Fallen Heroes - Julian Adomako-Gyimah

African drums are talking to the world
Whilst her soldiers are walking
Drums are beating to send out a message to us all
Why not indulge in eating and drinking in celebration
In celebration of our fallen heroes
Let the Atumpan and the Fontomfrom play in honour of our heroes and heroines
Our fallen heroes and heroines I mean

Prof. J.E.A. Mills was a gift to Ghana and Africa
A PhD at 27
A true gift to the good people of Ghana
The meekest and most selfless leader in my lifetime
We rise at the mention of your name
And curse all those who speak evil against you
We eulogize your name and works
In 3.5 years you achieved what cowards could not achieve in 20 years
Yet they cursed and called you names
God you put first and the well being of your fellow mankind followed
Fiifi, Fiifi, Fiifi, you shall never die
As you join the list of our fallen heroes

Kwame Atuapem Nkrumah was a gift to Africa
He liberated Africa from the shackles of colonialism
Arise and hail this great son of Africa who just refuses to die
Dr. Nkrumah will surely never die under any circumstance
Kwame, you will always be remembered and called upon to help Mama Africa
You were right: we prefer self government in danger to servitude in tranquility
You’re an immortal fallen hero

Kwegyir Aggrey was one of the founders of Achimota School
A scholar from the Central Region
You rose to the occasion and took elitism to a different level
Educate a man and you educate an individual
Educate a woman and you educate a whole nation
How can we forget you Kwegyir when this statement is exceptionally true?
Education is surely the key as Kwegyir epitomized

Dr. K. A Busia, Dr. J.B Danquah and Obetsebi Lamptey we salute you
Mensah Sarbah, Corporal Attipoe, Sergeant Adjetey, Private Odartey Lamptey
We salute you all
Fallen heroes of the great continent of Africa
Mr. K.N. Arkaah, Dr. Hilla Limann, Justice D.F. Annan and Kojo Botsio, Africa salutes
Kofo Anokye, Osei Tutu, Yaa Asantewa, Nii Amugi and Paa Willie we salute you
Africa salutes Mensah Woode, Akuffo Addo, and all the fallen heroes of Ghana

Mussolini tried and failed
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
Kudos for defeating Mussolini
Thanks for supporting the formation of the US of Africa
We know you are another immortal hero who refuses to die
Patrice Lumumba, the CIA might have killed you but your name still lives on
Lumumba will never die likewise Chief Moshood Abiola

Julius Nyerere, Tanzania misses you today
Africa is still being haunted by the imperialists
Where are you to liberate us?
Hear Mama’s cry and come to her aid
We are still crying our for trade and not aid
You are a hero in our eyes
Fontomfrom Drums are beating appellations for the fallen heroes of Africa

Receive and appreciate your appellations
African heroes and heroines
We are proud to be Africans and proud to have you as immortals
We dine and wine with you each day in spirit
We listen to your ideologies and admire your courage great ones
The fallen heroes will never be forgotten under any circumstance
Bravo! Fallen heroes of our great continent of Africa

Julian Adomako-Gyimah is a co-founder and associate editor at One Ghana, One Voice.

If you have a poem in memory of President Mills, please send it to us at oneghanaonevoice(at)gmail(dot)com.