Batuwanga
Ada doon da yay

Linga (linga)
Oba (oba)
Batuwanga

(Linga) we are
(Oba) happy
At the center
Of the universe

(Linga) we are
(Oba) happy
At the center
Of the universe

Oh dee dee oo day oo day oo dadoo day doo da day
Oh dee dee oo day oo day oo dadoo day doo da day
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (oh yo oon daday)
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (oh yo oon daday)
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay

My people! (oh dee dee oo day oo day oo dadu day doo da day)
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (oh yo oon daday)
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (eeleeyah ooday)
Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay

It was like black seeing black
For the first time
Shiny blue black people looking real fine
In brilliant blue robes
That fly on the winds
Like a beautiful quilt
Stitched together by friends
Mm, mm, mm, mm

You could put everything I knew
In a thimble
What we're taught to be
Don't resemble
The kings and queens
Who for thousands of years
Ruled magnificent cities
Washed away by tears

Celie!
Celie!
Ee yea ahn ya
Ee yea ahn ya

Celie, what are you doing?
Nothing
Well, I ain't never seen you just sit
How it look?
Good morning!
Y'all want some breakfast?
I wish I could, but I got to go
Take this on outside to the car

Soon as he gets back from town
I think I'm gon' kill him
No, Bible says don't kill
Nope, I think I'll feel better if I kill him
No, you won't
Nobody ever feel better for killing nothing
Think of me
Think of Nettie
Goodbye

Dear Celie
I've been teaching the Olinka children to read
But some of the women
Have become very suspicious of me
Because girls have never been taught to read here
Girls have never been taught anything at all
I don't understand everything they're saying
But what it sounds like to me is

What this mess you been preachin'?
Why you tryin' to change us?

They think I should be married

Whoop! Girl ain't nothing with no man
Why you makin' a big fuss?
Whoop! Need a husband and children
Or you're gonna be nothing

I am nobody's mother
But I am somebody

Girls don't need education

Sound like the white folks back home

Best be knowing your station

But not my Olivia!

Matenga!
Our village was destroyed by the soldiers
So now we have walked
With so many other refugees
To a tent camp across the border

We walk away from this ravaged land
With courage deep in our hearts
To face the unknown
Together

We'll find a place where we can be
Where spirit rise and soul is free
Our people (oon day unndala!)
My people (oon day unndala!)

I have faith that God will let us see each other again
Before we die, Celie
And you must have faith too
I only hope when that day comes
We're not too old to recognize each other

We walk away
We walk away
We walk away