Theme of Death in Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan

 Introduction

Hello to you, fellow reader, this post aims to examine the theme of death in the drama Once Upon An Elephant By Bosede Afolayan. The post will be useful for students, teachers and lovers of literature.

Theme of Death

In the drama Once Upon An Elephant, death is also one of the central message.

Death truly served as a reward for sin_ such as greed and wickedness committed by some characters in the drama.

Serubawon and Olaniyonu (aka Ajanaku) were rewarded with tragic end.

In chapter 14 of the drama, Ajanaku's charm backfired while trying to finalize the ijedodo rite with the use of the sixth virgin (Desola) and Serubawon also committed suicide once all his hidden secrets had been revealed by Iya-Agba.

Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan is considered a tragedy because the theme of death was employed to give it a tragic end and a tragic hero.

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Analysed 15 WAEC Recommended Poetry

1. Analyzed I think It Rains By Wole Soyinka I Think It Rains by Wole Soyinka could be a kind|literary composition|literary work} of difference; it differs in each form each structure, diction and message. The literary work appearance into the observe of smoking tho' one cannot predict the author's stand (whether of likeness or dislike). The literary work is constructed on figure since the puffing, smoking is equate to a downfall and each alternative imageries ar in support of the descending, the condition before the rain, the descriptive image of the smoke being a Rain-Reeds and circling spirit, etc. 2. Analyzed No Coffin No Grave By Jared Angira This literary work is regarding the shameful murder of a tyrant. He was injured and enclose front of an evening club; the writer sardonically compared his murder shut to a shot representing a final reference to a human. rather than the literary work being a pure verse form, the writer created a critical verse form that was beautified with irony and locution to indicate his dislike towards the wicked and self-loving life crystal rectifier by the tyrant leader; it had been therefore unfortunate for the dead politician World Health Organization wanted to own revered burial ceremony however complete with a decreased massacre. 3. Analyzed Young Africa's Plea By Dennis Osadebay As the title of the literary work suggests, the literary work speaker is seen mendicancy for his freedom of selection and his freedom of association. The is culturally inclined and somewhat relates to the difficulty of civilization and distinction in color. 4. Analyzed Agbor Dancer By John Pepper Clark The literary work holds an outline of Agbor woman doing a standard dance, occupancy response to rhythm of the drums in an exceedingly} very dazzling and magestic approach. Agbor Dancer could be a literary work written in four stanzas with five lines every. the primary textual matter delineated the dance woman and also the drum that made the music she dances to, stressing the approach her whole person was absorbed within the dance whereas the second and third textual matter checked out the body movement of the dancer whereas dance and so travel to the unity between the 2 (dancer, percussionist and song). 5. The Blood Of A stranger By Dele Charley [3 Themes] “The Blood of a Stranger” by Dele Charley is bound a tragedy within the sense that every one the evildoers in Mandoland reaped the reward of their evil accordingly; wherever Kindo killed Parker as the way of avenging Soko’s death; the identical Kindo additionally decapitated Whithead (the corrupt and greedy White World Health Organization came to Mando with the aim of exploiting their diamond). 3 Among the Themes within the Blood of a stranger are: 1. Corruption and also the aftermath of corruption: just about all the sure leaders in Mandoland ar corrupt. Their corrupt spirits ar lighted by greed and also the must amass the wealth even at the expense of the villagers. Whitehead, whom the villagers_ initially, chastened his arrival_ became a authorised figure in Mandoland, when incorrectly informing the individuals he came to form a tobacco farm in Mandoland. 6. Analyzed Night Rain By John Pepper Clark The literary work talks regarding rain falling within the night and also the effects of it on alittle boy, the opposite brothers, the mother and also the little improverished abode. The boy wakes up not knowing the time as "no cock crow" The rain starts falling onerous. He takes into thought the results of this on his brothers World Health Organization ar suggested to sleep on; on his mother World Health Organization ceaselessly shifts "her bins 7. Analyzed Piano And Drums By Gabriel Okara Judging from the definition of poem ("vers libre" in French language), any literary work with no explicit rhythm or metre and while not a rhyme theme are often spoken as a poem. it's vivid however archangel Okara with this literary work imitated poet in making not possible effects so much on the far side the boundaries that even blank verses will cross. 8. Vanity By Birago Diop [3 Themes] In the literary work vanity by Birago Diop, there are 3 major poetic devices that gave the literary work her grandeur. These are (1) representational process (2) Repetition (3) statement. 9. Appropriateness of the title Vanity By Birago Diop The literary work Vanity was written by Birago Diop, the author of a poetry book titled: Lures And Glimmers (1960). Birago Diop wasn't simply a writer, he was a medico and was once an envoy of African nation to African country. He was born 11/11/1906 however died 10/11/1989. There was no direct show of vanity within the literary work as a result of the twenty 9 lines of the literary work were written while not one word referred to as vanity, however the literary work speaker painted the image of vanity from begin to end. 10. Analyzed Listen Comrades by David Diop Since the birth of civilization, difference and also the struggle for freedom have lasted on the far side the expectations of humans. such a lot of literature have confined the variable happenings of people's fight for freedom that in most cases are never without lose of lives and belongings. 11. End of War by Okinba Launko The literary work is analogous to the literary work title The board by Gbanabom Hallowell. within the literary work "End of War" by Okinba Launko, line four and five of the literary work are prove that men are actually the casualties; the lines declared "the silence of the battlefield/ heralds the widow's anguish". the boys that visited war die departure their wives to suffer the pain and aftermath of war that happens to be a long-lasting widowhood. [click here to pay attention to the audio] 12. Watch Video Analysis of faceless by Amma Darko 13. Theme of Mistaken Identity in the Rivals 14. Analysis of Fulani Creation Story 15. Analysis Of Abiku By Wole Soyinka

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Theme of African Culture in the Drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan

Introduction

One of the O-level examinations conducted just asked candidate to "Examine the theme of African Culture in the drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan". I have therefore taken it upon myself to answer the question for the benefit of candidates who might encounter similar question in the future.

