By: Ugwu Lawrence Enenche (M.A English Literature) Explanation and Analysis of the African Poem: “The Grieved Lands of Africa” by AGOSTINHO NETO (1922 – 1979) Slavery and slave trade: The African Experience… ST A N Z A ON E: The Grieved Lands of Africa” 01 Ugwu Lawrence Enenche (M.A English Literature) The grieved lands of Africa In the tearful woes of ancient and modern slave In the degrading sweat of impure dance Grieved Stanza One Summary/Analysis The grieved land recall the “tearful woes” of what wa suffered by Africans in their lands in the hands of th colonizers. The influx of people from other lands usin force to conquer Africa is what the poet considers a “degrading sweat.” The poet argues that the reasons th colonizers gave for coming to Africa was not genuine “impure dance.” Modern slavery in African lands… STANZA TWO: “The Grieved Lands of Africa” 01 Ugwu Lawrence Enenche (M.A English Literature) The grieved lands of Africa In the infamous sensation of the stunning perfume of the Flower Crushed in the forest By the wickedness of iron and fire (modernization) The grieved lands Stanza Two Summary/Analysis The poet returns to the motif of “the grieved lands of Africa” (l.6). Th beauty of the land was destroyed by “the wickedness of iron and fir (modernization). The so-called modernization is no more than takin away Africa’s resources. The reference to “lands” is an indication th the injustice to Africa was not at one spot but all over the continent. “In the infamous sensation…” “ancient and modern…” STANZA 3 “The Grieved Lands of Africa” 01 Ugwu Lawrence Enenche (M.A English Literature) The grieved lands of Africa In the dream soon undone in jingling of jailer’s keys And in the stifled laughter and victorious voice of laments And in the unconscious brilliance of hidden sensations Of the grieved lands of Africa Stanza Three Summary/Analysis Another level of the persecution of Africa is “in the dream undone” (l 13) using imprisonment – “jingling of jailers keys.” The Africans dreamt of freedom from colonial exploitation and hoped for self-rule. This freedom which will bring “laughter and victorious voices is being “stifled” by the colonizers. The stifling heralds “laments” from the Africans. The poet argues that Africans are dogged and that is “hidden” from their oppressors. He envisaged the eminent freedom in the last two lines. STANZA 4 “The Grieved Lands of Africa” 01 Ugwu Lawrence Enenche M.A English Literature) Alive In themselves and with us alive They bubble up in dreams Decked with dances by baobab over balances By the antelope In the perpetual alliance of everything that lives St a n za Fo u r Su m m a r y /A n a l y s i s In spite of all, Africa and Africans remain “alive” and can sustain “themselves” without the aid of the colonizers. The poet argues that the exploitation of Africa did not lead Africans to depression, rather Africans are “lively” and bubbling with “dreams”. Africans dream dance and hope for better future where “everything” will work in “alliance” to the favour of the Africans. STANZA 5 “The Grieved Lands of Africa” 01 Ugwu Lawrence Enenche (M.A English Literature) They shout out the sound of life Shout it Even the corpses thrown up by the Atlantic In putrid offering of incoherence And death and in the clearness Of rivers Stanza Five Summary/Analysis This stanza is a continuation of the argument of the poet from stanza four; that despite the dehumanizing treatment of th Africans, Africans are still in sound health and full of life. Th “corpses thrown up by the Atlantic” do not discourage th African consciousness. They are the corpses of the dead whil enroute to European countries for purposes of slavery. Th death of many Africans do not deter the living Africans from envisaging freedom and victory. STANZA 6 “The Grieved Lands of Africa” 01 Ugwu Lawrence Enenche (M.A English Literature) They live The grieved land of Africa In the harmonious sound of consciences Contained in the honest blood of men In the strong desire of men In the sincerity In the pure and simple rightness of the stars’ Existence Stanza Six Summary/Analysis Rather than Africans die, “they live” (l. 29), th grieved land of Africa survived the colonial invasion There is the will among the Africans to live An survive their years of human denigration. African survive because the stars also do survive – “th rightness of the stars Existence.” STANZA SEVEN: “The Grieved Lands of Africa” 01 Ugwu Lawrence Enenche (M.A English Literature) They live The grieved land of Africa Because we are living And are imperishable particles Of the grieved land of Africa. Stanza Seven Summary/Analysis The grieved land of African are not dying they live “ because we are living” (l. 40 The poet argues that Africans ar “imperishable”, despite the severa attempts by the colonizers to annihilat them from their homeland. Class Activity 1)How does the poem portray the circumstances of Africans before and now? 2)Attempt a justification of the title of the poem in relation to its content. About The Writer • “Mr. Ugwu Lawrence Enenche is an organized professional lecturer/teacher with strong subject knowledge and practical experience, providing high quality lessons delivery to students and furthering the cause of education by implementing successful teaching practices learned over the years of working as a school teacher, university lecturer and facilitator with students of different backgrounds and cultures. He is a prolific writer and reputable researcher on African literature and folklore. His poems, articles, research works, short stories and novels have won several awards. His recent novels are Just After Dawn, A Talking Dream, Gone With Love and Concrete Shadows.” Contact: ennywall1234@gmail.com