summons

 SUMMONS

CO-ORDINATOR: RICHARD S. MABALA

PUBLISHER: TANZANIA PUBLISHING HOUSE 

YEAR: 1980 

It is the first collection of poetry in English in Tanzania. Although Tanzania was under British colonialism, the poets in this collection are young people brought up in the ferment of the policy of socialism and self reliance. Their poetry is therefore would be expected about problems of building socialism. They are about and against ideologies which mystify the vision people have of themselves and of their lives.

They are also about ordinary human questions and about the search of the poets for personal happiness and meaning in their life. There are about the suffering of our people under imperialist exploitation, in alliance with its local argents who include bureaucrats, and dishonest leaders.

SUN RISE (Jwani Mwaikusa)

Behold!

The sun has arisen,

And with it the sons of the land have arisen too

Forward they go,

Well armed,

Singing praises to the beauty of the sunrise,

With the determination of long-term warriors,

Challenging the enemy With the courage of a free mind And the vigour of a clear purpose.

Sit and wait brethren,

Wait and see what glory they bring at sunset; How they pay homage to the land - And their people!

Analysis of the poem

a. What is the poem about?

The poem is about the sons of the land who have risen up singing the beauty of the sunrise. They are challenging the enemy waiting for a victory at sunset.

b. For whom does the poem tell us that the sun has risen?

From the poem, the sun has risen to the oppressed ones (the sons of the land i.e. peasants or workers who should rise up against oppression, exploitation, discrimination)

c. The poet talks about ―challenging the enemy‖ who do you think the enemies might be?

The enemies might be oppressors, humiliaters, exploiters, imperialists etc.

d. What events do you think the “sunrise and sunset” probably symbolizes?

The sunrise symbolizes the beginning of the struggle against evils in the society or period of rain, while sunset symbolizes the end of the struggle, and a period of harvest.

e. With the determination of ―long – term warriors‖ what do you think the word ――long – term‖ tells us about the poet`s view of the struggle?

The word ―long – term‖ means the distant future. The word implies that the struggle will take a long time.

f. There is one line that does not have normal word order. Which line is it and why is it so?

It is line 4, ―Forward they go‖ it`s function is to stress the word ―forward‖ to encourage people to continue with the struggle.

g. The poem contains two major images. What are they? The images are sunrise and sunsets.

 Sunrise - symbolizes the beginning of the struggle (rainfall)

 Sunset – symbolizes the end of the struggle or freedom time or area of harvest.

h. What is the theme of the poem?

The poem talks about evils of colonialism/imperialism or oppressive ruling class.

Therefore the main themes are; Exploitation, Oppression and Humiliation of the lower classes by the powerful class.

i. What type of poem is this?

It is a sonnet poem, because it has fourteen verses with free verse.

DEVELOPMENT (Kundi Faraja)

   Development

A man of the

Enters his office to sit on the throne of Party and State, His stick of power Across the table.

He looks into the files

To see the demands

Of the millions of people

Who for years since Uhuru

Have just managed to survive

They ring out one message

Man of the people

You have always been telling us What we need...

Health centres,

More schools,

Clean water,

Better transport facilities, Better living conditions.

Do you plead incapable To bring about development?

I declare running

Better than walking

For a young and poor country;

I plead fighting underdevelopment

Tougher than fighting

A wounded buffalo

With a pocket knife;

I plead underdevelopment

Stronger than the blows of the sea When the hurricane is at its height.

I plead fighting underdevelopment

Tougher than combating colonialism;

I see that it's more difficult To maintain peace

Than to stop a coup d'etat

I plead the cry

Of the nation

More painful than the yell

Of a woman

As her husband dies of sickness;

It's more painful than the screams

Of a man

Dying in agony

In the coils of the greatest python Found in the African forest

How is development

To be brought brother

When the people to whom We have entrusted power Are corrupt?

