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AFRICAN

LITERATURE

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*African literature consists of a body

of work in different languages and

various genres, ranging from oral

literature to literature written incolonial languages (French,

Portuguese, and English).

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*Oral literature, including stories, dramas, riddles,histories, myths, songs, proverbs, and other

expressions, is frequently employed to educate

and entertain children. Oral histories, myths, and

proverbs additionally serve to remind wholecommunities of their ancestors' heroic deeds,

their past, and the precedents for their

customs and traditions.

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Since the early 19th cent. writers from western Africa

have used newspapers to air their views. Several

founded newspapers that served as vehicles for

expressing nascent nationalist feelings. Their poetrynot only denounced colonialism, it proudly asserted

the validity of the cultures that the colonials had tried

to crush.

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Africa (by David Diop)Africa, my Africa

Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs

Africa of whom my grandmother sings

On the banks of the distant river

I have never known you

But your blood flows in my veins

Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields

The blood of your sweat

The sweat of your work

The work of your slaveryAfrica, tell me Africa

Is this you, this back that is bent

This back that breaks

Under the weight of humiliation

This back trembling with red scars

And saying yes to the whip under the middaysun

But a grave voice answers me

Impetuous child that tree, young and strong

That tree over there

Splendidly alone amidst white and faded

flowersThat is your Africa springing up anew

Springing up patiently, obstinately

Whose fruit bit by bit acquires

The bitter taste of liberty.

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David Mandessi Diop (19271960) was a revolutionaryAfrican

poet born in France but with parents of West African descent.

His poems highlighted problems of Africa brought about bycolonialism and gave a message to Africans to bring about

change and freedom. He was known for his involvement in

the negritude movement in France, a movement started by

Black writers and artists protesting against French

colonialism and its effects of African culture and values. Hisviews and feelings were published in "Presence Africaine"

and in his book of poems "Coups de pillon" which was

published in 1956. Diop died at the age of 33 in a plane

crash.

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Ancestral-of previous generations: relating to something

belonging to former generations of somebody's family

Impetuous-acting impulsively: acting on the spur of themoment, without considering the consequences

obstinately - refusing to change: unwilling to change or

give up something such as an idea or attitude

Savannah- grassy plain: a flat grassland, sometimes with

scattered trees, in a tropical or subtropical country

Whip-strike against something sharply:

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Africa (by David Diop)Africa, my Africa

Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs

Africa of whom my grandmother sings

On the banks of the distant river

I have never known you

But your blood flows in my veins

Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields

The blood of your sweat

The sweat of your work

The work of your slaveryAfrica, tell me Africa

Is this you, this back that is bent

This back that breaks

Under the weight of humiliation

This back trembling with red scars

And saying yes to the whip under the middaysun

But a grave voice answers me

Impetuous child that tree, young and strong

That tree over there

Splendidly alone amidst white and faded

flowersThat is your Africa springing up anew

Springing up patiently, obstinately

Whose fruit bit by bit acquires

The bitter taste of liberty.

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Africa, myAfrica

Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs

Africa of whom my grandmother sings

On the banks of the distantriver

AFRICA

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I have never known you

But your blood flows in my veinsYourbeautiful black bloodthat irrigates the fields

The blood of your sweat

The sweat of your work

The work of your slavery

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Africa, tell me Africa

Is this your back that is unbent

This back that never breaks under the weight ofhumiliation

This back trembling with red scars

And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun

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But a grave voice answers me

Impetuous child that tree, young and strong

That tree over thereSplendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers

That is your Africa springing up anew

Springing up patiently, obstinately

Whose fruit bit by bit acquiresThe bitter taste of liberty.

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Africa, myAfricaa

Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs b

Africa of whom my grandmother singsb

On the banks of the distantriverc

AFRICA

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I have never known you d

But your blood flows in my veins bYourbeautiful black blood that irrigates the fields b

The blood of your sweat e

The sweat of your work f

The work of your slavery g

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Africa, tell me Africaa

Is this your back that is unbent h

This back that never breaks under the weight ofhumiliation l

This back trembling with red scarsb

And saying yes to the whip under the midday sunj

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But a grave voice answers me g

Impetuous child that tree, young and strong k

That tree over there cSplendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers b

That is your Africa springing up anew l

Springing up patiently, obstinately g

Whose fruit bit by bit acquires bThe bitter taste of liberty. g

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1. What is the poem about?

2. Who is speaking in the poem?

3. What emotion does it communicate?4. Are there lines which you oppose?

5. How do you feel about the poem?

6. What is the intention of the author in writing the poem?

7. How does the message of the poem appeal to you as aperson?

8. What does the poem tell about the way of life in the

place where it originated?

9. How do rhymes or the regular recurrence of similar

sounds shape the meaning of the poem?

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