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    Aries Roy Saplagio Aungon
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    The poem "Africa" by David Diop expresses a connection to Africa through ancestry despite never having been there. It describes Africa as a place of proud warriors and the speaker's grandmother's songs, but also depicts the difficult history of slavery through the imagery of bent backs breaking under whips. While the present struggles, the poem finds hope in the image of a solitary tree standing strong and stubbornly bearing fruit that will be bitter but taste of liberty. The poem "Telephone Conversation" by Wole Soyinka satirizes a real phone call with a landlady renting a room. The landlady repeatedly asks about the caller's race, using crude terms like "dark" and "light," and

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    The poem "Africa" by David Diop expresses a connection to Africa through ancestry despite never having been there. It describes Africa as a place of proud warriors and the speaker's grandmother's songs, but also depicts the difficult history of slavery through the imagery of bent backs breaking under whips. While the present struggles, the poem finds hope in the image of a solitary tree standing strong and stubbornly bearing fruit that will be bitter but taste of liberty. The poem "Telephone Conversation" by Wole Soyinka satirizes a real phone call with a landlady renting a room. The landlady repeatedly asks about the caller's race, using crude terms like "dark" and "light," and

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    16 views1 page

    African

    Uploaded by

    Aries Roy Saplagio Aungon
    The poem "Africa" by David Diop expresses a connection to Africa through ancestry despite never having been there. It describes Africa as a place of proud warriors and the speaker's grandmother's songs, but also depicts the difficult history of slavery through the imagery of bent backs breaking under whips. While the present struggles, the poem finds hope in the image of a solitary tree standing strong and stubbornly bearing fruit that will be bitter but taste of liberty. The poem "Telephone Conversation" by Wole Soyinka satirizes a real phone call with a landlady renting a room. The landlady repeatedly asks about the caller's race, using crude terms like "dark" and "light," and

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 1

    Africa (by David Diop) Africa (by David Diop)

    The very first poem I ever read on stage The very first poem I ever read on stage
    Africa, my Africa Africa, my Africa
    Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
    Africa of whom my grandmother sings Africa of whom my grandmother sings
    On the banks of the distant river On the banks of the distant river
    I have never known you I have never known you
    But your blood flows in my veins But your blood flows in my veins
    Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
    The blood of your sweat The blood of your sweat
    The sweat of your work The sweat of your work
    The work of your slavery The work of your slavery
    Africa, tell me Africa Africa, tell me Africa
    Is this you, this back that is bent Is this you, this back that is bent
    This back that breaks This back that breaks
    Under the weight of humiliation Under the weight of humiliation
    This back trembling with red scars This back trembling with red scars
    And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun
    But a grave voice answers me But a grave voice answers me
    Impetuous child that tree, young and strong Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
    That tree over there That tree over there
    Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
    That is your Africa springing up anew That is your Africa springing up anew
    Springing up patiently, obstinately Springing up patiently, obstinately
    Whose fruit bit by bit acquires Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
    The bitter taste of liberty. The bitter taste of liberty.

    Telephone Conversation (by Wole Soyinka) Telephone Conversation (by Wole Soyinka)
    The price seemed reasonable, location The price seemed reasonable, location
    Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived
    Off premises. Nothing remained Off premises. Nothing remained
    But self-confession. "Madam," I warned, But self-confession. "Madam," I warned,
    "I hate a wasted journey--I am African." "I hate a wasted journey--I am African."
    Silence. Silenced transmission of Silence. Silenced transmission of
    Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came, Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came,
    Lipstick coated, long gold-rolled Lipstick coated, long gold-rolled
    Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was foully. Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was foully.
    "HOW DARK?" . . . I had not misheard . . . "ARE YOU LIGHT "HOW DARK?" . . . I had not misheard . . . "ARE YOU LIGHT
    OR VERY DARK?" Button B, Button A.* Stench OR VERY DARK?" Button B, Button A.* Stench
    Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak. Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak.
    Red booth. Red pillar box. Red double-tiered Red booth. Red pillar box. Red double-tiered
    Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed
    By ill-mannered silence, surrender By ill-mannered silence, surrender
    Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification. Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification.
    Considerate she was, varying the emphasis-- Considerate she was, varying the emphasis--
    "ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?" Revelation came. "ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?" Revelation came.
    "You mean--like plain or milk chocolate?" "You mean--like plain or milk chocolate?"
    Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light
    Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted, Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted,
    I chose. "West African sepia"--and as afterthought, I chose. "West African sepia"--and as afterthought,
    "Down in my passport." Silence for spectroscopic "Down in my passport." Silence for spectroscopic
    Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent
    Hard on the mouthpiece. "WHAT'S THAT?" conceding Hard on the mouthpiece. "WHAT'S THAT?" conceding
    "DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS." "Like brunette." "DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS." "Like brunette."
    "THAT'S DARK, ISN'T IT?" "Not altogether. "THAT'S DARK, ISN'T IT?" "Not altogether.
    Facially, I am brunette, but, madam, you should see Facially, I am brunette, but, madam, you should see
    The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet
    Are a peroxide blond. Friction, caused-- Are a peroxide blond. Friction, caused--
    Foolishly, madam--by sitting down, has turned Foolishly, madam--by sitting down, has turned
    My bottom raven black--One moment, madam!"--sensing My bottom raven black--One moment, madam!"--sensing
    Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap
    About my ears--"Madam," I pleaded, "wouldn't you rather About my ears--"Madam," I pleaded, "wouldn't you rather
    See for yourself?" See for yourself?"

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