A one- stanza poem written in celebration of Africa and its culture. The poet was a nationalist, politician and activist before independence. In most of his poems, he fights against the domination of the African culture.
This poem has both cultural and political undertone. In its cultural undertone, the poem is a plea to all Africans not to be ashamed of their colour and culture. The poem starts thus:
"don't preserve your customs
as some fine curios
to sort some white historian's tastes..."
With the European coming, the Africans suffered inferiority complex as the whites became superior to them. The poet however condemns this, asserting that Africans should not keep their culture to suit the taste of the whites. Rather, they should be proud of their blackness and culture because nothing artificial beats the natural way.
He elevates the blacks asserting that their naturaliness is superior to the artificial ways of the whites.
However, the poet still advises Africans to accept what the whites bring. They may follow their ways but they should use the African brain and intelligence.
The tone of the poem changes on Line 10, where the poet plegded to rise in rebirth as a better man. After they have been made new, they will no longer be ashamed as those who once doubted their abilities will now be forced to acknowledge the strength in Africa. The poet here addresses the white's inability to see the strength in Africa due to pride, they only acknowledge their strength in secret. The whites only see the negativity in Africa forgetting that they are no less a man, that is, no man is perfect.
TThe poet tells the whites to bury their prejudice and show their noble side in allowing the blacks also live an unrestricted live.
In conclusion, just as the title of this poem implies, it is a plea to Africans to take pride in their african culture.
This poem has both cultural and political undertone. In its cultural undertone, the poem is a plea to all Africans not to be ashamed of their colour and culture. The poem starts thus:
"don't preserve your customs
as some fine curios
to sort some white historian's tastes..."
With the European coming, the Africans suffered inferiority complex as the whites became superior to them. The poet however condemns this, asserting that Africans should not keep their culture to suit the taste of the whites. Rather, they should be proud of their blackness and culture because nothing artificial beats the natural way.
He elevates the blacks asserting that their naturaliness is superior to the artificial ways of the whites.
However, the poet still advises Africans to accept what the whites bring. They may follow their ways but they should use the African brain and intelligence.
The tone of the poem changes on Line 10, where the poet plegded to rise in rebirth as a better man. After they have been made new, they will no longer be ashamed as those who once doubted their abilities will now be forced to acknowledge the strength in Africa. The poet here addresses the white's inability to see the strength in Africa due to pride, they only acknowledge their strength in secret. The whites only see the negativity in Africa forgetting that they are no less a man, that is, no man is perfect.
TThe poet tells the whites to bury their prejudice and show their noble side in allowing the blacks also live an unrestricted live.
In conclusion, just as the title of this poem implies, it is a plea to Africans to take pride in their african culture.
African,my african.we are no longer a slave and we should rise up from our sleep and value our culture and traditions.
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