WHAT IS AFRICA? BY PELEKANI LWENJE
GENRE: POETRY TITLE: WHAT IS AFRICA? WRITER: PELEKANI LWENJE, ZAMBIA REVIEWER: COMFORT NYATI, ZIMBABWE
The persona undoubtedly presented a poem curtailed by an inquisitive title. The direction and acceleration of the poem is leading and assertive. It keeps resounding a prodigious tone that invites the reader to the parable of the prodigal son. In the context of the piece, the prodigal son refers to a child of the black continent who seem to be mentally swallowed by the western mindset, while alienating from the native land. To this, the African child ought to look back and return home. The return may not mean the physical, it may take any form e.g., appreciating the home ground and home brewed way of life. This makes the entire piece dress a gown of patriotism.
In a simple diction and tone of concern, the poet is inquisitive of Africa who suffers the subjection of slavery which comes in different dimensions, she questions a continent that suffers the yoke of subjugation without showing any signs of rebellion or repelling. Only to remain passive with no action. The poem serves a dual purpose: first is to awaken the African audience while campaigning for a new African Renaissance and secondly, it instigates a black revolution.
What is Africa without change, it is an outcry of a diminished partisanship and eroded pride as suggested in S2. The poet reproaches the naïve African who emulates the world queens while depreciating the beauty that dwells in the continent. This, in simply terms could be referred to as not only as identity despising rather deconstruction of self while constructing the other who doesnt care about you. The poem goes on to advocate for a revolution that may lead Africans to realize the damage. It is like, I would say, are blinded and have a disoriented attitude that water down the ideology of indigenization.
The poem is sculptured with a high-level of audacity and self-assertiveness. It yearns for a new revolution that germinates through a change of mentality and change of attitude in the manner we embrace the beauty of our continent. Of course, there could be numerous reasons behind the lack for African pride. One of it could be due to political and economic disillusions. Despite that, the poem retains its charismatic verve to urge an African child to own a sense of pride and belonging. This is vividly portrayed in the subsequent use of metaphors, Africa is earth, Africa is the truth and Africa is the eternal parent.