I plead the stomachs

Of the privileged few

Greater than the Rift Valley; They cannot be satisfied With a normal share.

I plead the thirst

Of the minority

Greater than that of the Sahara: No rains can quench it.

I reckon the minority

More sensitive to egoism

Than to National Development; Nothing that is not theirs Is of any interest.

Their response to egoism.

Is faster than camera film to light

But as slow as tropisms to nation-building.

The majority plead

Exploited,

Cheated,

Disregarded,

But, brother, How is development to come?

Analysis

i) What is poem about?

The poem is about development in developing countries. The poet argues that whenever there is selfishness, corruption, exploitation, and oppression there will be no development.

ii) Is the persona happy in this song? Why?

The persona is unhappy. He is complaining about the behaviour of some leaders who are corrupt, selfish, and irresponsible. Such leaders lead the countries into underdevelopment

iii) What does the term ―Egoism‖ means in this poem?

The term ―Egoism‖ refers to selfishness. It is thinking of one`s own interest or needs without thinking about others. It is also means not sharing what one has with others.

iv) Trace the verses which trace the possible themes and tell what themes they carry?

a) ―…the people to whom we have entrusted power. Are corrupt‖ These verses carry theme of corruption.

b) ―I reckon the minority, More sensitive to egoism‖ these verses are portraying the theme of selfishness.

c) ―The majority pleads exploitation‖ it depicts the theme of exploitation.

    v) Discuss the themes found in this poem?

a) Selfishness. It is the thinking of one`s own interest or needs without thinking for others, or it is the behavior of not sharing what one has with others. In the poem, the poet has depicted selfishness of leaders as one of obstacle against development in the developing countries like Tanzania. The leaders are sensitive to selfishness than building the nation. He says: ―I reckon the minority

    More sensitive to egoism

    Then to National Development‖

   It is true that the selfishness of most leaders is very dangerous in the process of development.

b) Corruption. It is immoral action where one gains his favour by giving bribes. It can be in terms of sex or materials. This is a problem which most of developing countries and even the developed ones are facing.

   In this poem, the persona argues that it is very difficult for a nation to develop when corruption dominates the society. We cannot get development with the corruption. The persona says,

   ―How is development

   To be brought brother

   When the people to whom

   We have entrusted power

   Are corrupt?‖

   Therefore the poem maintains that corruption hinders the development.

c) Classes in the society. In this poem, the persona has pinned down the two major classes in the society. The first class is the upper class in which the persona seems to dislike it.

  To him this class includes the minority who are selfish and corrupt. It is the class of the people whom we have entrusted power.

  The poet say,

  ―I plead the stomachs

   Of the privileged few

   Greater than the rift valley; They cannot be satisfied With a normal share.

 The second class is that of the majority who are exploited, cheated, and disregarded. In the last stanza, the persona says:

  ―To majority plead

    Exploited Cheated.

    Disregarded

    But brother

    How is the development to come?

d) Exploitation. It refers to the use of manpower or materials selfishly or unfairly. In this poem, the minority are selfish and not satisfied with what they have. The poet says:

―To majority plead Exploited Cheated.

    Disregarded

    But brother

    How is the development to come?

  The lower class is complaining that the upper class is exploiting them. So with this evil, there will be no development.

d) Poor social services. The persona has discussed the issue of social services in the society. Since independence, people have been demanding better living standards and improvement of social services. But all these years of Uhuru have proved failure. Leaders have proved incapable of bringing development. People need health centers, more schools, clear water, better transport facilities and better living conditions. In the second stanza, the persona says:

 He looks into the files

 To see the demand

 Of the millions of the people

 Who for years since Uhuru

 Have just managed to survive

 They ring out one message

 Man of the people

 You have always been telling us

 What we need…

 Health centers

 More schools

 Clean water

 Better transport facilities  Better living conditions.

From the above stanza, development seems to be tough. Luck of social services are indicators of underdevelopment.

