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A BABY IS A EUROPEAN
Ewe (Togo)
A baby is a European
He does not eat our food
He drinks from his own water pot
A baby is a European
He does not speak our tongue
He is cross when the mother
understands him not
understands him not
A baby is a European
He cares very little for others
He forces his will upon his
parents
parents
A baby is a European
He is always very sensitive
The slightest scratch on his skin
results in an ulcer
results in an ulcer
INTRODUCTION
This is a
Togolese poem from Ewe culture that suggests the similarities between the way
babies behave and the way the Europeans behave. The poem points out that most
African people who are westernised gradually begin despising their own culture
and start behaving as though they are European. They dislike African natural
food, African languages, disrespect their parents, and in the final verse the
poet seems to suggest that they might have used cosmetics to change their skin
colour in which case they weaken the skin’s stability as a result “The
slightest scratch on his skin results in an ulcer”.
Togolese poem from Ewe culture that suggests the similarities between the way
babies behave and the way the Europeans behave. The poem points out that most
African people who are westernised gradually begin despising their own culture
and start behaving as though they are European. They dislike African natural
food, African languages, disrespect their parents, and in the final verse the
poet seems to suggest that they might have used cosmetics to change their skin
colour in which case they weaken the skin’s stability as a result “The
slightest scratch on his skin results in an ulcer”.
THEMES
EFFECTS OF EUROPEAN CULTURE
The poem
explores the extent to which European culture has affected African culture. The
baby is evidently not a European by race but a European by conduct. Most
Africans have abandoned their culture in a belief that it is outdated and
uncivilised and have adopted the very tenets of the colonisers. In the poem the
baby shows an open dislike to his African natural food, African languages, skin
colour and he disrespects the parents. The following lines from every stanza
are cases in point.
explores the extent to which European culture has affected African culture. The
baby is evidently not a European by race but a European by conduct. Most
Africans have abandoned their culture in a belief that it is outdated and
uncivilised and have adopted the very tenets of the colonisers. In the poem the
baby shows an open dislike to his African natural food, African languages, skin
colour and he disrespects the parents. The following lines from every stanza
are cases in point.
Stanza one: He does not eat
our food
our food
Stanza two: He does not speak
our tongue
our tongue
Stanza three: He forces
his will upon his parents
his will upon his parents
Stanza four: The
slightest scratch on his skin results in an ulcer
slightest scratch on his skin results in an ulcer
SELFISHNESS
The baby is
selfish as he cares more for himself and less for others. He does not want to
share anything with others in a traditional African way in which people share
and use things communally. He doesn’t share their food, speak their language
nor care for others instead he drinks from his own water pot and usually forces
his will upon his parents. This is a spirit of selfishness that has to be
discouraged.
selfish as he cares more for himself and less for others. He does not want to
share anything with others in a traditional African way in which people share
and use things communally. He doesn’t share their food, speak their language
nor care for others instead he drinks from his own water pot and usually forces
his will upon his parents. This is a spirit of selfishness that has to be
discouraged.
A baby is a European
He cares very little for others
He forces his will upon his
parents
parents
LOSS OF IDENTITY AND DIGNITY
The baby has
lost his African identity and dignity and is busy cultivating a culture that is
not his. In other words he has betrayed his African culture. He doesn’t want to
speak African Languages nor eat African natural food but drinks from his own
water pot. This is a mentality common to most westernised Africans who think
that speaking European languages implies superiority. The worst thing however
is that he causes unnecessary conflicts when his mother does not understand
him. This is arrogance because the mother might not have been to school and
apparently doesn’t understand the foreign language the baby speaks. The poet
says:
lost his African identity and dignity and is busy cultivating a culture that is
not his. In other words he has betrayed his African culture. He doesn’t want to
speak African Languages nor eat African natural food but drinks from his own
water pot. This is a mentality common to most westernised Africans who think
that speaking European languages implies superiority. The worst thing however
is that he causes unnecessary conflicts when his mother does not understand
him. This is arrogance because the mother might not have been to school and
apparently doesn’t understand the foreign language the baby speaks. The poet
says:
A baby is a European
He does not speak our tongue
He is cross when the mother
understands him not
understands him not
Moreover the last stanza suggests
the change in skin colour that has possibly happened and resulted to weakening
the skin hence he gets ulcers when he gets slightest scratches.
the change in skin colour that has possibly happened and resulted to weakening
the skin hence he gets ulcers when he gets slightest scratches.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
Ø What
is the poem about?
is the poem about?
