Fritz Justine S.

Gagan

3DPS

LIT02

1. What does the poem "Africa" by David Diop mean? The poem Africa suggests an undoubting sense of pride in African descent, the sorrowful acknowledgement of the suffering of a nation and the anticipation of imperceptible freedom. It focuses on the new beginning of Africa. This poem celebrates the beauty of Africa before slavery colonialism and the eventual neo-colonialism which Africa has continued to suffer from in a most contemptuous manner. We are reminded as an African that our great grand fathers were proud warriors even though the Whiteman in his capitalist tendencies of massive acquisition of wealth has dealt a blow on our pride, economy and mentality. Though the Author has never ever gotten the fill of African trauma, but he has his grandmother to thank for educating him on the African experiences. It is a poem of strength and hope for the people. His patriotism urges the African people to be more brave and overcome adversity in their own country. The author also sorts of talks about his pride in how the Africans got out of slavery and about how Africa remains the bravest continent and stuff like that. 2. What is his reflection in the poem? This poem is a childhood dream, that of the author who felt deeply African in his soul yet very distant as he never knew Africa. He never set foot on African soil, but he did know all about the humiliation slavery, colonisation suffered by Africa thanks to his grandmother. Despite this suffering he urges the people of Africa to be strong and remain unbent and not let this break them despite the weight of their suffering in their own land. He urges the Africans to be patient and not hasty like children as there is change on the horizon he means the colonialists who will fade in time while the youthful Africans grow in strength and wait for their moment of freedom.

3. What is the device used by the poet in the poem? The poet uses as much as possible simple language to express himself in flow of words and these words mean a lot in the translation of the poem. Unlike other poems that use complex language to convey their message, Africa uses simple language to express itself.

The poet in addition makes the poem more meaningful by adding some literary devices and figurative expressions. Such literary devices include alliteration, personification, rhythmic pattern and imagery. 4. Who could be the women in the poem "no images who do not even care with their looks? Why? The first verse "She does not know her beauty" is that he's referring to an African American Woman. That woman has been called names and suffered because of her skin tone. Her self-confidence has reached an all-time low and she has no love for herself. This is because she is in a racist world that discriminates. But the last line "Her beauty" states that she is beautiful, states that underneath she is a good person. The third line says "She thinks her brown body, has no glory." This line means that she thinks of herself as ugly. "Dish water gives back no images," meaning that working as a servant as she probably does, she has been humiliated, and cannot appreciate her true beauty while looking into a bowl of dirtied water. 5. The poem has an underlying pain about women in a society that does not consider the role they play. Cite some situations to show this. An example of this is people think women are only capable of doing household chores and taking care of family members. Think that women have limited abilities especially in workforce. Most people think that men are more superior and men are more suitable to work for a certain jobs like the top management positions. Most people think women are beautiful if only they have a light or fair skin and also a perfect physical appearance which is that they think are the women who should only be respected and loved.