According to the persona, all these problems have been contributed by leaders.

They are not capable. Here says,

   ―Do you plead incapable To bring about development?‖ 6. What do we learn from this poem?

 The lessons we get from the poem is that; wherever there is egoism, corruption, exploitation, poor leadership, then it is too difficult to develop. Therefore, we should fight against all these evils.

7. What is the form of the poem?

a) Type of the poem.

 This is an open form of poem. The poem length varies systematically in the length of the verse, and in number of verses in each stanza. There is no pattern to explain the poetic form. b) Structure of the poem

   The poem has twelve stanzas. The first has six verses, the second has fourteen, the third has two verses, and the fourth has ten verses, while the fifth has five verses, the sixth has ten verses, the seventh stanza has five verses and the eight has five verses.

   The ninth stanza has four verses, the tenth has five verses but the eleventh stanza has four verses and the twelfth stanza has six verses.

e) Language/ diction

 The language used in this poem is simple, ordinary, clear and straight forward.

Although the language characterized by the following:

i) Repetition of words for emphasis i.e. ―plead‖ ―underdevelopment‖

―development‖ and ―A man of the People‖

 For stance, ―A man of the people‖ emphasizes an irony towards leaders. ii) Barbarism: the poet has also used a swahili word, i.e. ―Uhuru‖ in the 2nd stanza.

f) Hyperbole

g) Exaggeration is used to magnify the ideas, example, ―the stomachs of the minority greater than that of the Sahara‖ iii) Personification has been used in this poem. This can be seen in the fourteen stanza when a country is given qualities of running and walking. The persona says:

         ―I declare running

           Better than walking

           For a young and poor country…‖ d) Tone/voice

 The altitude of the poet is ironic, sympathetic or satirical. The persona is in very deep feeling.

e) Mood. The state of mind of the poet is ironic, serious and angry: this is due to exploitation, selfishness and corruption. The pardoner hates the leaders who are selfish, corrupt and exploiters.

f) The relevance of the Poem. The poem is relevant to all developing countries, like Tanzania and other African countries where corruption is

rampant. The persona says: ―How is development

                                                      To be brought brother

                                                      When the people to whom

                                                      We have entrusted power Are corrupt?‖

LIVE AND LET DIE (KUNDI FARAJA

One says that

My children are dwarfs

That no one seems taller Than the other.

That they never take a bath,

That they are soiled,

That they eat lice

From their clothes Let them eat, brothers,

Until the system changes. Until exploitation ends:

Let them eat brother,

Because we are on the way

To build Ujamaa

But, at present,

The system has not changed.

Let them eat, brother,

Because the rich nations

Are not yet ready

To die a little

So that the poor nations may live:

Let them eat, brother,

Because the rich man

Is not yet ready

To die a little

So that the poor man may live.

Let them drink water.

Let them eat air.

Let them digest the sunshine Because that is what I can afford to buy.

Meanwhile I wait

For Uhuru to flower,

For Uhuru to come

When the time is ripe.

Let them eat brother.

Because the rich man

Is convinced that It's because I'm lazy That they don't have food.

That they don't have good health. That they wear rags.

And that their house

Is like an abandoned hut

Let them eat brother

Because the rich man

Thinks that it's because

I don't plan my Family

Let them eat brother.

Because the rich man

Does not like to hear

That he is rich

Because of me

That I work hard,

But for him and

Not for myself

That it's only because

I'm a slave of a system

That I lead a poor life

GUIDING QUESTIONS

i. How many stanzas does this poem has? This poem has six stanzas. ii. What is the poem is about?

The poem is about a poor person who is disappointed with the existing system. The relationship between the developed countries and developing countries is exploitative in nature. iii. What do you think the poet means when he says, ―to die a little‖ He wants the rich nations to relieve the poor nations so that they can develop. Therefore, to die a little‖ is to be considerate for the benefits of the poor countries.

iv. What type of poem is this?

