A Far Cry from Africa by Derek Walcott: Introduction, Information, Critical Analysis and Conclusion -- englit.in

Q:How does Walcott explore the complexities of identity and loyalty in the context of colonialism and violence?             

An African and European poet, Derek Walcott (1930-2017), also known as “a Saint Lucian” poet, wrote one of the most eminent post colonial poems ‘A Far Cry From Africa’. It was published in his collection “The Green Night anthology”(1962). The poem “A Far Cry From Africa” was written on the horrific events of Kenya in Africa in the 1950s. In the course of the poem, it shows the inhumanity of men against the post-colonial sedition of Mau Mau. And the fighters fight more than eight years long against the unruled British Government to get their motherland. It was against colonialism which was begun by the British Government.

Walcott’s political poem “A Far Cry From Africa” is a three-stanzaic poem; however, it  contains thirty three lines.  It doesn’t have a regular rhyme scheme, although it follows  slant rhyme and not an actual free verse poem.

In the first stanza, the poem expresses a disruption that the Twany pelt (or leopard’s fur) is affecting Africa. A tribe in Kenya, “Kikuyu, quick as flies”, is an example of a simile. In this context, the Kenyan group is  feeding on the “bloodstreams” of the grass land. Here, “Corpses are scattered through a paradise”, symbolize the violence of Africa where dead bodies are scattered through their own land.

At the midst of the first stanza, Walcott elicits there is no sympathy inside the people who individually “die”. The line,  “statistics justify and scholars seize”, opens with an Epigram. The poet expresses his lamentations by asking “what is that to the white child hacked in bed?”, to show that innocent children are not spared from this destructions. In addition, the poet compares to the native people with Jews who are expended by the “dominant power.”

The second stanza expresses the beaters who are brushing away the cruelty with “the long rushes break”. The term “Wheeled”, expresses the Ibises’ cries that are started from the Civilization’s beginning. In this context, the African landscape is harshly compared with “the parched river or beast-teeming plain”. Furthermore, Walcott is conveying the idea that the African and European peoples’ minds lack humanity, and they fight senselessly.

In the midst of second stanza, violations, exploitations, and infractions are spread. The poet prays to god “by inflicting pain”, and he  lightly shows his anger by expressing “delirious”, and depicts inhuman like the “craziest man”. On the other hand, the poet compares the war with “dance” and “drum” are created with “tightened carcass”. However,  The poet is calling the Africans with courage still fearfully and “the peace contracted by the dead”. He says with deep feeling that the people are "contracted" to their death, because they fight with violations and infractions.

The third stanza begins with the phrase, “brutish necessity,” which means Africans were forced to fight ferociously for their freedom. The poet expresses the term, “dirty” because they are creating violence. In this regard, He compares the destructions with Spanish Civil war (1936-1939). “The Gorilla wrestles with the Superman”, means Africans are fighting against the British armies. The poet is confusing because he is also an  African-European.  And he expressed two countries are creating violence for that reason his “blood is poisoned.”

In the midst of third stanza, the poet expresses, “I who have cursed/-- The drunken officer of British rule”, who is creating the violence. In confusion, the poet lamentably says “how choose/--between this Africa and the English tongue I love?” And says how to stay cool in this pathetic circumstances. In the last line, Walcott, in a dilemma, questioning whether he should stay in Africa or “turn from Africa and live.”

To conclude, Walcott’s poem ‘A Far Cry From Africa’ is a post colonial vision of Africa that specifically focusing on Mau Mau rebellion of Kenya against the British colonial rule of  1952-60. The poem uses “highly visual, executive imagery, and vividly fleshing”. It arises physical and psychological events. The poet juxtaposes both the Africans and the British who are  focusing on each group’s transgressions. According to Jamaican Poet Edward Baugh that “the poem's violence extends beyond its form and imagery.”

 

   

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