February 28, 2006 – Bev Grant has written a new song that the chorus is singing called “Where Women Rule” about a women’s village in Kenya founded by Rebecca Lolosoli.
The villlage of Umoja, founded by Rebecca Lolosoli, is part of an Indigenous Women’s Network founded by MADRE: a Women’s Human Rights Organization. If you would like to support the work they do and find out more information on MADRE, go to www.madre.org.
Here is another link – this one to Rebecca’s village for people who want to donate directly.
www.jambosafaris.com/umojacharity.htm
Where Women Rule MP3 (5.8MB) Live from Brooklyn Arts Exchange, March 2006
Where Women Rule lyrics
Rebecca Lolosoli took the hand of a frightened teenage girl
Who was being forced to wed a man three times her age.
“You are a small girl. Come sit here next to me.
I will tell you ’bout Umoja, underneath the shade.”
She said:
This is a patch of Africa where women rule.
This is our own village. No one treats you cruel.
Here our rights are sacred. When you walk through our door
You won’t have to put up with their nonsense anymore.
Joseph Kukulet still remembers the rage he felt that day
When his sobbing wife came home, her body raped and torn
He pulled a knife on her, and said she brought him shame.
She ran to Rebecca, and Umoja Village was born.
This is a patch of Africa where women rule.
This is our own village. No one treats you cruel.
Here our rights are sacred. When you walk through our door
You won’t have to put up with their nonsense anymore.
This is a song I sing in honor of the women who would change the status quo
On every continent you’ll find them, sharing what they know.
When women remain silent, no one thinks that they have anything to say.
Rebecca Lolosoli, and others, show us another way.
This is a patch of Africa where women rule.
This is our own village. No one treats you cruel.
Here our rights are sacred. When you walk through our door
You won’t have to put up with their nonsense anymore.
Copyright 2005 Bev Grant