Theme of African Culture in the drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan

 In the drama, there are many cultures affiliated with Africa_ most especially the Yoruba culture. Few of those are the African form of coronation, African way of primitive courtship, etc.

This enlightening work of art by Bosede Afolayan, showed how courting was been done in the time past within an African setting. A case study to point to is Odekunle and Desola. They were lovers; they always rendezvous in the bush, path to the streams and under farm trees. Whenever they meet, they chat romantically while discussing their wedding plans and blah blah blah.

Another instance of African Cultural promotion in "Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan" is the process towards the coronation of Olaniyonu (aka Ajanaku). It was noted in the drama, how Serubawon was constantly fortifying him with libations, inca Intations, and charms_ as that he could reign like a demigod.

Conclusion:

Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan is a tragic drama about greedy quest for power. The author or playwright is a Nigerian and a teacher of language.

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The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Alabi Garba (Review of Chapter 4)

Introduction

The prose on the table is the Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Alabi Garba_ most especially the chapter 4. This post will be useful to any lover of literature, to students and to teachers.

Chapter 4: A Case of Visa Denied

Mrs Ignatius called Bepo at late night (11:55pm) to complain about her husband who had decided to stay late out.

Mr. Ibe Ignatius worked as a manager with an oil firm earning N6,000,000 naira monthly (according to the prose narrator, the kind of salary a "bloody" teacher like Mr. Bepo would call "an armed robber's salary").

Mr Ibe Ignatius had become fed up of Nigerian economy and wanted to relocate abroad; which will also help him fulfill his promises that his children must go study and live abroad.

Unfortunately, the visa was denied because DNA test revealed that Favour (an S.S.S. 2 student of Stardom Schools) was not his. Such revelation had affected the marital relationship and since then Ibe had been misbehaving because he had decided Mrs Ignatius and her daughter go search and live with their rightful owner.

The chapter 4 also noted the story of Mr. Ayesoro (the Social Studies teacher at Stardom Schools who's face carries tribal marks). He was transferred to Stardom Hub_ the real estate firm under Stardom Group of Companies, after Mrs. Ladele complained heavily to the school authority that her daughter Bibi was constantly having countless nightmare night after night seeing Mr. Ayesoro's face in dreams and getting heavily scared of his horrifying facial tribal marks. 

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Stone Child and Other Poems by Syl Cheney-Coker (Synopsis)

Introduction:-

Stone Child and Other Poems by Syl Cheney-Coker is an anthology that embodies the poem "The Breast of the Sea by Syl Cheney-Coker" and many other poems of his.

As already noted, "The Breast of the Sea" is one of the forty (40) poems in the anthology titled Stone Child and Other Poems published by the poet in the year 2008 with ISBN 9789780810672.

Synopsis:-

Stone Child is about the nameless gemstone child that became such a feature in the recent history of the poet’s country. Written with compassion and moral deliberation, the poems in the first section of this volume resound with the pain and love that the poet felt as he reflected on the tumultuous politics and tragic destiny of his beautiful land. The rest of the volume is in homage to people and places around the world that have also touched the poet deeply. It is Cheney-Coker at his most humane, while he was dealing with a personal tragedy during his most recent period in exile.

The list of poems in the book are: Homage to Stone Child, New Year in Freetown, 1999, Our Lady of Diamonds, When the Dead Talk, The Meaning of Our Rivers 1, The Meaning of Our Rivers 2, This Evening, Next Morning, The Breast of the Sea, Letters from Home, The Golden Chalice, Out of the Abyss, Old Rites, New Mirrors, Las Vegas Gothic, Short Tail, On Viewing Chris Ofili’s “Holy Virgin Mary”, All His White Hairs, Olodumare’s Clay, The Birds At the Harbourfront, The Orators, Harmonies, Death in New York, Sept 11, 1973 & 2001, Oceanic Cantabile, Turkish Diptych, Iranian Diptych, The Gods of the G-8 Summit, Lake Fire, To My Wife Dying of Cancer 1, To My Wife Dying of Cancer 2, Homecoming, New Frontier, Life Sketches, A Simple Lesson, Transition, Portraits of a family, The Madman Near the British High Commission in Freetown, Profit and Loss, The Nobel Tree Woman & Elegy For the Ebola Saint, Bitter Leaves, Widow(er)hood.     

The Author:-

Syl Cheney-Coker, Sierra Leonean poet and novelist. Author of three previous volumes: Concerto for an Exile; The Graveyard Also Has Teeth; and The Blood in the Desert’s Eyes. In 1991, he was awarded the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize (Africa’s Best Book Region), for his novel The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dumbar. He has also won Commonwealth Short Story Prize. His poetry has been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Russian, French, Portuguese and Chinese.    

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Redemption Road by Elma Shaw (Chapter 16 Review)

 Introduction

I'm posting this article to discuss the novel "Redemption Road by Elma Shaw (chapter 16 review)". This post will be very useful to those fan of literature.

Review of Chapter 16

Bendu Lewis eventually managed to escape from Varney.

