Mak
“Mak” is a powerful call for unity, healing, compassion, and solidarity across the African diaspora and the wider world. Acknowledging the deep wounds of slavery, oppression, discrimination, and inherited suffering, the song encourages people to honor their history without allowing past pain to dictate their future.
The song celebrates the strength of communities that have endured hardship while continuing to love, create, and support one another.
The message gradually expands beyond the African diaspora, calling on people of every background, faith, and nationality to recognize their shared humanity. It challenges listeners to replace inherited hatred with compassion, help those who have fallen, and refuse to perpetuate the injustices they have experienced.
At its heart, “Mak” is an anthem of remembrance, resilience, and collective responsibility.
The song's message: We do not have to forget the pain of yesterday to build a better tomorrow. Our scars tell us where we have been, but our love for one another determines where we go next.
ZSORAYII's "Mak" dances at the center of a vibrant multicultural celebration, surrounded by people sharing food, music, laughter, and friendship. Musicians play drums and guitars against a sunlit coastal landscape. Broken chains lie among flowers and stones inscribed with messages of kindness and unity. The colorful artwork features the title “MAK” and the message “Different Roots. Same Tears. A Brighter Tomorrow.”
My brother, I know where e pain.
My sister, I know wetin remain.
No cover am. No shame am.
But make yesterday no choose tomorrow for us.
Dem leave mark for body, leave another one for mind.
Some we fit point with finger, some dey hide where eye no find.
But see us, we still dey here.
After everything wey break, we still born children,
still find reason laugh, still dance when drum call name.
So if your brother leg dey shake, lend am your shoulder.
We don carry enough stone. Make we no throw dem at each other.
I no forget. I no ask you forget.
Memory get work to do.
I no go become wetin wound me,
just because the wound was true.
Brother fall! Pick am up!
Sister call! Answer am!
One hand weak! Two hand strong!
We still here! Then carry on!
No make the pain we inherit be the pain we hand along!
Carry one! Carry one! Carry one another!
Nou pote mak, men mak la pa chenn.
Nou sonje doule a, men nou pa viv pou rayi.
Si frè w tonbe, lonje men ba li.
Nou soti lwen, nou pote anpil.
Men kè ki te blese ka toujou chwazi renmen.
Leve l! Kenbe l!
Mi know seh di road rough, mi know weh di old scar stay.
But if mi carry fire from yesterday, who get burn today?
Wi inherit nuff pain, wi nuh haffi inherit hate.
Love better reach deh first.
Love better reach deh first!
Brother fall! Pick him up!
Sister call! Answer her!
Neighbor hungry! Share your bread!
Old hate talk! Don't pass it ahead!
We remember! We remember!
But memory no be chain!
My grandmama knew how to stretch one meal till everybody at the table ate.
They carried things they never told us. Some hurt don't know how to speak.
So don't tell me to forget it. I won't.
I can honor every mile behind me without walking backward home.
Walk on, child! Walk on!
Carry me when my feet get tired.
I'll carry you when morning comes.
If I reach that river first, I'll turn around.
I won't cross alone.
Zsorayii, softly: We never got here alone.
Nous portons les traces, mais elles ne sont pas nos chaines.
Je peux garder la memoire sans transmettre la haine.
Si mon frere tombe, je lui tends la main.
Nos blessures racontent hier. Nos gestes ecrivent demain.
I call my brother. I call my sister.
Then I look across the fence and see another human being
wey pain don touch too.
Different face. Different prayer. Different tongue. Different story.
Same tears get salt.
So wetin I go do? Build another wall with the bricks they left us?
No. I know too much about walls.
If freedom taught me anything, it better teach me
not to become somebody else's cage.
Brother fall! Pick him up!
Sister call! Answer her!
Stranger fall! Stranger no more!
Different skin! Same sun!
Different tongue! Hear that cry!
Who be your neighbor? Whoever stand beside!
Pidgin: I no forget where I come from.
Haitian: Nou sonje, men nou chwazi renmen.
Jamaican: Old pain cyaan choose tomorrow.
French: La memoire n'est pas la haine.
Soul: Baby, leave that door open.
Zsorayii: For who?
Soul: Everybody.
Pick up your brother! Pick him up!
Pick up your sister! Pick her up!
Love your neighbor! Love them loud!
We got scars! We still stand!
We know pain! So we know better!
Then show me! Love one another!
From Lagos! Pick am up!
To Kingston! Pick am up!
Port-au-Prince! Pick am up!
From the South! Pick am up!
The mark tell where we been.
It don't tell where we have to go.
Carry one! Carry one! Carry one another!
Zsorayii: Neighbor!
All: I see you!