By Hassen Lorgat
1
Ke Nako… Now is the time
Turning up is always half the battle won
When a partner is beaten by the patriarchal muscle of power
Turning up, holding hands around the victimised survivor
Being there to witness and lend a hand
It is turning up
And that is half the battle
2
When it comes to taking action
To plant, sweep, to clean and care, or even to vote
Kick cynicism aside and say
Turning up
Turn up to make your mark
And as we know
It is only half the battle
But we have made the start
3
they know themselves
the growth greed geeks, the money worshippers
the white supremacists and religious zealots
the macho men and the rapists of bodies and souls
and the climate deniers
petroleum and gas addicts
the status quo CEOs and the co-opted thin crust of shareholders
the trickle-downers, and the downsizers and privatisers
the party bosses and the lobbyists
And not forgetting
those who Other Us, hurt us, kill us for who we are and how we love
All want us to stay at home
To those who want to own and control us — you are hereby warned
We are turning up
4
Turning up
Is the first sign of victory for ourselves
Turning up with others, is a victory for us all
Now that we have turned up, we won’t let them switch us off
That is what they want!
5
And since we are turning up
we will keep on going on
there is no stopping us, now
Turn up
Ask questions
Demand answers
That is what the love of people asks of us
Turn up
Hassen Lorgat