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THE GRACEFUL GIRAFFE CANNOT BECOME A MONKEY
Okot P B’tek (Uganda)
My
husband tells me
husband tells me
I have no
ideas
ideas
Of modern
beauty.
beauty.
He says
I have
stuck
stuck
To
old-fashioned hair styles.
old-fashioned hair styles.
He says
I am
stupid and very backward,
stupid and very backward,
That my
hair style
hair style
Makes him
sick
sick
Because I
am dirty.
am dirty.
It is
true
true
I cannot
do my hair
do my hair
As white
women do.
women do.
Listen,
My father
comes from Payira,
comes from Payira,
My mother
is a woman of Koc!
is a woman of Koc!
I am a
true Acoli
true Acoli
I am not
a half-caste
a half-caste
I am not
a slave girl;
a slave girl;
My father
was not brought home
was not brought home
By the
spear
spear
My mother
was not exchanged
was not exchanged
For a
basket of millet.
basket of millet.
Ask me
what beauty is
what beauty is
To the
Acoli
Acoli
And I
will tell you;
will tell you;
I will
show it to you
show it to you
If you
give me a chance!
give me a chance!
You once
saw me,
saw me,
You saw
my hair style
my hair style
And you
admired it,
admired it,
And the
boys loved it
boys loved it
At the
arena
arena
Boys
surrounded me
surrounded me
And
fought for me.
fought for me.
My mother
taught me
taught me
Acoli
hair fashions;
hair fashions;
Which
fits the kind
fits the kind
Of hair
of the Acoli,
of the Acoli,
And the
occasion.
occasion.
Listen,
Ostrich
plumes differ
plumes differ
From
chicken feathers,
chicken feathers,
A
monkey’s tail
monkey’s tail
Is
different from that of a giraffe,
different from that of a giraffe,
The
crocodile’s skin
crocodile’s skin
Is not
like the guinea fowl’s,
like the guinea fowl’s,
And the
hippo is naked, and hairless.
hippo is naked, and hairless.
The hair
of the Acoli
of the Acoli
Is
different from that of the Arabs;
different from that of the Arabs;
The
Indians’ hair
Indians’ hair
Resembles
the tail of a horse;
the tail of a horse;
It is
like sisal strings
like sisal strings
And needs
to be cut
to be cut
With
scissors.
scissors.
It is
black,
black,
And is
different from that of a white woman.
different from that of a white woman.
A white
woman’s hair
woman’s hair
Is soft
like silk;
like silk;
It is
light
light
And
brownish like
brownish like
That of a
brown monkey,
brown monkey,
And is
very different from mine.
very different from mine.
A black
woman’s hair
woman’s hair
Is thick
and curly;
and curly;
It is
true
true
Ring-worm
sometimes eat up
sometimes eat up
A little
girl’s hair
girl’s hair
And this
is terrible;
is terrible;
But when
hot porridge
hot porridge
Is put on
the head
the head
And the
dance is held
dance is held
Under the
sausage-fruit tree
sausage-fruit tree
And the
youths have sung
youths have sung
You, Ring worm
Who is eating Duka’s hair
Here is your porridge,
Then the
girl’s hair
girl’s hair
Begins to
grow again
grow again
And the
girl is pleased.
girl is pleased.
INTRODUCTION
This is a short extract from a long
poem called “song of Lawino” which is
almost entirely based on the conflict between old and new ways of life. So it
is based on what Lawino thinks as a treasure for Africans as contrasted with
what Ocol thinks on his side. (Although
their names do not appear anywhere throughout the poem).
poem called “song of Lawino” which is
almost entirely based on the conflict between old and new ways of life. So it
is based on what Lawino thinks as a treasure for Africans as contrasted with
what Ocol thinks on his side. (Although
their names do not appear anywhere throughout the poem).
THEMATIC ANALYSIS
Although the poem is but a small part
of a long poem with several themes, still some of these broader themes can be
narrowly extracted from this poem. These include; identity and awareness, African culture vs European culture,
traditional healing, protest and the position of women.
of a long poem with several themes, still some of these broader themes can be
narrowly extracted from this poem. These include; identity and awareness, African culture vs European culture,
traditional healing, protest and the position of women.
