AFRICA

By David Diop

Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in the 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 slavery of your children
Africa tell me
Is this you this back that is bent
This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
This bitter taste of liberty.
 Analysis on David Diop’s Africa
Roden F. Manliguis

The dramatic monologue intensifies that of the poetic structure constructed by Diop in
conversing with the Africa throughout the poetry’s logical development. Accordingly, its
development is thematically divided into three parts: pre-colonial Africa, colonial Africa, and post-
colonial Africa. Although this Black American poet grew up in France, his awareness of West
Africa’s situation caused him to be deeply engage in speaking through the voice of independence
from colonialism.
First, he introduced Africa in the first 7 lines. This part implies both traces of blood to whom
his parents grew up and the country’s richness before the exploitation of cultures and traditions.
These clues were evident in the lines “Africa of proud warriors in the ancestral savannah”, and “But
your blood flows in my veins”. This country is known for having savage beasts in the fields and
forests, Africans are believed to be defeating them with bare hands. Likewise, he emphasized the
“On the banks of the distant river” to say that he may be on the other side of the world but through
his grandmother’s lullaby, he became aware of their situation there.
Second, the transition shifted to colonial torture and exploitation in the next 9 lines. The
poet speaks about the fact how the sweat of Africans was lost in vain “The blood of your sweat, the
sweat of your work”, all this was done at a time when Africans were turned into slaves and worked
for their masters without any benefit – “the work of your slavery, the slavery of your children”.
Moreover, their burden became too much as they experience oppression and humiliation, “This
back that breaks under the weight of humiliation, his back trembling with red scars, and saying yes
to the whip under the midday sun”, which are the most common practices in colonial time. They
were used to force Africans work for colonisers without objection. This has left scars to Africa that
we still depend on them even when they seem to mistreat us.
Lastly, the effects of colonialism were evident in the last 8 lines. “That is Africa your Africa.
That grows again patiently obstinately”, where the poet concludes his poem by showing the effects
that colonialism had on African continent. Nevertheless, he seems to be optimistic that at least
Africa is growing up again just like a young tree. The tree young and strong became the symbol of
the country. Likewise, “a bitter taste of liberty” speaks of how being oppressed is not a simple thing.
It needs sacrifice and determination. Some people lose their lives in the process. So in such a case
liberty is never sweet but bitter memories.
The overall and most used figures of speech and poetic devices is anadiplosis and
rhetorical questions, symbolism, imagery, personification, alliteration, reiteration, exaggeration,
alliteration, and reiteration. Anadiplosis, is known to be the repetition in which the last expression of
one statement becomes the first expression in the following statement “The blood of your sweat…
the sweat of your work”. Rhetorical question such as “Is that you this back that is bent?” Moreover,
the symbolism is on scars, whip and blood as it stands torture, and black blood for African identity.
The imagery for image of taste “bitter taste of liberty”, and image of heat “the sweat of your work”.
 The poem discusses the issues facing not just the colonialism and their freedom, but also
their current economic status of the present where they have been badly damaged due to the past
events. There may be many economic policies adopted in an attempt to recover the economy but
it’s still too far from being satisfied. Diop’s poem became the identifier of Africa’s memories,
experiences, and economic growth. Therefore, this has become used in the pursuit of academic
endeavours of students, as well as the appreciation of their culture, and their literary works and
authors.