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8/22/2019 The Literature of Africa Introduction
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AFRICAN
LITERATURE
8/22/2019 The Literature of Africa Introduction
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*African literature consists of a body
of work in different languages and
various genres, ranging from oral
literature to literature written incolonial languages (French,
Portuguese, and English).
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*Oral literature, including stories, dramas, riddles,histories, myths, songs, proverbs, and other
expressions, is frequently employed to educate
and entertain children. Oral histories, myths, and
proverbs additionally serve to remind wholecommunities of their ancestors' heroic deeds,
their past, and the precedents for their
customs and traditions.
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Since the early 19th cent. writers from western Africa
have used newspapers to air their views. Several
founded newspapers that served as vehicles for
expressing nascent nationalist feelings. Their poetrynot only denounced colonialism, it proudly asserted
the validity of the cultures that the colonials had tried
to crush.
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Africa (by David Diop)Africa, my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in 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 work of your slaveryAfrica, tell me Africa
Is this you, this back that is bent
This back that breaks
Under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the middaysun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded
flowersThat is your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.
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David Mandessi Diop (19271960) was a revolutionaryAfrican
poet born in France but with parents of West African descent.
His poems highlighted problems of Africa brought about bycolonialism and gave a message to Africans to bring about
change and freedom. He was known for his involvement in
the negritude movement in France, a movement started by
Black writers and artists protesting against French
colonialism and its effects of African culture and values. Hisviews and feelings were published in "Presence Africaine"
and in his book of poems "Coups de pillon" which was
published in 1956. Diop died at the age of 33 in a plane
crash.
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Ancestral-of previous generations: relating to something
belonging to former generations of somebody's family
Impetuous-acting impulsively: acting on the spur of themoment, without considering the consequences
obstinately - refusing to change: unwilling to change or
give up something such as an idea or attitude
Savannah- grassy plain: a flat grassland, sometimes with
scattered trees, in a tropical or subtropical country
Whip-strike against something sharply:
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Africa (by David Diop)Africa, my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in 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 work of your slaveryAfrica, tell me Africa
Is this you, this back that is bent
This back that breaks
Under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the middaysun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded
flowersThat is your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.
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Africa, myAfrica
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distantriver
AFRICA
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I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veinsYourbeautiful black bloodthat irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
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Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
This back that never breaks under the weight ofhumiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun
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But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over thereSplendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquiresThe bitter taste of liberty.
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Africa, myAfricaa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs b
Africa of whom my grandmother singsb
On the banks of the distantriverc
AFRICA
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I have never known you d
But your blood flows in my veins bYourbeautiful black blood that irrigates the fields b
The blood of your sweat e
The sweat of your work f
The work of your slavery g
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Africa, tell me Africaa
Is this your back that is unbent h
This back that never breaks under the weight ofhumiliation l
This back trembling with red scarsb
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sunj
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But a grave voice answers me g
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong k
That tree over there cSplendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers b
That is your Africa springing up anew l
Springing up patiently, obstinately g
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires bThe bitter taste of liberty. g
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1. What is the poem about?
2. Who is speaking in the poem?
3. What emotion does it communicate?4. Are there lines which you oppose?
5. How do you feel about the poem?
6. What is the intention of the author in writing the poem?
7. How does the message of the poem appeal to you as aperson?
8. What does the poem tell about the way of life in the
place where it originated?
9. How do rhymes or the regular recurrence of similar
sounds shape the meaning of the poem?
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