A theme that runs through poems in this unit is that a sense of pride is important to a sense of self-worth. What do you think is the connection between this theme and Africa's history of colonial rule? Support you view with details from at least two of the selections you have read.
The connection between the theme of pride and Africa's history of colonial rule lies in the impact the latter had on the former. Colonial rule often stripped Africans of their sense of pride, identity, and self-worth, leading to a struggle for reclaiming it. This theme is evident in the poems "African Names" by Ama Ata Aidoo and "Telephone Conversation" by Wole Soyinka.
In "African Names," Aidoo explores the significance of African names and their connection to pride. She highlights the impact of colonial rule on African names, describing how the colonizers imposed their own naming conventions and ridiculed African names. Aidoo writes, "Some fingers pointed at us/when we were called/and if you were called Quashi Esuaba, you shriveled/in humiliation!" This humiliation caused by colonial disdain for African names reflects the erosion of African pride and self-worth. Aidoo emphasizes the importance of reclaiming traditional names as a means of restoring that pride: "O look at them now/The insults they hurled at our names/cannot touch them now/By our sweat and tears/Our children pay school fees/to learn to recite the names!" Here, she shows the power of preserving one's cultural heritage to regain a sense of pride and self-worth.
Similarly, in "Telephone Conversation," Wole Soyinka vividly portrays the dehumanizing impact of colonial rule on African dignity. The poem revolves around a telephone conversation between an African man and a landlady who expresses implicit racial prejudice. The landlady asks the man if he is "dark or light," an inquiry designed to determine his racial background. The man responds, "West African sepia," subtly asserting his pride and identity. However, the poem highlights the challenge of maintaining pride and the vulnerability to external judgment caused by colonial rule. Despite the man's pride, he admits, "I have never seen/a piece of chocolate/that was not sweet" – implying a sense of acceptance that his race and identity will always be the subject of scrutiny and inferiority due to colonization.
Both poems illustrate the devastating impact of colonial rule on African pride and self-worth. The imposed superiority complex of the colonizers undermined the Africans' cultural practices, including their names and physical appearance, leading to a loss of identity. However, the poems also emphasize the importance of reclaiming pride by reviving cultural heritage and resisting internalized prejudice. Through the exploration of African names and the challenges faced during conversations, these poems offer a powerful commentary on the connection between the theme of pride and Africa's history of colonial rule.