It is an open form poem. This is because the number of syllables varies in each verse, even the length of the verses varies. There is also a variation in number of verses in each stanza.

      v. Themes

Exploitation. It can be looked in different forms; it can be through forced labour, un equal exchange etc. The foreign bourgeoisie uses African government leaders and businessmen as puppets to protect their interest and to help continue exploiting the African masses. The presence of poor living conditions in the society is result of exploitation. The poet says―  ―one says that

 My children are dwarfs

...they are soiled

 That they eat lice…

…let them eat brothers

...until exploitation ends‖

In other words, exploitation has made most of the families lead poor life.

a) Impact of neo – colonialism to developing countries. Neo colonialism refers to the use of economic or political pressure by powerful countries to obtain or to keep influence over other countries especially their former countries. The poet argues that since big countries are using their powers in economy and political matters, then the poor countries will not develop. In this poem, neo- colonialism can be evidenced when the poet says:

 …because the rich nations

 Are not yet ready

 To die a little

 So that the poor nations may live.‖

The persona sees neo-colonialism as an obstacle to development. Had the rich countries been ready to reduce powers over these poor countries, it would have been easier for poor countries to develop. But the rich people and rich nations are not ready.

b) Poor living conditions. The standard of living among most Africans is below the average. Most people are living poor life. They do not get important and necessary services at better level, i.e. few schools, poor health centers, poor communication systems, etc. Due to this, children are getting Kwashiorkor as a result of underfeeding. The existing system has failed to solve problems in order to improve the living condition. The poet says,

―one says that

My children are dwarfs

That no one seems taller

Than the other

That they never take a bath

That they are soiled

 The health of these children seem to be poor due to poverty.

c) Classes in the society. Two classes of people emerge in this society, especially after independence. The class of poor people does not own anything. That is why the poet says:

        …because the rich man

        Is not yet ready

        To die a little

        So that the poor man may live…

This proves that the rich are exploiting the poor. The relationship between these two classes is exploitative in nature.

d) Poverty. It is a state of being poor, or lack of important human needs. Most of Africans are poor, they cannot afford basic needs. On this poem the poet says:

    Let them drink water

    Let them eat air

    Let them digest the sunshine

   Because that is what

   I can afford to buy

   …that they don‘t have good health That they wear rags.

h) What lesson do we get from the poem

The system must be changed in order to improve the living conditions of developing countries. Exploitation done by both the rich people and rich nations is an obstacle to the development.

Form of the poem

a) Type of the poem? It is a free verse poem. b) Language/ diction

The language used is very clear and straight forward. The poet has employed images and figures of speech.

i) Satire. ―let them digest the sunshine because that is what I can afford to buy‖

ii. Symbolism. ―to die a little ― to sacrifice a little bit‖

iii. Imageries. The poet has used the terms ―dwarfs, soiled, rags, abandoned hut‖ indicating poverty. d) tone/voice

 The tone of the poet is satirical and sad.

e) Rhyme schemes

 It has irregular rhyme pattern.

f) The relevance of the poem

 The poem is relevant to all developing countries where most people are still poor and there is exploitation of lower class by rich people. g) Mood of the poet

 The altitude of the poet is sad. He believes that if the system is changed, then

development can be achieved.

LOST BEAUTY

BY JWANI MWAIKUSA

There are only white women around: Awful fakes of white females Reflecting an awful mass of ugliness: And I want a lady To mount the rostrum with And announce to the world:

―Black is beautiful!‖

Yes,

I want a black beauty queen

With ebony thighs and huge hips

With skin sweating blackness

And a face dark as the night And bare breasts bouncing Vigour and energy.

APPRECIATION

INTRODUCTION

But my eyes, oh my eyes!

They don‘t see anything black;

It‘s only white skins and masks

Flashing past and slashing, Destroying my sight so I can‘t get what I want.

