At Manda Hill

At Manda Hill,
One can ride the only escalator in Zambia,
From the bottom to the top.
Or one can watch the rural Zambians stumble and laugh,
As they ride on up.

In Manda Hill,
Each and every tribe and race in Zambia
Can easily be found.
Many come to see and many come to be seen
And some come to shop.

For Manda Hill,
Or half London as they say, is an image,
Of the western world.
The African mamas see the miniskirts and bikinis,
And shake their heads

But Manda Hill,
Was built by Zambia and the Zambians with money,
spend it there.
Those without money continue to dream,
And try their best.

By Manda Hill
One kilometre away is the only other mall in Zambia
Arcaides.
At both, modern meets postmodern, old meets new,
And Africa meets west

To Manda Hill they go,
At Manda Hill they laugh,
In Manda Hill they see,
For Manda Hill they wonder,
By Manda Hill they confront,

But will they ever climb to the top of Manda Hill?
Is there room at the top for the whole world?
If not, then the hill will be too steep.
And they will just occasionally ride the escalator up then down.
Laughing and dreaming as they look up,
At Manda Hill.