Bendu knocked Varney down knowing he was weed-intoxicated and hallucinated. Bendu punched him in the throat to become unconscious. She seized his gun and with the possession of Varney's gun she ordered Weah to tie him.

She took the car-key for the taxi which they used to bring her hostage to the beach.

Instead of taking the taxi, she began running for her life "avoiding the bushy shortcuts in case someone would mistake her for a thief or in case she met a dead end, Bendu jogged steadily along the dusty road until she reached Tubman Boulevard."

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Analysis of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara

Introduction 

Based on those messages sent to me through the Tutor-Me link, inquiring about the poem titled "New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", this post will discuss the poem, the background, the theme, the settings, the structure, the poetic devices, the mood, the tone, etc. 

This post will be very useful for students, teachers, and anyone who seek following questions such as "what are the themes of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara", "summary of New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", "lesson note for New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", "can I get the pdf review of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara", etc. 

Elizabeth L. A. Kamara

She is an author, poet and teacher of English language literature. Born and bred in Sierra Leone. 

New Tongue 

The poem titled "New Tongue" by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara is poem that indirectly decried Africans foolishness for neglecting their own culture and norms for borrowed modernisation; the poem also examined few of the flaws associated with the new culture or lifestyle adopted. 

Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is worrisome and lamentation in order to create the mood for awareness and reflection.

Diction

The choice of words by the poet, aligns with a layman's understanding. Therefore, making the message easy to comprehend.

Third Person Point of View 

New Tongue by Elizabeth LA kamara has a third person plural narrative technique. By employing words, "they", "their", "family", "bonds", "minds"; it gave the readers a sense of general phenomenon in term of the change accepted. 

Stanza

The poem is of 5 stanza of uneven count of lines per stanza. (Stanza 1) they have adopted a new culture and language they so much cherished to the extent that the old is now a mere dream_ which has affected the ties that used to exist between family and friends. (Stanza 2) the new generation doesn't give a damn about the bond that comes from sticking to the norms of family, traditions, and heritage. (Stanza 3) they are now against gerontocracy_ or simply the principle of elders first. (Stanza 4) they glorify their new way of life which prioritizes the boring self-centered attitude. (Stanza 5) they hung on to the borrowed culture and decided to never look back. 

Lines

New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara is poem with the total of 46 lines void of planned rythmns_ which makes poem a free verse. 

Flow

The poet hit on her concern in the first stanza, then expressed the negative impacts or effects of her concern in stanza two, three, four while she noted in the final stanza that there might never be any solution to the damage already done. In a nutshell, New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara possessed a downward or climactic flow. 

Change

The theme of change is obvious if we consider the title of the poem and the context of the poem as well. "New Tongue" denotes transformation or change while the repetition of the word "new" and "borrowed" tell the readers that were once old and unborrowed lifestyle. 

Clash of Culture

Let's quickly shed a floodlight on  the theme of cultural clash in the poem. Besides the fact that the poem gave the readers literal and societal sense of the clash between African culture and westernisation or perhaps modernisation or synonymously called civilisation , the poet sends a message of clash between the old and the new; the past, the present and the future, not excluding the clash between the heritage and the borrowed, the loss and the found, 

Take a look at line 1 - 7 quoted below and you see the evidence of cultural clash I have explained: 

"They speak in a new tongue 

And dance new dances 

Minds battered into new modes and shapes 

Their eyes revel in the wonder of the new 

Embraced and bound to hearts with impregnable chains 

The old songs as disregarded dreams 

Remnants of a past."

Disunity and Disrespect 

The theme of disunity and disrespect exposed in the poem are addressed as part of the negative effects of the borrowed culture as opposed to the African culture and beliefs. All over the poem, there are complaints about how the new generation now lack family unity because they have disunited or disconnected with their tradition and their cultural heritage. An instance is shown below from stanza 2 of the poem:

"A new generation 

Careless of bonds 

Of family 

Of tradition 

Of heritage 

They care not 

Nor revere the old 

Their minds turn inwards 

Only inwards 

Like the insides of clothes 

That marry the bodies of mankind" 

Even the stanza 3 further complained about the disrespect the new generation bestow elders and the position that should be reserved for elders in their scheme of activities. 

Allusion 

In line 43 of the poem, there is a biblical allusion "their borrowed minds parted the red sea long time ago", which alluded to the fact that among the borrowed culture in terms of religion is Christianity. The allusion reminds the readers of the Moses and the Israelite's captivity story in the Bible. 

Symbolism 

Let's point out some symbolism in the poem are "minds" in line 3 and 43 which symbolizes a belief system or lifestyle. "dances" in line 2 and "shoes" in line 42 both symbolize mode of entertainment. "tongue" in line 1 and 30 symbolizes language. 

Alliteration 

Some glaring alliteration in the poem are "and dance new dances" [line 2], "last lock"[line 44], "coldness descending like snow covered mountain"[line 35], "bathing at the back of the house"[line 36], etc. 

Simile

Elizabeth injected like three similes in the Poem, as seen in line 6 [the old songs as disregarded dreams], seen in line 35 [a strange coldness descending like snow covered mountain], and also in line 36 [or like bathing at the back of the house]. 

Imagery 

Here are some imageries in the poem_ "new tongue", "new dances", "new modes and shapes", "impreganable chains", "the old songs as disregarded dreams", "a strange coldness descending like snow covered mountain", "on a rainy July day", "last lock on their culture", "without a backward glance", etc. 

Metaphor 

Few metaphor existed in line 25 "Not even on the edge of their minds" and "Ties of family and friendship/ Loosened, broken, burnt/ The ashes strewn into the bottomless sea" seen in lines 8 and 9 is a metaphor or maybe an extented metaphor at that.

