4 PICS 1

WORD
D A V I D
D E S E R T
C A M E L
A F R I C A N
A F R I C A
“AFRICA”
By David
Diop
 DAVID DIOP

PLACE & PERIOD

TOPICS
VOCABULARY

LITERARY ELEMENTS
 “DAVID DIOP”
 Born on July 9, 1927 in Bordeaux, France, to a
Cameroonean mother and a Sengalese father.
 Although he grew up in France and lived most of his
life there, Diop spent significant time living and
teaching in Africa, which helped reinforce his
opposition to European society.
 Many of his poems discuss his empathy with
Africa and the movement for independence
from French Colonialists.
 Diop’s works in Coups de pilon (1956;
“Pounding”), his only surviving collection, are
angry poems of protest against European cultural
values, enumerating the sufferings of his people first
under the slave trade and then under the domination
of colonial rule and calling for revolution to lead to
a glorious future for Africa.

 In 1960, Diop was killed in an

airplane crash traveling home to France
from Dakar, Senegal.
 “PERIOD AND PLACES”
 COLONIAL TORTURE AND EXPLOITATION
There are evidences of torture and exploitation in
the poem due to the fact that the poet expresses how
the sweat of Africans was lost in vain. All this was
done at a time when Africans were turned into slaves
and worked for their masters without any benefit.
 OPPRESSION AND HUMILIATION
Oppression and humiliation were common practices in
colonial time. They were used to force Africans work
for colonisers without objection. This has left scars to
Africa that we still depend on them even when they
seem to mistreat us.
 IDENTITY AND AWARENESS
The poet however seems to be aware of his identity as
black African. Although he grew up in
France he shows that black blood flows in his
veins, which is to say he is still an African
regardless of where he grew up.
 EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM
The poet concludes his poem by showing the
effects that colonialism had on African continent.
Nevertheless, he seems to be optimistic that at
least Africa is growing up again just like a young
tree.
 Relating to or To supply water
inherited from to land or crops
ancestors

Grassland ecosystem land alongside

characterized by trees or sloping down
being sufficiently to a river or lake
widely spaced so that
the canopy does not
close.
 to make someone middle of the
feel ashamed or lose day
respect for himself

acting or done
make or become quickly without
straight from bent or thought or care
twisted form or
position
firmly or stubbornly
adhering to one’s
very serious,
purpose, opinion,
important or
etc.
worrying
-unreasobly
determined
Theme
David Diop's poem "Africa" reflects his hope for an
independent African nation, and the problems brought
to the continent by colonialism.

Character
Within “Africa”, the poet addresses the land as
if it is a real person, and this denotes the use of
apostrophe.
Tone
The first tone, the first expression of the speaker's feeling, is triumphal.
The secondary tone in "Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields,"
is a tone sadly desperate.
The tertiary tone is spoken by "a grave voice" (perhaps a collective voice
from the grave) and is a gentle yet earnest tone that gently reprimands while
earnestly exhorting.
Personification

Imagery

Symbolism