The poem is about a baby who is westernised gradually
and despises his own culture and behaves as though he is a European. He
dislikes African natural food, African languages, disrespects his parents, and
in the final verse the poet seems to suggest that he might have used cosmetics
to change his skin colour in which case the skin’s stability is weakened as a
result “The slightest scratch on his skin
results in an ulcer”.
and despises his own culture and behaves as though he is a European. He
dislikes African natural food, African languages, disrespects his parents, and
in the final verse the poet seems to suggest that he might have used cosmetics
to change his skin colour in which case the skin’s stability is weakened as a
result “The slightest scratch on his skin
results in an ulcer”.
Ø What
type of the poem is this?
type of the poem is this?
It is a freeverse/ modern poem since there is
variation in the length of verses and has irregular rhyming scheme. It is
specifically a lyric poem as it expresses the feeling of the poet about people
who despise their identity.
variation in the length of verses and has irregular rhyming scheme. It is
specifically a lyric poem as it expresses the feeling of the poet about people
who despise their identity.
Ø
Comment on the structure of the poem.
Comment on the structure of the poem.
The poem has 4 stanzas of three verses in each stanza
but with uneven length.
but with uneven length.
Ø
Who is the persona?
Who is the persona?
The persona is a patriotic African who is not pleased
with people who betray their culture. He says “the baby is a European/ he does not speak our language”
with people who betray their culture. He says “the baby is a European/ he does not speak our language”
Ø
Language use
Language use
The language used is simple and easy to understand. It
is full of figures of speech as shown below.
is full of figures of speech as shown below.
Figures of speech
Ø
Irony
Irony
“The
baby is a European” is
an irony because the baby is not a European by race but he pretends to behave
like a European. So this is like a mockery to him
baby is a European” is
an irony because the baby is not a European by race but he pretends to behave
like a European. So this is like a mockery to him
Ø
Poetic licence
Poetic licence
…when
the mother understands him not
the mother understands him not
Instead of “when
his mother does not understand him”.
his mother does not understand him”.
Ø
Metaphor
Metaphor
The
baby is a European (the baby is not a European by race but he
pretends to behave like a European).
baby is a European (the baby is not a European by race but he
pretends to behave like a European).
Ø
Symbolism
Symbolism
Tongue
stands for language.
stands for language.
Baby –stands for the African who are affected by European
culture.
culture.
Ø
Alliteration
Alliteration
The
slightest scratch on his skin
slightest scratch on his skin
MESSAGES
Ø
Africans
should value their identity and culture.
Africans
should value their identity and culture.
Ø
We
should not be selfish. We need to share our resources when the need arises.
We
should not be selfish. We need to share our resources when the need arises.
Ø
We
should not betray our culture in favour of the European culture.
We
should not betray our culture in favour of the European culture.
Ø
Children
need to respect their parents.
Children
need to respect their parents.
RELEVANCE
ü
There
are people in our societies who behave like Europeans e.g. they hate African
food, they love speaking European languages even when addressing people who do
not understand the foreign languages while they don’t even know their mother
tongues. Some speak African Languages with a European accent.
There
are people in our societies who behave like Europeans e.g. they hate African
food, they love speaking European languages even when addressing people who do
not understand the foreign languages while they don’t even know their mother
tongues. Some speak African Languages with a European accent.
ü
There
are selfish people who always force their wills on other people and care less
for others.
There
are selfish people who always force their wills on other people and care less
for others.
ü
There
are those who change their skin colour to look alike Europeans.
There
are those who change their skin colour to look alike Europeans.