Closing the Curtain 

I feel like drawing the post to a close at this juncture. Hopefully, you should find it easier to comprehend the poem as regards the connotation, denotation and the figuratives.

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Analysis Of Ambush By Gbemisola Adeoti

PURPOSE:-
This article will speak of the poet, the themes, the mood, the figures of speech, etc.

SUITABILITY:-
This article is suitable for; (a) All lovers of poetry (b) All lovers of Literature-In-English (c) Students for WASSE/WAEC, NECO, GCE, A-LEVEL, IJAMB examination (d) Students of English Language And Literature In Universities, Polythenics, Colleges of Educations, etc.

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM AMBUSH:-
Ambush is a poem written by Gbemisola Adeoti, a teacher, poet, editor, author, etc. He is a Nigerian belonging to Yoruba ethnic group. A member of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Gbemisola Adeoti works as a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Ambush has four themes: (1) the theme of hopelessness (2) the theme of helplessness (3) the theme of danger (4) the theme of deceit.

Hopelessness in a nation full of hardworking people appeared in the language of the poem speaker. With the use of symbolism, whale s
tood as the symbol of hopelessness swallowing every effort and attempt of the citizen to the extent of petering out their desires and made them return home without catching a fish.

Anothe theme of the poem is helplessness. How correct is the statement? When the sabre-toothed tiger cried "deep in the glade", the poem speaker made the readers realize that "infants shudder home" and adults that stood their grounds only did so because such troubles or tribulations were inevitable. 

Besides their helplessness towards the tiger, they also had no help against the hawk of disasters hover above them and none to redirect from the path where the land await ambush them "toward the snare of possibilities".

The theme of danger is next; and virtually all the lines of the poem exemplified it. 

The poet made it known with the use of following words like "swallows", "cries", "snatch", "tribulations", "disaster" and created dreadful agents of death like "a giant whale", "a sabre-toothed tiger", "a giant hawk" to carry out fear and danger.

The theme of deceit can be seen crystal clear at the end part of the poem where those walking toward the right direction are ambushed and misdirected.

The structure of the poem is very easy to understand since the poem does not take a rigid classic structure like that of The Pulley by George Herbert [you can view The Structure of the Pulley by George Herbert]
Ambush is a 21 lines poem that is void of specific rhythm and end rhyme pattern; not broken into verses. 

With the aid of symbolism, metaphor, imagery, etc. the poet's opinion is flatly tabled in front of the readers. "The land" which appeared many times in the poem plus the metaphorical animals reveal how the masses of a badly governed society suffer (standing at the receiving end). Each opinion of the poem speaker is further explained with the introduction of a relative pronoun "that" for instance in line 2, "that swallows the sinker" in line 9 as well, "that cries deep in the glade". 

Though Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti is not structured in a multi-stanza form but each mention of "The land" gives birth to a fresh opinion, which divides the poem into four (4) nonvisual stanzas.

The poem has a tone of sincerity and made the poem readers feel a mood of revelation, realising the evil plots of the land or in the land.

The Figures Of Speech
There symbolism in the poem where the whale symbolized hopelessness, tiger symbolized helplessness and danger, hawk and the title of the poem "ambush" both symbolized danger. 

The land was personified and the land was also used as a metaphor by comparing it to a giant whale, a sabre-toothed tiger, a giant hawk, a dangerous person or an animal laying ambush. There was repetition of the following: the land, a giant, Peter, dusk, etc. Alliterations in the poem were "swallows the sinker", "Peter with Petered out desires", "the land lies". 

The poem also made use of biblical allusion of Peter fishing but could not catch any fish until Jesus Christ directed him to the right place to cast his net (John 21:3-6).

"The land lies patiently ahead" also has the "the land" personified and portrayed the land a tyrant putting the victims in a condition of hopeless.

To Narrate Ambush In Prose Form:-

The land we live is more like a giant whale that disrupts the efforts of fishermen where all achievable goals are made to be a waste of time and effort.
The land we live now treats its dwellers like prey; kids and adults live in fear of possible bestial attack.

The land we live is so full of contagious diseases that mingle with our atmosphere seen everywhere like a giant hawk hovering in the sky.
In conclusion, the land we find ourselves is such a slavery zoo. Whoever tries to escape is ambushed and brought to book.

Similarity Between Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti And The Dining Table by Gbanabom Hallowell

The tone of both poems is sad. Not only that, the speaker of both poems are victims; victim of bad governance in the poem "Ambush" by Gbemisola Adeoti but victim of civil attack in the poem "The Dining Table" by Gbanabom Hallowell. Both poems share the theme of danger and destruction: "The land is a sabre-toothed tiger/ that cries deep in the glade/ while infants shudder home/ the grizzled ones snatch their gut/ from bayonets of tribulation" (according to line 8-12 of Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti)
"The table/ that gather us in an island where guerrillas/ walk the land while crocodiles/ surf..." (according to line 9-12 of The Dining Table by Gbanabom Hallowell)

COMMON QUESTIONS:-
(1) Narrate Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti in a prose form.
(2) Discuss how the use of poetic devices portray the feelings of the poet.
(3) Describe Ambush As Metaphor Of societal Evil
(4) From your understanding of the poem Ambush, what messages are passed across by the poet?

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Analysis of Ibadan by John Pepper Clark

Introduction 

I'm writing this to quickly touch on the poem titled Ibadan by John Pepper Clack. I will touch on the poet, the summary, imagery, etc. 

