The Concrete Rose Revolution

---It's like the grass that grows between the cracks of ghetto streets, relentless in spite of the everlasting--- Tamia

This blogspot was inspired by what I consider to be one of my favorite poems- The Rose That Grew From Concrete- by the late Lesane Parish Crooks, better known as Tupac Amaru Shakur.

“Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete

Proving nature’s law wrong, it learned to walk without having feet

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams

It learned to breathe fresh air

Long live the rose that grew from concrete

When no one else even cared”

These words are what gave birth to this space and are to a very large extent what continue to stir most of the opinion that comes from it. I built this space with the idea of identifying and encouraging concrete roses from the world across, the intention with starting what I still envision as a movement was to form some ground of inspiration for anyone who comes from a disadvantaged past and is willing to overcome their circumstances and go on to make a difference in the lives of others.

“We wouldn't ask why a rose that grew from the concrete has damaged petals, on the contrary, we would all celebrate its tenacity, we would all love its will to reach the sun, well, we are the roses, this is the concrete and these are my damaged petals, dont ask me why, thank god, and ask me how”

I have and still continue to come across so many concrete roses, while some know it, so many remain oblivious to the power that they possess in order for them to grow from concrete and into the best versions of themselves that they can be- myself included. This platform will rise to see a revolution of concrete roses actualize, this place will not die down until the potential of the deprived child has been realized, this space will not go anywhere until freedom reigns and opportunities are seized. 

 

“Where There is a will
there is a will
to search and discover
a better day

Where a positive heart
is all you need
to rise beyond
and succeed

Where young minds grow
and respect each other
based on their deeds
and not their color

when times are dim
say as I say
"Where there's a will
there's a way!”

Thaba tsa Lesotho li nchebile

---“ Thaba li nchebile, li mphata ka lipotso li re ke tla fihla neng sehlohlolong….” --- Bonolo 

I fall under the list of Basotho who are only guilty in saying - for desiring to travel the world before they chose to travel in and around their own country. I do not know how many times I have engaged in the “foreigners know our country better than we do” conversation only to turn right around and google the cost of a flight ticket to Dubai instead of looking up Maliba Lodge in the telephone directory to make a booking, the sad reality for me is that as much as I love Lesotho with its beautiful scenery, gigantic mountains and sterling greenery, I still find the thought of interacting with different cultures and learning from them more compelling than that of going up to Molimo Nthuse for a little serene time with mother nature.

Molimo Nthuse Lodge

I imagine the side looks that are coming from all directions for my admitting to this, its fine as it is expected but the upside is that I have really started to change my thinking as far as travelling and learning about Lesotho is involved, although it always boils down to excuses, I have vowed to start small.

So when the opportunity for an impromptu road trip presented itself on the eve of Lesotho’s 48^th year of independence, I did not say no because I could not think up a better way to celebrate the so called independence of Lesotho than being on the road- not only admiring the beauty of this place but also taking the time out to deeply reflect on what it is that went wrong, how it got to this point and why this country is not free forty eight years after it was declared an independent state. Quite frankly I am tired of the same discourse surrounding the progress of Lesotho but it helped a great deal that I was in the company of someone who takes development theories and economic planning seriously because I felt enlightened coming out of this experience and while talking about these issues changes nothing really, I am of the belief that it does spark a seed of courage in those that engage in them to one day be the forces behind change in the political and economical landscape.  I trust that the more we talk about the incidents of our country, the better placed we are to understand the intricacies that govern the decisions made on our behalf and when we are able to comprehend such, then we become better equipped to make contributions that will eventually help Lesotho settle into its own. 

“Nqenehele pele u nkhenela, mohlomong ke eona karabo” – Ts’epo Tshola

As I gazed out to the backdrop of these mountains and was hit by the rays of the setting sun that blanketed them I could not help but feel sorry for this country that has raised me. I felt sad for having been so harsh with it for not achieving full independence, specks of guilt presented themselves as I thought back to an entry I posted on here this time last year. These mountains that I craved to confront on Lesotho’s state of affairs pleaded with me, they asked that I empathize with this country that finds itself in the clutches of leaders who do not have its best interests at heart.

In that moment, ha ke shebane le lithaba tsa Lesotho, they whispered to me the wishes of those whose sweat and blood founded this Kingdom, lithaba tsa Lesotho urged that I do not give up on them, on the beauty that is this nation, they asked that I keep the faith alive for the sake of my children’s’ future. Lithaba tsa Lesotho li nchebile, li re honna ke se lahleheloe ke ts’epo, these mountains spoke in inspired tones and stirred a new layer of hope and expectation in me. Lithaba tsa Lesotho li re this is not the end but rather a new beginning and while they do admit that this state has not tasted true freedom as yet, they insist that you and me not give up on the hope that lies between their valleys. 

I have concluded that even if it means taking a young drive out to Mafeteng or Leribe only to bond with the tranquility of my motherland then that is what I am going to do because it is in the silence of these mountains that the answers to advancing my Lesotho are stowed 

Until next post,

Afrika Rising, Peace & Revolution....