Summary
Summary African Poem (Augustine Neto)
- Course
- English Home Language
- Institution
- 12th Grade
African Poem (Augustine Neto) - analysing the poem and background information.
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The poem appears to say there is no differencebetween the primordial transatlantic slave trade
and colonialism; that slavery is slavery no matter
what name one calls it or embellishments one gives
it. It is an outright depiction of a slavery movement
that shook the continent of Africa vigorously.
The effect the poet achieves with the
inclusion of many foreign words. The reasons why the mulatress uses ‘rice-powder’
on her face.
They make the poem realistic, and the
words specifically describe typical
‘Rice-powder’ whitens a face, and whiteness is
African things and places.
now considered beautiful. / She is making herself
attractive for men. / She is enhancing her looks in a
manner that shows the new ideas of beauty
colonisation has brought
, Lines 3 – 4:
Line 10. 1. There on the horizon Personification: The baobabs are black
Repetition: The word 2. the fire against the light and look like human
‘sweet’ is repeated for 3. and the dark silhouettes of the imbondeiro trees
figures standing against the dangers to
4. with their arms raised
emphasis. The come, with their arms raised.
5. in the air the green smell of burnt palm trees
woman’s appearance
and her kindness are 6. On the road
both ‘sweet’. 7. the line of Bailundo porters
8. groaning under their loads of crueira
9. In the room
10. the sweet sweet-eyed mulatress
11. retouching her face with rouge and rice-powder
12. the woman under her many clothes moving her hips
The difference and 13. on the bed
similarity between lines 3 – 14. the sleepless man thinking Communities get together at night and make
15. of buying knives and forks to eat with at a table music.
4 and lines 18 – 19.
They celebrate – ‘with their arms raised’ (line 19).
16. On the sky the reflections
In this image the fire is 17. of the fire The music is ‘warm’ (line 20), which suggests
reflected onto the sky and 18. and the silhouette of the blacks at the drums happiness and peace.
19. with their arms raised
the figures are not trees but 20. in the air the warm tune of marimbas
people playing the
21. On the road the porters The last stanza differs in imagery and tone from the rest of
marimbas. Both the 22. in the room the mulatress the poem.
images have extended 23. on the bed the sleepless man
24. The burning coals consuming • The repetition of ‘consuming’ suggests severe damage;
limbs/arms, symbolic of 25. consuming with fire that little remains afterwards.
triumph or protest at a time 26. the warm country of the horizons.
• The peaceful image of people listening to ‘warm tune(s)’
when there seems to be contrasts with that of coals that are ‘burning’; ‘consuming’.
conflict. • It is an ongoing and devastating process.
• Both the literal and figurative meanings convey an
ominous tone.
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