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…’