Today, I thought that this poem by Bernard Dadié will be very appropriate. We wear a lot of chains, and the oppressed people of this world may want all the gags removed. Enjoy!
| Chaînes
Quelles sont lourdes, lourdes, les chaînes, Que le Nègre met au cou du Nègre. Pour complaire aux maîtres de l’heure.
De grâce n’arrêtez pas l’élan d’un peuple ! Brisons les chaînes, les carcans, les barrières, les digues.
Pour inonder l’univers en eaux puissantes qui balaient les iniquités.
Quelles sont lourdes, lourdes les chaînes Que le Nègre met aux pieds de Nègre Pour complaire aux maîtres du jour !
Lourdes, les chaînes, lourdes, lourdes, les chaînes que je porte aux mains.
Que tombent tous les baîllons du monde !!
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Chains
They are so heavy, heavy, the chains, That the negro puts on the neck of the negro. To please the masters of the hour.
Please do not stop the momentum of a people! Let us break the chains, the shackles, the barriers, the dams.
To flood the universe with powerful waters that will sweep away iniquities.
They are so heavy, heavy, the chains That the negro puts on the feet of the negro To please the masters of the day!
Heavy, the chains, Heavy, heavy, The chains that I wear on my hands.
May all the gags of this world fall!
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African Heritage 
Known and loved
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I would like a copy of Mr. Dadie’s poem “The Lines of Our Hands” in French and cannot find it. Can anybody help? Thanks.
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Thanks Jan.
I published a copy of the French version of this poem here:
https://afrolegends.com/2018/10/29/les-lignes-de-nos-mains-the-lines-of-our-hands-by-bernard-dadie/
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