World Literature-SALGADOS

BOHOL NORTHERN STAR COLLEGE

Poblacion, Ubay, Bohol

Corre, Mary Mae S.

BSA – 2
WORLD LITERATURE

Discussion Questions:
1. What does the poem Africa by Diop mean?
Answer:
The poem is about the effects colonialism has had on Africa. It traces the history of pre-
colonial Africa, then shows the torture that Africans underwent in colonialism and how Africa
is starting afresh like a young tree. David Diop’s “Africa” is a dialogue between a young poet
and a mature or grave mind. It is a patriotic poem that visualizes “The bitter taste of liberty”
for Africa. Africa had been a nation of proud warriors.

2. What is the reflection of the poet in the poem?

Answer:
The poet has heard his grandfather sing of the warriors in ancestral ‘savannahs’ (plains in hot
countries covered in grass and have few trees\). But the poet has never known the nation.
The poet asserts proudly that the African blood flows in his veins. The Africans had worked in
distant lands as slaves. Their beautiful black blood irrigates the fields. The blood of their
sweat, the sweat of their work, the work of their slavery and the slavery of their children has
enriched the distant lands. Therefore, the poet wants to know what the real Africa is. The
African’s bent back breaks under the weight of humiliation. The lashes received by their backs
make them tremble with red scars. They also continued to work under the midday sun for fear
of punishment. The poet’s earnest query is answered by a grave voice. The voice is
metaphoric. The young and strong tree that grows again ‘patiently obstinately’ will gradually
acquire “the bitter taste of liberty”. The enigmatic and puzzling answer of the grave voice is
optimistic. It suggests supreme sacrifice on the part of the youth. By addressing the
questioner as “impetuous son” (very active) the grave voice prophetically persuades him to
have revolutionary patience to achieve liberty. The sophisticated interlocutor of the poem is
imperatively silenced by the grave voice. The questioning is stilled in affirmation

3. What are the strongest device used in the poem Africa?

Answer:
Diop’s strongest poetic device in this poem is that of personification. He infuses Africa with
human qualities, and talks directly to her. He reinforces her humanity with the images of
“beautiful black blood… The blood of your sweat…. The sweat of your work …your back that is
unbent .”
Diop's use of personification, in which non-human things are given human characteristics.
Africa, the continent, is anthropomorphized and treated like a human. Not only does Diop
attribute human traits to Africa (like an unbent back, blood, and sweat) but he also gives it a
''grave voice'' that is capable of responding to him, calling him an impetuous child.
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World Literature-SALGADOS
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