I cry and sing to them

The inbred tune of our people,

I shout to them in the black tongue But no black sister hears me; Only white masks I see.

I turn and weep upon myself And then, only then I realize: I am not black either.

Lost beauty is a critical poem written by a late Tanzanian professor, Jwani Mwaikusa (1952-2010) that clearly depicts the effects both colonialism and neo-colonialism have had on Africans and African culture in general. Today most Africans are suffering from colonial hangovers. While some wish they were born white, some have taken a further step ahead trying to make themselves look white. So they strongly struggle to appear at their best, think, act and live like white people. What they forget however is that described by Okot P‘Bitek in the ―song of Lawino‖ that ―The graceful giraffe cannot become a monkey‖ this is to say Africans should remain Africans and white men should remain as they are.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

EFFECTS OF NEO-COLONIALISM

Principally, the poem assesses the effects colonialism has had on the African culture. African culture has been seriously damaged by what Africans were fooled to believe as the way of civilized people.

Today most Africans, (especially women), struggle to change their skin colour using cosmetics, curl their hair and as if that‘s not enough they wear wigs with different white women‘s hair fashions. They don‘t even realize that black colour is stronger than their white counterpart. Nevertheless, according to the poet the more they beautify themselves in white fashions the uglier

they look (line 3). He has the following to say (lines15-17)

My eyes oh my eyes They don‘t see anything black Its only white skins and masks.

AFRICAN NATURAL BEAUTY

Initially Africans were very proud of their body morphology, but in the turn of the 20th and 21stcenturies things have changed dramatically. Africans were created naturally beautiful, and for so long they have lived appreciating this wonderful creation. However, after the coming of white people things have changed in a sense that Africans now cling to the culture that is not theirs. Not only has this affected the way they look at things but also the way they themselves appear. It is hard nowadays to get a naturally beautiful African lady. They curl their hair and wear wigs to look like white women. They don‘t

realize that black is beautiful says the poet.(lines 9-14)

I want a black beauty queen

With ebony thigh and huge hips

With skin sweating blackness

And a face dark as the night And bare breast bouncing

vigour and energy

AWARENESS

The poet‘s reflection on himself draws a clear picture of awareness and consciousness by showing how grand is this dilemma. He goes back and looks at himself; perhaps the way he dresses, the food he eats, the language he uses, the education he has and his general lifestyle and comes into a conclusion that these values are not African either. This is to say the poet is aware that colonialism has left effects to both African men and women. This sense of awareness comes to him in the last stanza when he says;

I turn and weep upon myself And then only then I realize I am not black either.

BACK TO AFRICANISM

The poet seems to table a discussion for African to debate and arrive at a conclusion on whether or not the direction we are heading is right. We need to stop a bit and rethink where we came from where we are, where we should have been. We are losing our identity as Africans while in the process we shall never be white people altogether. This has been a concern of most African novelists, poets/poetess, and playwrights. Since white people never wish to change and look like Africans, then why should Africans do? Since the graceful giraffe cannot become a monkey, let us be proud of our

Africanism and struggle to create a black identity. As the poet says in (lines 47);

And I want a lady

To mount the rostrum with And declare to the world Black is beautiful.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

a) What does the title ―Lost beauty‖ tell you?

The title shows that there was some kind of beauty initially which has been lost now. It simply refers to Africans who have lost their natural African beauty in the process of trying to look like white people by using artificial designs.

b) The poet says ―my eyes oh my eyes! They don‘t see anything black‖ what does he mean?

Considering the surrounding atmosphere in the poem it shows that all the people around him have masked themselves with European fashions and he can‘t find one who is displaying the qualities that are completely African.

c) Who is the persona in this poem?

The persona is an African man who is aware of how European culture has dismantled African culture.

d) Comment on the tone and the mood of the poem.

