Africa (in response to Hollywood)

Africa
is the long necks of giraffes
cast against the orange horizon
of sunset in a savanna

Africa
is warlords and dollars
dictators and gold rings
innocent women and children caught in between

Africa
is Yoruba
shouted from the throats
of hardened, snarling, very brown faces

Africa
is one billion people
thousands of languages
melded into a single depiction

Africa
is realizing her voice

is not letting you define her

is asking that you pick up a book

or two