Thus she had lain
sugarcane sweet
deserts her hair
golden her feet
mountains her breasts
two Niles her tears.
Thus she has lain
Black through the years.
Over the white seas
rime white and cold
brigands ungentled
icicle bold
took her young daughters
sold her strong sons
churched her with Jesus
bled her with guns.
Thus she has lain.
Now she is rising
remember her pain
remember the losses
her screams loud and vain
remember her riches
her history slain
now she is striding
although she has lain.
Maya Angelou’s profound poem, “Africa,” stands as a powerful testament to the continent’s enduring spirit and its complex history. This evocative work, first published in her 1975 collection Poems, resonates deeply with readers, offering a poignant exploration of Africa’s beauty, its suffering under colonialism, and its ultimate resilience. Understanding “Africa” involves delving into its rich imagery, its central message, and the masterful use of literary and poetic devices that make it such a compelling piece of literature.
Understanding the Poem “Africa”: Summary and Central Ideas
The poem “Africa” by Maya Angelou is a deeply symbolic and emotional narrative that personifies the African continent as a majestic woman. It unfolds in three distinct stanzas, each representing a crucial phase in Africa’s historical journey.
- Initial Beauty and Serenity: The poem begins by portraying Africa in a state of pristine beauty and natural abundance. The continent is depicted as a sleeping woman, with her features mirroring the land’s geography and resources. This imagery evokes a sense of peace, richness, and inherent dignity before external interference.
- The Trauma of Colonialism: The second stanza marks a dramatic and painful shift. It describes the arrival of colonizers, referred to as “brigands,” who violently exploit Africa’s people and resources. This section vividly illustrates the brutal impact of slavery, the imposition of foreign religion, and the widespread violence that characterized the colonial era. The serene image of Africa is shattered by this period of profound suffering and injustice.
- Resilience and Rising: The final stanza shifts to a tone of hope and empowerment. Despite the immense pain and losses of the past, Africa is depicted as “rising” and “striding.” This signifies a powerful movement towards reclaiming its identity, acknowledging its history, and forging a future of strength and self-determination. The poem emphasizes the importance of remembering the past not as a burden, but as a foundation for future growth and healing.
The central idea of “Africa” is the enduring spirit and resilience of the African continent in the face of historical oppression. It highlights the devastating impact of colonialism while simultaneously celebrating Africa’s inherent beauty, rich history, and unwavering capacity for renewal. The poem serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of historical memory and the strength found in overcoming adversity.
In-Depth Analysis of Literary Devices in “Africa”
Maya Angelou masterfully employs various literary devices to imbue “Africa” with profound meaning and emotional depth. Examining these techniques reveals the poem’s intricate layers and its powerful message.
Personification
Perhaps the most striking literary device in “Africa” is personification, where the continent is given human qualities and characteristics. This allows readers to connect with Africa on a deeply emotional level, understanding its history as a personal narrative of trauma and resilience.
Thus she had lain
sugarcane sweet
deserts her hair
golden her feet
mountains her breasts
two Niles her tears.
Here, Africa is a woman with “hair” (deserts), “feet” (golden, perhaps referring to mineral wealth or sun-drenched lands), “breasts” (mountains, symbolizing nurturing and abundance), and “tears” (the Nile rivers, representing both life-giving sustenance and historical sorrow). This sustained personification throughout the poem transforms a geographical entity into a living, suffering, and ultimately triumphant being.
Metaphor
The entire poem functions as an extended metaphor, comparing Africa to a woman who experiences periods of peace, brutal violation, and eventual resurgence. Beyond this overarching comparison, specific metaphors enrich the poem’s imagery.
sugarcane sweet
This phrase is a metaphor for Africa’s natural bounty and inherent sweetness, suggesting a land rich in resources and pleasantness before exploitation. The “white seas” in the second stanza metaphorically represent the oceans crossed by colonizers, often associated with European powers, and also hint at the cold, unfeeling nature of their arrival.
Imagery
Angelou uses vivid imagery to appeal to the reader’s senses and create powerful mental pictures. The descriptive language helps to establish the poem’s contrasting moods.
deserts her hair
golden her feet
mountains her breasts
two Niles her tears.
These lines create a rich visual image of Africa’s landscape, transforming its geographical features into the body of a woman. Later, the imagery shifts to reflect suffering:
bled her with guns.
This stark image evokes the violence and bloodshed inflicted upon the continent, appealing to the sense of sight and even a visceral sense of pain.
Symbolism
Various elements in the poem carry symbolic weight, representing broader ideas and concepts.
- “Black through the years”: This line symbolizes Africa’s racial identity, its historical experience, and its enduring presence. It also subtly hints at the racial dynamics of colonialism.
- “White seas / rime white and cold”: These phrases symbolize the European colonizers and their ships, often associated with coldness, detachment, and the harshness of their actions. The contrast between “black” Africa and the “white” invaders is a powerful symbolic representation of racial and power imbalances.