IDENTITY AND AWARENESS
Africans need to be aware of their
identity. In this poem Lawino reacts to her husband’s complaint. She turns her
husband’s complaint into a praise-song for herself and her people. She does so
by showing that she is aware of her identity as a black African woman and proud
of it. Just like all other women of other races are proud of theirs Lawino sees
no need why she should abandon hers. In lines 15-20 she says;
identity. In this poem Lawino reacts to her husband’s complaint. She turns her
husband’s complaint into a praise-song for herself and her people. She does so
by showing that she is aware of her identity as a black African woman and proud
of it. Just like all other women of other races are proud of theirs Lawino sees
no need why she should abandon hers. In lines 15-20 she says;
Listen
My father comes from Payira,
My mother is a woman of Koc!
I am a true Acoli
I am not a half-caste
I am not a slave girl
AFRICAN CULTURE vs EUROPEAN CULTURE
In ‘Song
of Lawino’ the poet discusses a lot of conflicts between African culture
against European culture in most aspects. This small part of the poem centres
entirely on hairstyles alone. Lawino shows that all people were created
naturally beautiful and should be proud of how they are. For Lawino there are
no reasons for Africans to do their hair like white women because white women
never wish to do theirs like Africans. She uses the images ostrich plumes, chicken feathers, crocodile skin, etc to show that
every creature has a point of departure from other creatures. No one creature
should ever try to change and become like any other. The same applies for
people from different races.
of Lawino’ the poet discusses a lot of conflicts between African culture
against European culture in most aspects. This small part of the poem centres
entirely on hairstyles alone. Lawino shows that all people were created
naturally beautiful and should be proud of how they are. For Lawino there are
no reasons for Africans to do their hair like white women because white women
never wish to do theirs like Africans. She uses the images ostrich plumes, chicken feathers, crocodile skin, etc to show that
every creature has a point of departure from other creatures. No one creature
should ever try to change and become like any other. The same applies for
people from different races.
TRADITIONAL HEALING
Moreover, Lawino shows how Africans
used to deal with different social and natural phenomena. Although it might
seem as a kind of incantation, it helped to deal with unusual phenomena. For
example she says if a ring-worm has eaten the little girl’s hair, all they do
is put hot porridge on the head, hold a dance, sing a song, and then the hair
grows again. This traditional ritual is still relevant to some societies today.
used to deal with different social and natural phenomena. Although it might
seem as a kind of incantation, it helped to deal with unusual phenomena. For
example she says if a ring-worm has eaten the little girl’s hair, all they do
is put hot porridge on the head, hold a dance, sing a song, and then the hair
grows again. This traditional ritual is still relevant to some societies today.
PROTEST
Lawino shows an open protest against European
culture that is invading African culture. She does all it takes to educate
African women to love and care for what they have, believe in who they are, and
what they want to do with their lives. She protests doing her hair like white
women. She says; It is true/I cannot do my hair/As white women do
culture that is invading African culture. She does all it takes to educate
African women to love and care for what they have, believe in who they are, and
what they want to do with their lives. She protests doing her hair like white
women. She says; It is true/I cannot do my hair/As white women do
POSITION OF WOMEN
(1) True and strong upholder of African culture
Lawino in this poem
represents a class of women who are proud of their culture and identity. They
can’t compromise their standards just to please their husbands
represents a class of women who are proud of their culture and identity. They
can’t compromise their standards just to please their husbands
(2) Care taker for children
Lawino shows that she behaves the way she does
because her mother took time to teach her. It is always believed that most of
the behaviours that we have were learnt during childhood. It is up to parents
to teach their children good manners and they will not abandon them to old
age. She says; my mother taught me/Acoli hair fashions/which fits the kind/of hair of
the Acoli/and the occasion
because her mother took time to teach her. It is always believed that most of
the behaviours that we have were learnt during childhood. It is up to parents
to teach their children good manners and they will not abandon them to old
age. She says; my mother taught me/Acoli hair fashions/which fits the kind/of hair of
the Acoli/and the occasion
GUIDING QUESTIONS
a.
What does the title of the poem “the graceful giraffe cannot become a monkey”
mean? OR what is the poem about?
What does the title of the poem “the graceful giraffe cannot become a monkey”
mean? OR what is the poem about?
The poet uses the symbol of the “giraffe” to represent
the Acoli (Africans) and “monkey” as a symbol for whites. He shows how the
conflict that occurs among Africans who have adopted European culture and those
who have remained loyal to African identity. As the giraffe cannot become a
monkey, neither can Africans become white people by their artificial designs.
the Acoli (Africans) and “monkey” as a symbol for whites. He shows how the
conflict that occurs among Africans who have adopted European culture and those
who have remained loyal to African identity. As the giraffe cannot become a
monkey, neither can Africans become white people by their artificial designs.
b.