The Poet and Summary

The poet, John Pepper Clark wrote the poem title "Ibadan". He was born in Delta, Nigeria on the 6th of April, 1935.

This' a descriptive poem. Clark painted an image of Ibadan, the largest city in Nigeria as of the time of this post. He saw rustiness and muddiness deposited haphazardly amidst the hill-city but the simplicity of the poem, made it hard to determine whether he was disgusted or marveled at the sight he described.

The Message and Paraphrase

Actually, the message of the poem is that Ibadan is an ancient city where the huge effort of modernization seemed hard to erode its ancestral landmark.

To paraphrase the poem, it will flow thus: As I drove by the city of Ibadan, I saw mud buildings with rusty roofing so much like a water splash. They seemed scattered around the seven hills like broken China.

The Use of Imagery

The five line poem (Quintain) is dominated with imagery yet there are enjambment, simile, assonance, etc. According to thepoetsgarret, "there are many great poems that use a five line stanza, often called a Quintain. It can be any five line stanza poem of any meter or line length and is often misused because of it's alleged simplicity." 

Let's further shed light on the imageries: 

• "Running" in line 2 indicates movement and because a city can't be mobile led to the conclusion that the poem speaker described what he saw while in a moving vehicle.
• "splash of rust" refers to the large numbers of rust roofing that are always obvious to those traveling through the city.
• "Gold-flung" describes the yellowish mud which most ancient Ibadan buildings are made of.
• "Among seven hills" in line 4 enlightens that there are seven hills in the city of Ibadan.
• "broken/ China in the sun" is another image of sight which John Pepper Clark employed in the poem to indicate the uniformity of architectural age in the city.

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Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan

Introduction

Up next is the Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan. I will examine the plot, setting, characters, characterisation, themes, etc.

About the Drama

Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan is a 14 chapter tragic drama about greed, betrayal, and hunger for power.  It revealed Serubawon's tricky bribery and fetish manipulation to enthrone Olaniyonu who ruled badly and corruptly until karma caught up with both of them in a very short period of time.

Themes of Once Upon an Elephant

Hunger  for Power; Ajanaku was very hungry to become king and Serubawon was willing to make (Ajanaku) his bastard son the king. Serubawon had to motivate Olaniyonu aka Ajanaku to do everything in his power to push for the throne ahead of his elder brothers. Serubawon had his eyes on the throne even while Akinjoba was still alive which made him impregnate the king's wife while slowly killing the king in pretence of curing his ailment.

Olaniyonu aka Ajanaku was bribing the likes of Serubawon, Odejimi and Ogundele to enhance his ticket to the throne of Akinjoba. He even paid Serubawon (the village medicine man) to empower him with charms and voodoo that would make him fierce and untouchable.

Love: the show of love between characters contributed to the progress of the plot; Delani and Omoyeni were so in love to the extent that she carried Delani's pregnancy even after Ajanaku powerfully snatched her from Delani. Delani had to serve as an apprentice to prove his love to Omoyeni's father.

Odekunle and Desola were lovers; they always rendezvous in the bush, path to the streams and under farm trees. Whenever they meet, they chat romantically while discussing their wedding plans and their marriage. Unfortunately, Ajanaku truncated their plan with the r@pe he carried out on Desola while his bodyguards held Odekunle to tearfully watch the act of molestation given to his lover.

Betrayal: Serubawon betrayed his friend Akinjobi by impregnating Adebisi (king Akinjobi's second wife) and slowly killed him instead of curing him. When Serubawon discovered that Iya-Agba was aware of his lustful relationship with Adebisi, he convinced King Akinjobi and the entire village to escommunicate Iya-Agba for suffering mental derailment.

He betrayed the entire village by manipulating the king’s throne. He made sure Olaniyonu was named the new king even when the oracle wasn't in support of Olaniyonu because he wasn't the biological son of Akinjobi, the dead king.

Other themes are bride-price (Odekunle and Desola had to maintain the status quo regarding marriage process in a Yoruba traditional system; which involved a compulsory payment of bride-price among many other things), greed (there was so many evidence of greed in the drama "Once Upon an Elephant" by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan_ the likes of Olaniyonu, Serubawon, Odejimi, Ogundele were all greedy characters in the drama), bribery, corrupt leadership (Olaniyonu aka Ajanaku was a symbol of corrupt leadership in the drama), etc.

Characters of Once Upon an Elephant

Olaniyonu (aka Ajanaku), the wrongfully enthroned king.

Serubawon: the village medicine man, one of the kingmakers, and  the father of Ajanaku.

Odekunle; the guy dating Desola and friend of Dele, Lere, Yele, and Delani.

Desola; the lady dating Odekunle, friend of Yosola and the daughter of Serubawon.

Omoyeni; the wife of Ajanaku but secret lover of Delani.

Delani; the guy in love with Omoyeni.

Iya-Agba; the first wife of king Akinjobi.

Ogundele; the father of Odekunle and also a kingmaker.

Demoke; the wife of Serubawon.

Odejimi; the husband of Iyale and also a kingmaker.

Iyale; friend of Iya-Agba.

Adebisi; the second wife of king Akinjobi and the mother of Ajanaku the bastard son.

Video Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant

Author of Once Upon an Elephant

Bosede Ademilua Afolayan is a Nigerian writer and language teacher.  An Associate Professor in the Department of English, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Finally, I have to draw the curtain close on the analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan. Kindly drop your comments below and also share this post to social media platforms by using the social media share buttons.

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Analysis Of Weigh Your Words By Crispin George

Introduction

This is a poetic analysis about a classic african poem titled "weigh your words" written by Crispin George. A motivational poem that speaks about the flexibility of utterance.