- “Brigands ungentled / icicle bold”: These terms symbolize the colonizers as ruthless, uncivilized, and unfeeling invaders, highlighting their aggressive and exploitative nature.
- “Sugarcane sweet,” “deserts,” “mountains,” “Niles”: These natural elements symbolize Africa’s inherent wealth, vastness, and life-giving essence, which were coveted and exploited.
Allusion
An allusion is an indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work. Angelou uses allusion to comment on the cultural and religious imposition during colonialism.
churched her with Jesus
This line alludes to the historical practice of missionaries introducing Christianity to Africa, often alongside colonial expansion. It suggests that religion was sometimes used as a tool for cultural domination and to justify exploitation, rather than purely for spiritual enlightenment.
Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. This device creates emphasis and a rhythmic effect, making the message more impactful.
remember her pain
remember the losses
her screams loud and vain
remember her riches
her history slain
The repeated “remember” in the third stanza serves as a powerful call to action, urging readers to acknowledge and learn from Africa’s past. This repetition creates a haunting rhythm and underscores the critical importance of historical memory for healing and progress.
Alliteration
Alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely connected words, adds musicality and emphasis to certain phrases.
sugarcane sweet
The repetition of the “s” sound here creates a pleasing, soft quality, emphasizing the natural abundance and gentle beauty of Africa before its suffering.
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within closely positioned words. It contributes to the poem’s musicality and can highlight specific emotions.
took her young daughters
sold her strong sons
The repeated “oo” and “o” sounds in these lines subtly reinforce the theme of loss and exploitation, creating a somber, drawn-out effect that mirrors the prolonged suffering described.
Consonance
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within words, not necessarily at the beginning. It adds texture and rhythm to the language.
took her young daughters
The repetition of the “t” sound here emphasizes the harsh, decisive act of taking, underscoring the violence and theft inherent in the colonial experience.
Enjambment
Enjambment occurs when a line of poetry continues onto the next line without a pause or punctuation. It creates a flowing rhythm and can emphasize certain words or ideas.
Thus she had lain
sugarcane sweet
deserts her hair
The opening lines utilize enjambment to create a continuous flow, visually emphasizing the interconnectedness of Africa’s features and the seamless beauty of its initial state. It draws the reader’s eye down the page, mirroring the vastness of the continent.
Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Africa”
Beyond literary devices that shape meaning, poetic devices contribute to the poem’s structure, rhythm, and overall aesthetic impact.
Diction
The poem’s diction, or word choice, is carefully selected to evoke strong emotions and convey its central themes. Angelou uses a blend of evocative, almost mythical language in the first stanza and harsh, direct language in the second, before shifting to a tone of determination in the third.
- Evocative Diction: Words like “sugarcane sweet,” “golden,” and “lain” (in the first stanza) create an image of natural beauty and peaceful repose.
- Harsh Diction: In the second stanza, words such as “brigands,” “ungentled,” “icicle bold,” “took,” “sold,” “churched,” and “bled” convey the brutality and exploitation of colonialism. These words are stark and confrontational, leaving no doubt about the violence inflicted.
- Empowering Diction: The final stanza employs words like “rising,” “striding,” and “remember” to convey a sense of agency, resilience, and the importance of historical awareness.
Stanza Structure
The poem is comprised of three stanzas, each serving a distinct narrative purpose and contributing to the poem’s overall progression. This consistent structure provides a clear framework for the chronological and emotional journey of Africa.
Octave
The first and last stanzas of “Africa” are octaves, meaning they consist of eight lines. This traditional poetic form provides a sense of completeness and balance, framing the central narrative of suffering with images of initial peace and ultimate resurgence. The middle stanza, with its nine lines, subtly breaks this pattern, perhaps reflecting the disruptive and unbalanced nature of the colonial period.
End Rhyme
While “Africa” is largely written in free verse, Angelou strategically employs subtle end rhymes, particularly in the first and last stanzas, to create a sense of musicality and cohesion without imposing a rigid structure.
Thus she had lain
sugarcane sweet
deserts her hair
golden her feet
mountains her breasts
two Niles her tears.
Thus she has lain
Black through the years.
The rhyming pairs like “lain/tears/lain/years” (with “tears” being a slant rhyme) and “pain/vain” and “sons/guns” provide a gentle rhythmic structure, enhancing the poem’s lyrical quality and making it more memorable.
The Enduring Message of “Africa”
Maya Angelou’s “Africa” is more than just a poem; it is a powerful historical narrative, a lament, and a declaration of strength. Through its masterful use of personification, vivid imagery, and resonant symbolism, the poem invites readers to confront the painful realities of colonialism while simultaneously celebrating the indomitable spirit of a continent. It serves as an essential reminder that history, with all its sorrows and triumphs, must be remembered and understood for true healing and progress to occur. The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to articulate profound truths about identity, resilience, and the universal human experience of overcoming adversity.