‘AFRICA’  BY  DAVID DIOPE

The poem "Africa" reflects the poet's vision of an independent and sovereign Africa. Diope was strongly critical of Europe and denounced colonialism to the hilt especially during the Second World War when Africans fought and died for the sake of the Europeans. Diope voices his anger against the exploitation of Africa by the colonizers through this poem specially in the moving description of Africa during colonization. The glorious, pre-colonial Africa is no longer the present Africa. The lingering memories of loss, slavery, humiliation makes the present freedom taste bitter. Postcolonial Africa is an Africa of a different kind. Colonialism may end but the bitter memories linger forever. This is a poem in which Diope by the power of his imagination calls forth three stages in the continent of Africa's history: pre-colonial days of proud warrior tribes, the colonial experience of subjugation and humiliation, and the postcolonial freedom and sovereignty. The first seven lines present an essentially idealized image of Africa with which the speaker identifies .Then follows a realistic picture of Africa's experience of bitterness, despair and mockery under colonial rule. The last eight lines present a future of hope built on some of the realistic elements of colonial experience: Africa as a young tree patiently springing up and gradually acquiring "the bitter taste of liberty". In David Diope's poem, "Africa", the poet hopes to create a renewed Africa out of the bitter experiences of colonialism. The poem is postcolonial as it gives the understanding that the effects of colonialism will continue to haunt even after the disappearance of colonialism. The poet's preoccupation with the past glories is also suggestive of its postcolonial nature.

Despite not having been to Africa, he calls it “My Africa” to emphasize his sense of belonging as he describes the “black blood” which flows in his veins as a descendant of the continent. The verses assume an angry and accusatory tone as he stresses that it is the blood and sweat of his people which is irrigating the fields of the colonialists without any benefit to the black people of Africa. Diope goes on to urge the black African people to stand up to the humiliation and pain that they suffered in their own motherland, reminding them of the strength and pride they have in them. He stresses the need to say no to the whips of the colonial masters who make them work under the hot midday sun leaving ugly scars on their backs. Despite this suffering the narrator urges Africans to be strong and resist being broken by the heavy weight which colonialism symbolizes. Africa is then personified as an elder who chides the narrator for thinking “impetuous” thoughts, implying that the continent is aware of impending changes or revolution. The tree “young and strong” represents the young generation of Africans who are patiently but “obstinately” waiting until they get the liberty they are waiting for. The tree is standing among the “white and faded flowers’’, by which the poet means the colonialists who will fade in time while the youthful Africans will grow in strength and wait for the moment to seize their freedom from the invaders. Diope realizes that freedom will not be acquired on a silver platter, but will have to be fought for so that the black people will eventually acquire “the bitter taste of Liberty” in the end.

The poem remains significant even after many years of “independence” from colonial rule because the continent still experiences neo-colonialism up to this day. Black people should not be under the illusion that political independence automatically translates into full independence from oppression and exploitation. The demonization of true pan-African leaders such as President Mugabe (pictured left) is an apt example of how neo-colonialists continue to find ways of exploiting Africa despite the façade of “independence” making Africans think that colonialism is over. When President Mugabe calls for economic freedom as opposed to political freedom alone, the neo-colonial powers rush to point out that Africa is now “free’’ when in actual fact it is only the faces in government who have been Africanized whilst the benefits from land and resources continue to be enjoyed by the Europeans. Thus David Diope’s poem continues to be relevant to Africa in the 21st century despite having been penned during the height of colonialism in Africa.

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