The Poet

Cispinin George was a Sierra Leonean born in 1902. He published his own poetry anthology Precious Gems Unearthed by an African and nearly all his poems were non-political but strongly religious; the poem "Weigh Your Words" is quite no exception.

The Poem

"Weigh Your Words" is a poem describing the goods and dangers words can cause then the poet warns that words can live forever so people must be mindful of their usage.

The Structure

The poem contains alliteration "words may wound" (line 1) "furious air will scatter foliage" (line 7) "their passage-way be paved" (line 28). Similes are "like v
iands on the table" (line 11) "like atom-bombs" (line 13). Metaphor, imageries, parallelism, etc.

The following words existed in the movie and deserve explanation: Verbiage; the use of many words when a few would be sufficient. Viands; articles of food. Heinous; hateful. Harbinger; messengers sent beforehand to give advance notice or warning. Light the fuse of carnage; carnage means great destruction of life. The poet means that words are like the fuse used to explode gunpowder. Strike the oil of peace; when oil is poured on rough water it makes the waves smooth. If a match is struck, the oil will burst into flame. Scales of justice; justice is often represented as a figure holding a pair of scales.

The poem was seven stanzas of four lines per stanza. It had a tone of admonition, end rhyme scheme, simple dictions.

The Themes

The good and evil of word usage is one of the themes of the poem. "Simple words may wound or soothen/ Much depending on their use" in line one and two of the poem, he further explained that the wrongly used word "will scatter foliage/ Thoughtless words good friends disperse" in line seven and eight while well used word was compared to "viands on the table/ They revive the hungry soul" according to line thirteen and fourteen.

Prudence is also a theme of the poem since words are two-way outcome, the poet employed the users to add wisdom and carefulness when dishing out words:
"Words, like atom-bombs, are heinous,
When they hurt both friend and foe;
Dangerous, cowardly and callous,
These are harbingers of woe." (stanza 4)

"Weigh them in the scales of justice
And be sure of their control;
Do not wing your words at random,
They may fly beyond their goal." (stanza 6)

Immortality is a theme where the poet considered words undying and evergreen, even when they are in a state of unuse; they lurk "at the portal/ Till their passage-way be paved" (line 27 and 28).

Conclusion

You have got the grasp of what the poem is about, the background of the poet and few of the themes.

Now go ahead and tell me what you feel should be added to the post from your opinion via the comment box. And also share the post to all social media platforms.

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Structure of Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza

Introduction

This is written to examine the structure of the poem "Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza" and few other things necessary.

The Structure of the Poem

Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie-Vidza is a 7 stanza free verse with each stanza a quintain that is beautified with epistrophe. 

The Stanza

(Stanza 1) Life is now a very beautiful experience that history of failures cannot dampen for someone who has lived long and achieved as you. 

(Stanza 2) But our envious hearts grace the felicitation arranged for you because we can't afford to be left behind and must present you a sincere birthday garlands.

(Stanza 3) Receive our blessings today, you wondrous mentor of rogues_ attaining eighty-five years is a gainful twilight or dawn of dreams and life's journey. 

(Stanza 4) Without reasons to quarrel with you anymore, hope is now in agreement with all your attained desires but while you dwell in this celebration, your heart battles with health matters.

About the Poem

Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza is a Poem written to celebrate a certain birthday while buttressing the privilege of attaining old age graced with worthy achievement. The poem also touched on challenge of ill health which might be associated with old age.

About the Poet

S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza is a Ghanaian author, poet, and teacher. The poet has crafted many insightful works of art and among them is Hearty Garlands which is on our table of discussion.

In Conclusion

I have tried my little best to view the structure of the poem "Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza" based on my understanding.

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Q and A: The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

Question:

As a symbol marital success and fulfillment, Ibuza community places a lot of importance on ______

(Option A) Childbirth

Explanation:

As a novel that typifies the Igbo African tradition, infertility and harshness is a huge subject that mostly develops stigmatization and segregation; therefore, a woman is incomplete without child.

In The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta, the women of Ibuza community were seen shouldering the heavy necessity of motherhood at all cost.

[ALSO READ:- My Mother In Her 90s by Ama Ata Aidoo]

The Joys of Motherhood is a feminist novel written by Buchi Emecheta, a Nigerian author born 21st of July, 1944. Before her death in the year 2017, she has had many novels to her name; such as The Bride Price.

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Theme of Supernatural in The Concubine by Elechi Amadi

The Novelist

Born on the 12^thof May 1934, Elechi Amadi was a Nigerian author raised in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He had many novels to his credit and like many classic novelists such as Chinua Achebe, his novels exposed readers to the traditional way of life in Nigeria. Elechi Amadi died on the 29^th of June, 2016.

Overview of the Novel

The Concubine by Elechi Amadi is a novel that revolves around the subject of marriage and effects of immortal forces in the activities and fate of human beings. 

Using Ihuoma as a tool for demonstrating such subject, the author revealed Ihuoma (the main character) as a lady who possessed all the necessary qualities to enjoy marital life but to the readers’ chagrin, a force beyond human control hampered her supposed sweet marital life; Ihumo had a spiritual husband.

The Theme of Supernatural

In the novel, The Concubine, Elechi Amadi boost the beauty of the novel with the theme of supernatural events. Notable is Ihuoma and the sea-king (believed to rule the sea) who never wanted her get married to any man in the physical realm because she was his wife in the spiritual realm. 

The novel went further to narrate the consequences of her attempt to get married_ the sea-king was responsible for the death of characters such as Emenike, Madume, and Ekwueme. 

