AFRICAN POETRY

What is AFRICAN POETRY?

It is a large and complex subject, not least

"because there are literally thousands of
indigenous languages spoken in Africa and
many more dialects, every African country
has an official language (or 11 in the case
of South Africa). This official language
acts as the ‘lingua franca’ for (at least) a
reasonably sized region
Slavery and colonization, with its
devastating impacts on the majority of these
countries, also resulted in English, Portuguese
and French, as well as Creole or pidgin
versions of these European languages being
spoken and written by Africans across the
continent
 Forms Of African Poetry
Poetry in South Africa is divided into two different
forms, namely written and praise poetry.

o WRITTEN POETRY – poetry which is written

by an poetry writer . The Written poem has a
theme which is crelated the traditions and
beliefs of african peoples.
o PRAISE POETRY - To praise means to express
admiration, give homage and to proclaim the
positive attributes of someone. These poems
are created so that the young people in the
tribe know who they are, who their ancestors
are, why they are loved, and what special gifts
they bring to the tribe and the world.
 CHARACTERISTICS
The modern and contemporary poetry in Africa
more than anywhere else has the unique
characteristic of closely associating with their
national politics. Not a few among their noted and
reputed poets were highly eminent revolutionaries
who successfully made it to supreme political
power. Mozambiq and Zambia are examples. Dr.
Augustino Netto made it. Samora Maschel and
Joseena Maschel nearly made it.
 CHARACTERISTICS
 STORYTELLING - Much African literature has an oral
component that comes from the tradition of slave
spirituals and poetry. In addition, the rhythms and
language of Black sermons, as well as elements such
as repetition and circularity, are frequently used by
African American poets. Poets such as Langston
Hughes, Amiri Baraka and Gwendolyn Brooks used
many of these elements in their poetry.
 HISTORY TELLING – They’re much about telling their
histories so they can come up ideas to write in their
poems.
 FREE VERSE –
 BACKGROUND POETS - joined when in main oratory
position, etc.
 African Diaspora
Chief Charles O. Okereke

In the diaspora he sat down;

And there he wept;
Remembering Africa;
Mouth open, unable to a song.

Eyes full of the ocean;

Mouth imploded with praises;
Thought stacked full of memories,
Memories of Motherland Africa.

In bits he uttered;
Africa, my cherised home;
In the diaspora unable to a song;
I want to come to thee.
 Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
Eze elina, elina!
     Sala
Eze ilikwa ya
lkwaba akwa oligholi
Ebe Danda nechi eze
Ebe Uzuzu nete egwu
     Sala
------------------------------------------------------------------
King, do not eat, do not eat!
     Sala
King, if you eat it
You will weep for the abomination
Where White Ant installs king
Where Dust dances to the drums
     Sala
THE END