Marinel D.

Gomez 8- Flaviano Yengko

Africa, My Africa
By: David Diop

1. Explain David Diop's Africa, My Africa.

Based on what I have learned last Tuesday the title of the poem is
Africa, My Africa because to emphasize his feelings of patriotism towards
Africa. David Diop start his poem by recalling the past about Africa, he
has not seen the land but only heard from his grandmother's stories. The
word distant symbolizes how far he is in Africa. In the 2nd stanza he says
that he has never known Africa, but he can't deny how much it is a part
of him. The blood and sweat of the people in Africa which is irrigating the
fields for the benefit of other people, because of being slave most of the
Africans died. In the 3rd stanza he encourage the Africans to stand up to
the pain and the humiliation that they are suffering in their own country.
David Diop urges them to be strong and take courage despite of their
suffering. And in the 4th stanza he encourage the Africans to be patient,
the tree "young and strong" represents the young children’s who will make
the change. "White and faded" flowers by which he means the colonialists
who will fade in time while the youthful Africans grow in strength and wait
for their moment of freedom.
 2. What have you learned after reading the poem?

After reading the poem I learned that David Diop portray his pain, his
struggle for understanding, and his passion for the freedom of Africa. Also
he give a message of hope and resistance to the people of Africa. In
addition his poems focus to the problems of Africa brought by the
colonialism and to bring about change and freedom. Moreover I learned
that we must fight for our freedom and don't let anyone bring you down.
Additionally I learned to stand up to the pain or any obstacles I face and
have strength that I can conquer it. The poem also taught me to have a
stronger desire to love, respect, adore and support my country even
more, to believe that the youth is the change of the nation.