The sea-king was so powerful that all sacrifices offered to divorce Ihuoma from him was so futile leading to the death of Ekwueme.

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Similes In Night by Wole Soyinka

Introduction 

This post aims at revealing some of the similes in the poem titled "Night" by Wole Soyinka. The similes pointed out will be explained for ease of understanding by readers of this post. 

About the Poet

Wole Soyinka is a Nobel Laureate for literature. A Nigerian activists, scholar, poet, novelist, playwright, actor, musician, etc. 

Akinwade Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, popularly known as Wole Soyinka  was born 13th July of the year 1934. He was born in Aké, Abẹ́òkúta, Ogun State, Nigeria. 

About the Poem

As a poet, one of the poem crafted by him is "Night". A poem that could be considered an ode, based on the fact that he revealed the strengths of night time and its effects on both humans and nature in general. 

Similes in the Poem

"I bear no heart mercuric like the clouds" (line 2). This use of simile was chosen by the poet to create a direct comparison between the poem-speaker and the clouds, most especially when it comes to radiation ability.

By employing the phrase "heart mercuric", Soyinka revealed that human hearts wasn't luminous while the heart of the clouds possessed such ability. A mercuric heart would have given the poem-speaker the ability to contend the oppressive darkness nighttime placed upon him. 

In line 4, with the expression that went thus "Woman as a clam, on the sea's cresent." The poem-speaker compared his vulnerability to that of a woman while creating a direct comparison woman and a clam. 

Clams are bivalve molusc, known to be willingly sitting at the shores or beds of rivers or seas. Similarly, women are also known to be willingly sitting with chores in the house. In a nutshell, women and clams are both submissive beings. 

 

"Submitting like the sand, blood and brine" can be found in line 8 of the poem titled Night by Wole Soyinka to express the poet's helplessness and unquestionable inferiority towards nighttime. 

Soyinka directly compared his state of submissiveness to those of sand, blood, and brine. They are substances that can acquired by anyone and made use of. 

"Sensations pained me, faceless, silent as night thieves" [line 12]. The line striked comparison between the effects of nighttime on the poem-speaker and night thieves. 

Thieves at night wore masks and moved in silence. So also so the nighttime hid the face of the poem-speaker and also kept him in a state of sad silence. 

Conclusion 

Anyone who has read this post keenly, from beginning to end, would have acquired some orientation regarding the poet, the poem and the similes embedded in the poem. 

Over to you the reader of this post. The comment box is yours to drop your thoughts regarding this post. Share to all social media platforms as well. 

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#night #nature #sea #soyinka #woman #birth #cell #naijapoets #literature #simile #wole #poem #flouorescence

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Analysis Of Not My Business By Niyi Osundare

Introduction:

This article aims to give detailed analysis of Not My Business by Niyi Osundare_ by examining the theme, structure, poetic devices, tone, the poet, etc. 

About the Poem: 

The very first time I saw Not My Business By Niyi Osundare, I so much liked it. 

Not My Business is far beyond a poem, a poem sculptured by a professional poetic artist which recalled a past experience. Niyi narrated the poem through the third and the first person point of view. 

As a Nigerian or anyone who has witnessed military oppression, the poem is an easy recap of unjust governance; where fundamental human rights are trampled upon_ no free movement, no free association, no freedom of speech, etc. Like a folk tale, the poem shows the implication of neighbors not standing up to assist their neighbour in need of help. 

The poem has a Nigerian setting as regards the the names of victims mentioned by the poem-speaker; Akanni (a Yoruba name) Danladi (a Hausa name) Chinwe (an Igbo name).

The Poetic Devices 

Few of the figures of speech in the poem are:
1) Simile is figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another, in the case of English generally using like or as. Example from the poem is "Beat him soft like clay" in line 2.

2) Refrain is a figure of speech that repeats a certain line or stanza in a literary work of art in order to create musical effect. Example from the poem is;
"What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?"

3) Symbolism is a figure of speech that uses the representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities to represent such object. Example from the poem is Akanni, Danladi, and Chinwe which symbolized the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. "a lengthy absence" in line 11 is a symbolic imagery which means a long imprisonment.

4) Metaphor is a figure of speech that uses a word or phrase to refer to something that it isn’t, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described, but in the case of English without the words like or as, which would imply a simile. Example from the poem is in line 3; "And stuffed him down the belly" because the simile version of it could be "And stuffed him like meal down the belly".

5) Alliteration is the repetition of consonants at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals. Example from the poem is "hungry hand" "went to work" "sack for a stainless record".

6) Personification is a figure of speech, prosopopeia, in which an inanimate object or an abstraction is given human qualities. Example from the poem is "Only to find her job was gone" in line 16, "And stuffed him down the belly/ Of a waiting jeep" in lines 3-4.

The theme in the poem are:
1) Victimization; many lines of the poem shows how different poetic characters suffer different forms of injustices. Akanni beaten for no reason, Danladi jailed without due process, Chinwe suffered job insecurity.

2) Tyranny and dictatorship; all the acts of brutality in the poem are clear traits of a tyrant dictator. And following the context of the poem, the poet reminded the readers of the Nigerian military brutality (which has now become a once-upon-a-time story)

3) What goes around comes around; is also another theme of the poem which teaches the lesson of oneness and unity. Many victims in the poem suffered abuses because there is no unity among people of such country; everyone is living for himself/herself alone. When every others are brutalised, the poem-speaker felt unconcerned until he was brutalised as well.

