The African Beatitudes —

adapted from Matt Cap 5

Blessed are the Africans for whose sake the earth was created, blessed are ye rich in spirit poor in material, for ultimately ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven which shall be established upon the earth in these last days.

Blessed are ye Ethiopians, for though ye mourn today, soon ye shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek and unpretentious, for they shall inherit the earth;

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst, for they shall be filled.

Blessed shall ye remain because ye are merciful of all those that live on the earth today, blessed then shall ye be for ye shall receive mercy.

Blessed are ye because ye are pure in heart, simple and real, and as such ye shall see the God triumphant;

Blessed are ye peacemakers, those without nuclear weapons pon their continent, blessed are ye for ye shall be called the children of the Sun the God of lights;

Blessed are they which are persecuted for nothing but the tone of their skin, blessed are ye for Jah has confirmed your innocence;

Blessed are ye when men shall revile ye, and judge ye, and shall say all manners of falsehood against ye because your veins carry the genes of your great Sudanic ancestors, the Ethiopian Angels….

Rejoice for your melanin soaks up the Sunray energies of your light creator and transforms y’all into veritable vortex of heavenly powers;

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for ye are the lights in the sight of the Holy Ones;

For ye are the salt of the earth, the salt that flavours the pot: the salt cannot loose its saltiness else the stew would loose its flavour.

Ye are the music of this world, the song of the birds: the music must remain sweet else life would have no support;

Ye are the light of this world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden;

Neither do men light a chandelier to hide it under the cover of a lead bucket. No, but a chandelier is set on the ceiling of a room, and it giveth light to all that are in the house.

For if the sons of men loveth and coveteth the light so much, then how much more greater would Jah your ancestor, who created ye as the lights love ye!

Let your light so shine before men that they may see and comprehend the compassionate mercies of Jah, your ancestors who made perfection for all to enjoy;

Let your light shine with such intensity that the despairing darkness is dissipated like the dawn of the morning Sun;

Let your brilliance radiate through your good works, such that others may see and learn and then have the courage, to seek and endeavour to become like ye;

Shine the light so others may know that they too can shine their own light, that we may all live in the day, in the house of the light.

For ye are the streams of light on this earth, ye are the spring of love, ye are the sound of music, ye are the salt of the earth.

Yes, blessed are ye, those loving and beloved Africans for whose sake life was created, blessed are ye today and forever for your inheritance is a just earth.”

Jide Uwechia
December 21, 2007.