What is the tone and mood of the poem?
What is the tone and mood of the poem?
The tone is proud of her identity thus creates a proud
mood for Africans towards their African identity.
mood for Africans towards their African identity.
c.
What type of the poem is it?
What type of the poem is it?
It is a freeverse/modern poem of Lyric type since it expresses
strong feelings of the woman towards her husband’s insults.
strong feelings of the woman towards her husband’s insults.
d.
Comment on the figures of speech.
Comment on the figures of speech.
i.
Simile expression of comparison by using
conjunctions
Simile expression of comparison by using
conjunctions
Ø
A white woman’s hair is soft like silk
A white woman’s hair is soft like silk
Ø
And brownish like that of a brown monkey
And brownish like that of a brown monkey
Ø
The Indian’s hair resembles that of a
horse, it is like sisal strings
The Indian’s hair resembles that of a
horse, it is like sisal strings
ii.
Symbolism using one thing to represent another.
Symbolism using one thing to represent another.
“a graceful giraffe” represents
Africans.
Africans.
“A monkey” represents Europeans.
iii.
Personification giving human qualities to inanimate
beings.
Personification giving human qualities to inanimate
beings.
Here the song is sung to a ring worm as though it is a
human being
human being
You, ringworm who is eating Dukas hair,
here is your porridge
here is your porridge
iv. Anaphora (repeating words at the beginning of neighbouring
clauses)
clauses)
I am a true Acoli
I am not a half-caste
I am not a slave girl
e.
Who is the persona in this poem? How do
you know?
Who is the persona in this poem? How do
you know?
The persona is an African woman (Lawino) although her
name is not in the poem. We know she is a woman because she says “my husband tells me” and the way she
describes different hair styles which are common to women.
name is not in the poem. We know she is a woman because she says “my husband tells me” and the way she
describes different hair styles which are common to women.
f.
How does the woman (Lawino) see her
identity?
How does the woman (Lawino) see her
identity?
Lawino sees her identity as something to be proud of
because she believes that she is beautiful just the way she is and is not ready
to change.
because she believes that she is beautiful just the way she is and is not ready
to change.
g.
Who is surer of his/her identity? The
woman or her husband? Why do you say so?
Who is surer of his/her identity? The
woman or her husband? Why do you say so?
Certainly, Lawino is surer of her identity. This is
due to what she expresses from the beginning of the poem to the end. While she
admits that all other women of other races are beautiful she is not ready to
compromise her identity and become like them as suggested by her husband.
due to what she expresses from the beginning of the poem to the end. While she
admits that all other women of other races are beautiful she is not ready to
compromise her identity and become like them as suggested by her husband.
h.
How does Lawino react to the complaint of
her husband?
How does Lawino react to the complaint of
her husband?
Lawino does not insult back her husband but rather she
turns her husband’s complaints into a praise song about herself and her people.
In the process she gently tries to advise her husband to regain the identity he
is busy losing.
turns her husband’s complaints into a praise song about herself and her people.
In the process she gently tries to advise her husband to regain the identity he
is busy losing.
i.
Who is Lawino speaking to in the poem?
Who is Lawino speaking to in the poem?
Lawino is speaking to both her husband and Africans in
general. When she says “My husband tells
me…” she speaks to the audience (Africans) but then turns the attention to
her husband “you once saw me” here
she speaks specifically to her husband.
general. When she says “My husband tells
me…” she speaks to the audience (Africans) but then turns the attention to
her husband “you once saw me” here
she speaks specifically to her husband.
MESSAGE
Ø Africans
should be proud of their identity.
should be proud of their identity.
Ø No matter
what they do Africans will remain Africans.
what they do Africans will remain Africans.
Ø You cannot
change nature.
change nature.
Ø We should
not react by insulting back people who have insulted us.
not react by insulting back people who have insulted us.
Ø Sometimes
traditional healing is effective.
traditional healing is effective.
RELEVANCE
The poem is relevant today in a number of aspects.
Ø
There are African women today who wish to do their hair like white women
do.
There are African women today who wish to do their hair like white women
do.
Ø
There are black women who never wish to do their hair like white women.
They remain natural and proud of their identity.
There are black women who never wish to do their hair like white women.
They remain natural and proud of their identity.
Ø
There are men who pressurize their wives to do their hair like whites.
There are men who pressurize their wives to do their hair like whites.
Ø
Traditional healing is still relevant in some societies.
Traditional healing is still relevant in some societies.
