Dear Louise, I hope you had the time of your life.

It’s a classic from the 90s by Green Day, one of my favorites, it’s called ‘Time of your life.’

It goes:

‘another turning point a fork stuck in the road,

time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go,

so make the best of this test and don’t ask why,

its not a question but a lesson learned in time,

it’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right,

I hope you had the time of your life’

I’d like to dedicate this song to our favorite Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo and tell her: ‘tomorrow,  in Yerevan her star will shine!’

Thank her for ten wonderful years, how time flies, that she’s been our leader, sister and friend.

I’d say to her:

‘Take the photographs and still frames in your mind;

Hang it on the shelf in good health and good times…’

This piece is written a bit like Massamba’s ‘Araje’: A bitter-sweet state of mind:

Starting in happiness; ‘Araje araje, araberewe, dore inyamibwa mubakobwa yambaye urugori’,

Then late regrets in the lines; Ngo:

As a young brother and friend: ‘Barumuna bawe, udusize he?’

Full of joy but a bit heartbroken: ‘Dore uduteye irungu, Udusizemo icyuho…’

‘So yemeye inkwano kumanywa y’ihangu’,

Our President gave his word – in broad daylight, in France,

‘ba nyogosenge bemeye kugutanga’;

Africans came together and endorsed you as one;

Rwandans will lose their favorite minister,

‘Mushikiwazo’ – Inkotanyi might miss their favorite sister.

She won’t be replaced, at least not in our hearts,

But on that, Samuel Beckett reflects:

‘Perhaps your best days are gone, but you wouldn’t want them back. Not with the fire in you now’.

To which Massamba resigns:

‘Wemeye nyabusa gukamisha ahandi, nuko bigenda amahitamo yaje…’

And then gives his blessing:

‘Uzabereke ko watowe, ukanatozwa n’ibindi, maze bakugabire inka z’iwabo zose…’

Yerevan! Two African women;

A decade in a generation in a century;

How significant the signs; How fitting a city;

The Holocaust of Armenians, the Genocide of Tutsi, the Earthquake in Haiti,

More than an election, a celebration of resilience!

Or as Kayirebwa would say:

‘Imana itera amapfa burya, ninayo itanga aho bahahira’

Other writers tried to ruin the moment,

But what’s happening is a beautiful statement!

Two black girls from small nations competing to change the world

Haiti and Rwanda in Armenia; it’s not been seen; and for that we thank the lord

In my own eyes and those of a million little girls,

Your contender and you are both our great winners.

For them you’ve shined in a million lights;

And whatever happens now, you’ve inspired women of all walks of life,

You’ve allowed them to dream and aspire without fear;

Or as your Wakandan little sister Nakia would put it;

‘No matter where you come from, your dreams are valid.’

I believe everything happens for a reason, in a moment, in time;

I’ve seen the signs, your blessings and success are written in the stars;

It’s not a goodbye, it’s just an au revoir,

It was a privilege to see you tour the sky,

A spotless campaign, our flag held up high,

A continent coming as one, a humbling, beautiful sight,

To place their trust in you, the bearer of their pride;

So keep your chin high and walk towards the light;

And when you cross the red line, take a second, look back,

You’ll see a nation you have made proud,

And remember,

‘for what it’s worth, it was worth all the while’;

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right,

I hope you had the time of your life…’