The tone is lamenting, satirical and sarcastic. The persona cries for the change that has taken place, but later he realises that even himself is affected by this change. This makes his mood sad and unhappy.

e) The poet says, ―I shout to them in a black tongue‖ what do the words ―black tongue‖ mean?

The fact is, there is no black tongue in colour, but ‗black‘ here implies African tongue. In other words it means in a way (language) that Africans can hear and understand.

f) Comment on the figures of speech and poetic devices.

 Simile;

And a face dark as the night  Hyperbole :

―to mount the rostrum with and announce to the world‖ the fact is one cannot announce to the whole world from a rostrum (stage)

 Repetition

My eyes oh, my eyes!

 Imagery

―White masks‖ this is an image of Africans who have artificially changed themselves to look white.

 Alliteration

Black beauty queen

And bare breast bouncing….

g) What message do you get from the poem?

 Africans should be proud of their identity.

 Black is beautiful

h) Read again the last line of the last stanza. In what sense is the poet not black?

The poet realizes that he is not black in a sense that the white men values have affected him as well. And not in terms of skin colour.

RELEVANCE

The poem is relevant to most African countries since the effects of colonialism have affected the whole continent. Today a lot of women struggle to change their black skins to be white by using cosmetics. Some even hate their black hair and were wigs or curly their hair.

NECTA (2012) poems have their own part to play in the struggle to create a new man. Use the poem above to prove the statement.

YOU ARE LOST

Isack Mruma

Questions (BRN 2013)

 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

    i. How many stanzas are there in the poem? There are six stanzas in the poem. ii. What is the tone/mood of the speaker?

The tone is sad and lamenting.

iii. Comment on the use of figures of speech.

Barbarism

To you dada

It is to you dada

Personification

… the tenderness that asks where my wallet is With your passion chasing my bank account.

iv. Comment on the rhyming scheme.

The poem has irregular rhyming patterns with exception of only two lines that seem to rhyme. Lines (14-15)

Never are passions cool

To you I am now a tool

v. Is the poem relevant to the society today? Why?

The poem is relevant to our societies today because today love can be bought. Most girls today wish to marry men who are well-off. And if at some point in your life you happen to have money then you have a dozen of girls around you kissing, hugging and chasing for your money, but the moment you run bankrupt you lose all your girls altogether.

vi. What are the themes of the poem?

HYPOCRITICAL LOVE

The kind of love portrayed in this poem is not the true one. It is a love focused on money. This girl kisses the man only when she notices that he has money. If the guy happens to have no money she minds her own business, then there is no love. Your glance sister,

Is to me the measure

Of the heat of the dough

In my pocket

The persona shows that the girl has turned him into the tool of production or the source of income. He works and his entire wage is claimed by the woman.

Never are passions cool

To you I am now a tool

And all my wage is now the fare

I ride on your throbbing kisses

PROTEST/CONFLICT

The man in the poem shows a sense of protest because he has realised that his mistress is not in true love with him. The woman‘s love is focused on the money she gets. When no money, no love. So the man is protesting against his mistress‘ behaviour. It is to you dada

That my pen tears the pad

For I only see your love

Focused on my purse (wallet)

AWARENESS

The man is aware that the woman is only exploiting her money in the name of love. Even when she pretends to touch him romantically, she just searches for the wallet. So the man has realised that her love was lost a long time ago,

what makes it going is money. Here says the poet;

It is you I accuse,

Because your love is lost

And you only touch me

With the tenderness that asks

Where my wallet is

PROSTITUTION

The woman seems to be engaged in prostitution because her love is for sale. She looks for people with money and has no true love. This is a very dangerous behaviour because it exposes her to terrible sexually transmitted diseases. The man shows that the woman is always chasing his bank account.

For I only see your love

Focused on my purse With your passions

Chasing my bank account.

What lessons do you lean from the poem?

a) Prostitution is dangerous because it may expose someone to STDs.

b) Love based on money is not good. Because when one runs out of money love is lost altogether.