Rachel Gutierrez

Africa: David Mandessi Diop

A Poem Analysis by Rachel Gutierrez

Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river

            I should have not chosen this poem for this was already reported in our class several weeks ago. In fact, my close friend MJ was the reporter of this poem. Despite the fact that it was already reported, I can’t help but be amazed at the way this poem was written and internalized by the author, or should I say, myself also.

            Reading upon those first lines, I felt that Mr. David Mandessi Diop never forgets his own land, Africa. He even said, “My Africa”, thus concluding that he loves Africa so much. He also mentioned the line, “of whom my grandmother sings”. Meaning, her grandmother was telling him how beautiful the Africa is for it is their homeland where their passion and personality had begun. I also noticed the last line saying “on the banks of the distant river”. Through this, I remembered that David Mandessi Diop was an African poet born in France but still his heart belongs to the Africa.

I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery

            On the next stanza, the author said again that he had not known Africa. Probably because he’s too far away because He is from France yet he knows what is happening in his mother land that was truly evident in the line, “but your blood flows in my veins.”  He also mentioned “the work of your slavery”. Meaning, he knows the hard reality that is happening most to his countrymen. He can feel it though he cannot see it. The blood of sweat symbolizes how hard it was for the Africans to work as a slave.

Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun

            Upon reading the third stanza (above), I felt that David is angry of why some of his countrymen would allow this kind of injustice be poured unto them by the colonialists. He wants to remind his countrymen in this stanza that they are priceless. They don’t deserve this kind of life. He wants them to remain strong though “trembling with scars”. Being strong and not bent should be the attitude for if not, it can break them.

But a grave voice answers me
impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.

            Now, this is the best line ever. The last stanza of this poem says that there is still a new hope for Africa. Impetuous  means hasty. It also means sudden, and reckless. Meaning, some of the Africans were really impatient to this injustice but David reminds them that someday, “white and faded flowers”, the colonialists will be buried out and Africa will grow to a very successful country. The “young and strong” people of the Africa will “spring up patiently, obstinately”. The younger ones will be the hope of this land said David. Amidst the bitterness, there is still hope for Africa.

            This poem reminds me of how Philippines today is helping Africa how to have that “taste of liberty”. I know this is somewhat business  like but never mind, school is a business too. As I browsed on the internet about the economic status of the Africa, I found that the business I am engaged right now is going global that it had reached Nigeria and Ghana, one of the countries in Africa.” Our Visionary President Dr. Ed Cabantog said during the Silver Executive and Gold Executive nights held at the Philippine Sports Arena on August 26, 2012 that AIM Global Nigeria is going to be a big business. He also added that AIM Global would turn the ordinary people in Nigeria into extraordinary millionaires”.

           

I was further amazed upon finding  that there was a living proof that ordinary Nigerians are now becoming EXTRAORDINARY MILLIONAIRES through the help of Alliance in Motion Global Incorporated.  His name is Mr. Chino Chukuwudozie. You can find his video on Youtube.

 Chino Chukuwudozie, a screenshot I got from Youtube. He is a living testimony of how AIM Global brought new hope to him and his family and also to his country, Nigeria.

            True enough, Mr. David Mandessi Diop was right. There is really hope for Africa. Right here and right now, I am so proud that through the business that I am engaged in right now, I am sure that Africa will have a brighter future. I believe also that through this business, I can also help the Africans to have a better life 24/7. Adios and more power to Alliance in Motion Global, a 100 % Filipino  owned MLM business that is making ordinary Nigerians and Africans  into EXTRAORDINARY MILLIONAIRES!

 Rachel Gutierrez

Africa: David Mandessi Diop

A Poem Analysis by Rachel Gutierrez

Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river

            I should have not chosen this poem for this was already reported in our class several weeks ago. In fact, my close friend MJ was the reporter of this poem. Despite the fact that it was already reported, I can’t help but be amazed at the way this poem was written and internalized by the author, or should I say, myself also.

            Reading upon those first lines, I felt that Mr. David Mandessi Diop never forgets his own land, Africa. He even said, “My Africa”, thus concluding that he loves Africa so much. He also mentioned the line, “of whom my grandmother sings”. Meaning, her grandmother was telling him how beautiful the Africa is for it is their homeland where their passion and personality had begun. I also noticed the last line saying “on the banks of the distant river”. Through this, I remembered that David Mandessi Diop was an African poet born in France but still his heart belongs to the Africa.

I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery

            On the next stanza, the author said again that he had not known Africa. Probably because he’s too far away because He is from France yet he knows what is happening in his mother land that was truly evident in the line, “but your blood flows in my veins.”  He also mentioned “the work of your slavery”. Meaning, he knows the hard reality that is happening most to his countrymen. He can feel it though he cannot see it. The blood of sweat symbolizes how hard it was for the Africans to work as a slave.

Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun

            Upon reading the third stanza (above), I felt that David is angry of why some of his countrymen would allow this kind of injustice be poured unto them by the colonialists. He wants to remind his countrymen in this stanza that they are priceless. They don’t deserve this kind of life. He wants them to remain strong though “trembling with scars”. Being strong and not bent should be the attitude for if not, it can break them.

But a grave voice answers me
impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.

            Now, this is the best line ever. The last stanza of this poem says that there is still a new hope for Africa. Impetuous  means hasty. It also means sudden, and reckless. Meaning, some of the Africans were really impatient to this injustice but David reminds them that someday, “white and faded flowers”, the colonialists will be buried out and Africa will grow to a very successful country. The “young and strong” people of the Africa will “spring up patiently, obstinately”. The younger ones will be the hope of this land said David. Amidst the bitterness, there is still hope for Africa.

            This poem reminds me of how Philippines today is helping Africa how to have that “taste of liberty”. I know this is somewhat business  like but never mind, school is a business too. As I browsed on the internet about the economic status of the Africa, I found that the business I am engaged right now is going global that it had reached Nigeria and Ghana, one of the countries in Africa.” Our Visionary President Dr. Ed Cabantog said during the Silver Executive and Gold Executive nights held at the Philippine Sports Arena on August 26, 2012 that AIM Global Nigeria is going to be a big business. He also added that AIM Global would turn the ordinary people in Nigeria into extraordinary millionaires”.

           

I was further amazed upon finding  that there was a living proof that ordinary Nigerians are now becoming EXTRAORDINARY MILLIONAIRES through the help of Alliance in Motion Global Incorporated.  His name is Mr. Chino Chukuwudozie. You can find his video on Youtube.

 Chino Chukuwudozie, a screenshot I got from Youtube. He is a living testimony of how AIM Global brought new hope to him and his family and also to his country, Nigeria.

            True enough, Mr. David Mandessi Diop was right. There is really hope for Africa. Right here and right now, I am so proud that through the business that I am engaged in right now, I am sure that Africa will have a brighter future. I believe also that through this business, I can also help the Africans to have a better life 24/7. Adios and more power to Alliance in Motion Global, a 100 % Filipino  owned MLM business that is making ordinary Nigerians and Africans  into EXTRAORDINARY MILLIONAIRES!