Structure and Tone:

The poem is a narrative free verse with eight stanza arrangement. It's no brainer that the setting is a Nigerian neighborhood under military oppression. The poem combined the first and third point of view narrative style. 

The tone is reflective and giving a mood of re-think and change of attitude. The poet via the narrator, reflected on the experience for the readers to build and embrace the determination to change their attitudes from nonchalance to being their brothers keeper. 

The Poet:

Born on the 12th of March, 1947 in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State. Professor Niyi Osundare has contributed heavily to literature and the literary community in Nigeria and all over the world. 

His literary words encompass theme such as politics, leadership, nature, and so much more. He wrote the poem titled "The Leader and the Led" which we have also taken time to write review about in this platform_ you might be able to find it, if you make use of the search box in this website. 

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Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry
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Analysis Of Hurrah For Thunder by Christopher Okigbo

Introduction:

I welcome you to Naija Poets' blog for literature review and poetry related stuff. The matter on ground is the Analysis of Hurrah for Thunder by Christopher Okigbo.

About the Analysis:

Hurray For Thunder is a classic African poem written by Christopher Okigbo, born 1930 but waved goodbye to this cruel earth in the year 1967 as a result of murder. 

He was a Nigerian poet and author. This day, he makes the list of Nigerian poets who died fighting for the masses such as Ken Saro Wiwa (see poetic analysis about Ken Saro Wiwa). 

The poem "Hurray for Thunder" is a political poem which led the poet to the use of symbols to paint his messages. Relating the context of the poem to the poet's time of death, it is clear that the poem subject around the leadership in Nigeria around 1960-1966. 

Okigbo was of the believe that the government of the time was unfair with the distribution of the national wealth.

Whatever happens to the elephant, let's give praise to the thunder; though the elephant is a very mighty animal, its threads are mortal to everything most especially the grasses. Now that the elephant has fallen dead, let's give praise to the thunder that announced the fall of the mighty elephant because the hunters are already sharing the meet without considering the thunder that played a vital part.

[Another poem about Elephant: Poetic Devices In Salute To The Elephant By Solomon Adeboye Babalola]

Empty promises are worthless, considering what will be the future outcome of the sharing. 

"The eye that looks down will surely see the nose/ The finger that fits should be used to pick the nose" so let the meat be properly shared accordingly. Okay, Okigbo, the town-crier, it time to keep your mouth shut or be put into troubles for this your advice.

The poet seemed like spoke in parable in his attempt to advice some certain group of people. 

The whole mentioned in the poem are symbols for instance "thunder" "elephant" "hunter" "meet" "grasses" .because of the danger associated with speaking directly to the group which brought the fearful tone used by the poet at the end of the poem:
"If I don’t learn to shut my mouth I’ll soon go to hell,
I, Okigbo, town-crier/ together with my iron bell."

The line 4-5 "With a wave of the hand/ He could pull four trees to the ground;" is a personification where the elephant is give hand like humans. The line 15, "Today-for tomorrow, today becomes yesterday" is a paradox. The line 16 "How many million promises can ever fill a basket..." is a rhetorical question.

Let's stop here on this analysis of Hurrah for Thunder by Christopher Okigbo here for now. 

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Enunwa Chukwudinma S aka samueldpoetry
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Fascination In The Poem Stanley Meets Mutesa

Let's take this moment to look into the fascination in the poem "Stanley meets Mutesa" by David Rubadiri. 

The Fascination:

Fascination In The Poem Stanley Meet Mutesa by David Rubadiri

The Poem:

Such a time of it they had;
The heat of the day
The chill of the night
And the mosquitoes that followed.
Such was the time and
They bound for a kingdom.

The thin weary line of carries
With tattered dirty rags to cover their backs;
The battered bulky chests
That kept on falling off their shaven heads.
Their tempers high and hot
The sun fierce and scorching
With it rose their spirits
With its fall their hopes...[Details from the Source]

The Overview:

The poem talked about a group of explorers like in the case of Mungo Park. It reproduced what came before the attainment of colonialism. The readers were shown how explorers suffered on their journey, at the end of the poem mere visit turned into colonization ("The gate of polished reed closes behind them/And the west is let in") due to the lax of the owners( Mutesa) who joyfully welcome the visitor(Stanley).

[NOTE: Have you read Jack Mapanje's When This Carnival Finally Closes]

Most readers are bound to be fascinated by the proper use of symbolism:
1 they bound for a kingdom (referring to Africa)
2 the village looked on ( village was used to show the level of African civilization)
3 the gate of polished reeds closes behind them ( referring to African architecture in the colonial era)
4 Stanley (symbolizes European) while Mutesa (symbolizes African)

[Recommended: David Rubadiri: Growing Up With Poetry Anthology]

The unequal stanzas of the poem also added a funny look to the poem which made it so fascinating not to mention the indirect reminder of historical event which the poem brought to the readers memory

There is personification in line 15 and 32
Alliteration can be found in line 9
The use of simile was present as well
The poet made use of strange language in the poem:"mtu mweupe karibu" in line 59 maybe the statement means "whiteman you are welcome" in line 60 such usage can be called vulgarism.

The Poet:

Stanley Meets Mutesa was written by David Rubadiri, a Malawian born in 1930. David Rubadiri was also the Malawi's Ambassador to the United States in the year 1964 and later year in 1967, his novel No Bride Price was published.

Other Interesting Articles:

(1) How To Understand The Anvil And The Hammer By Kofi Awoonor

(2) Analysis Of Freetown By Sly Cheney Coker

(3) Poet, Author, Critic

(4) Analysis Of Hide And Seek By Vernon Scannell

Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry
(the Leo with wings flying)

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