Internal and External conflict is a predominant theme of the poem, “A Far Cry from Africa” by

Drerek Walcott. The poem is a clear depiction of the pain of a man who stands in between two

cultures. Evidently, the poem is divided into external and internal conflict. This essay will focus

on both type of conflict as depicted in the poem.

To begin, external cultural conflict in evident in the poem.The poem also delves into the external
tension that exists between colonizers( Europeans) and colonized (Africans) peoples. Walcott
alludes to historical events such as Kenya's Mau Mau revolt, in which indigenous people rebelled
against British colonial power. The Kikuyu saw the British settlers as invaders and thus did their
best to expel them. The poem's first stanza remembers an Africa scarred by conflict between
British occupiers and Kikuyu Tribe rebels. African soil is depicted here as a tanned animal hide
being ruffled by the wind of violence and racial hate. The word 'fly' is a metaphor for the Kikuyu
rebels who are fattening themselves by feeding on the bloodstream of the African grasslands.
This violence is explained even by academics and scholars who cite statistics to justify the
salient features of colonial policy. The poet casts the authoritative British figure as a worm, a
creature that lives on the evolutionary ladder underneath the fly. "The ape wrestles with the
superman". In a fight for dominance of Africa and its inhabitants, the Africans, who are
identified with the ancient, natural force and the British. The conflict between the British and
Africans is portrayed through vivid imagery . The poet uses words like "savage" and "barbaric"
to describe both sides, highlighting the dehumanizing nature of war. The speaker criticizes the
British colonists for seeking divinity through inflicting pain, implying that they are hypocrites as
Christianity emphasizes sympathy for the meek, not violent oppression. This reflects the
traditional ideology of European colonists, who viewed themselves as virtuous Christians
bringing "savages" closer to God.

The speaker refers to Kenyans who engage in "wars" like the tightened carcass of a drum,
undermining their national pride and culture. The speaker sees the violence of Mau Mau as
"dread of white peace," rather than courage and pride. The drums should symbolize Kenya's
national pride, but they are reduced to a gruesome image of death, undermining their national
pride.
The speaker views violence as undermining human values, contrasting with the English and Mau

Mau's views on upholding them. They believe that violence continues to produce more violence,

hindering the cause of human "divinity" and African freedom, and their outlook on humanity's

use of violence is bleak. The speaker is angry at the fact that there is no compassion in the hearts

of the brutal people for those who are dead. Death is reduced to just statistical data. He then

makes an allusion to the Jews who suffered the violence of the Nazis during World War II and

who were significant to none.

The poem is moved from the clash of two culture to the battle field within the speaker. The

speaker of the poem is a man who stands in between two cultures because he has his roots

belonging to both Africa and Europe. This nature of his has caused nothing but internal conflict.

In the first stanza, Africa is compared to a lion with a “tawny pelt”. Flies are used as an image of

Kikuyu who are feeding on blood, which is present in large enough amounts to create streams.

Worm is an image of British colonisers and it adds a sickening detail in this setting of decaying

human flesh. The worm’s admonishment to “Waste no compassion on these separate dead!” is

puzzling in that it implies that the victims somehow got what they deserved. The images of ibises

and other beasts tell this land was ruled by these animals before African or European civilization

existed. In short, the poet has used ample animal imagery to criticize the savage aspects of both

cultures.

The speaker feels that the violence of the Mau Mau Rebellion requires a passionate and decisive

response. Either one must condemn the Mau Mau and side with England, or support the Mau
Mau and forsake England entirely; accept the violence of the Mau Mau rebellion as necessary to

Kenyan independence, or reject such violence, and in the process reject Africa and all connection

to colonised people. The speaker is suspended between these two options, unable to choose since

is he sickened by the behaviour of the Mau Mau just as he has been disgusted by British. “I who

am poisoned with the blood of both, where shall I turn, divided to the vein?” No matter which

way he turns its as if the speaker’s blood does violence to the other half.

He has been given an English tongue which he loves on the one hand, and on the other, he cannot

tolerate the brutal slaughter of Africans with whom he shares blood and some traditions. The

poem thus ends without any conclusion.

In conclusion, "A Far Cry from Africa" explores various conflicts, both internal and external, that

arise from the poet's complex identity as a person of mixed race with ties to Africa. The poem

delves into the internal struggle of reconciling different cultural identities, as well as the broader

conflicts of colonialism and violence. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Derek

Walcott presents a thought-provoking exploration of these conflicts.