‘Telephone Conversation’ The price seemed reasonable, location Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived Off premises. Nothing remained But self-confession. ‘Madam,’ I warned, ‘I hate a wasted journey—I am African.’ Silence. Silenced transmission of Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came, Lipstick...
Poetry
Summary and Analysis of ‘Black Woman’
‘Black Woman’ Naked woman, black woman Clothed with your colour which is life, with your form which is beauty! In your shadow I have grown up; the gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes. And now, high up...
Summary and Analysis of ‘Always a Suspect’ by Oswald Mtshali
‘Always a Suspect’ I get up in the morning and dress up like a gentleman – A white shirt, a tie and a suit. I walk into the street to be met by a man who tells me “to produce.”...
Summary and Analysis of ‘Hunger’
Hunger makes a person lie down— he has water in his knees. Hunger makes a person lie down and count the rafters in his roof. When the Muslim is not hungry he says, We are forbidden to eat monkey. When...
Summary and Analysis of ‘Letter to Martha 17’
Background: Dennis Vincent Brutus (1924–2009) was born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia in 1924 to South African parents, Brutus was of indigenous Khoi, Dutch, French, English, German and Malaysian ancestry. His parents moved back home to Port Elizabeth when he was...
Summary and Analysis of ‘Building the Nation’
Background: Christopher Henry Muwanga Barlow (1929-2006) was born on 1st May 1929 in Uganda. Henry Barlow attended King’s College Budo (1936–48), where he excelled in cricket and lawn tennis. It was at Budo that Barlow discovered poetry. He joined Makerere...
Summary and Analysis of ‘Nightfall in Soweto’
Background: Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali (1940—) was born in Vryheid Natal, South Africa on January 17 1940. After his early education, he left Johannesburg. He attempted to gain admission into the University of Witwatersrand but apartheid disallowed this. He worked as...
Summary and Analysis of ‘Night Rain’ by JP Clark
Background: John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo (1935-2020), popularly known as J. P. Clark, was born in Kiagbodo, Delta State, Nigeria, to Ijaw parents on April 6 1935. Clark received his early education at the Native Administration School and the prestigious Government College...
Summary and Analysis of ‘Stanley Meets Mutesa’ by David Rubadiri
Background James David Rubadiri (1930- ) was born in Liuli, Nyasaland (now Malawi), on July 19, 1930. Rubadiri attended King’s College, Budo in Uganda from 1941-1950 then Makerere University from 1952-1956, where he graduated from with a bachelor’s degree in...
Summary and Analysis of ‘The Daydream of Ants’ by Tanure Ojaide
‘The Daydream of Ants’ 1 Hunter friend of mine hide-string this scooped ironwood through which the wind blows its woes; hide-string this cylindrical handicraft into Uhaghwa’s music box. I want to strike hard notes for the head and hands that...