A Far Cry from Africa

by , Derek Walcott

A wind is ruffling the tawny pelt

Of Africa. Kikuyu, quick as flies,

Batten upon the bloodstreams of the veldt.

Corpses are scattered through a paradise.

Only the worm, colonel of carrion, cries:

"Waste no compassion on these separate dead!"

Statistics justify and scholars seize

The salients of colonial policy.

What is that to the white child hacked in bed?

To savages, expendable as Jews?

Threshed out by beaters, the long rushes break

In a white dust of ibises whose cries

Have wheeled since civilization's dawn

From the parched river or beast-teeming plain.

The violence of beast on beast is read

As natural law, but upright man

Seeks his divinity by inflicting pain.

Delirious as these worried beasts, his wars

Dance to the tightened carcass of a drum,

While he calls courage still that native dread

Of the white peace contracted by the dead.

Again brutish necessity wipes its hands

Upon the napkin of a dirty cause, again

A waste of our compassion, as with Spain,

The gorilla wrestles with the superman.

I who am poisoned with the blood of both,

Where shall I turn, divided to the vein?

I who have cursed

The drunken officer of British rule, how choose

Between this Africa and the English tongue I love?

Betray them both, or give back what they give?

How can I face such slaughter and be cool?

How can I turn from Africa and live?

Author: 

Derek Walcott (1930–2017) was a Saint Lucian poet and playwright known for his exploration of postcolonial identity and cultural hybridity. Born to a family of mixed African and European descent, he grew up immersed in both Caribbean and Western literary traditions. This dual heritage created a lifelong dilemma for him—he deeply loved the English language and its literary legacy, yet he also felt the weight of colonial oppression and the struggle of his African ancestry. His poetry often reflects this internal conflict, as seen in A Far Cry from Africa, where he wrestles with his divided loyalties between the English culture he admires and the suffering of African people under colonial rule.

Throughout his career, Walcott blended classical influences with Caribbean themes, producing works like Omeros, which reimagines Homeric epics in a Caribbean context. His poetry often examines exile, displacement, and the search for identity in a postcolonial world. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992, Walcott was recognized for his ability to capture the complexities of colonial history and cultural fusion. His works remain significant for their deep reflections on history, race, and the challenge of reconciling multiple cultural influences.

Historical Context: 

The historical context of A Far Cry from Africa is rooted in the Mau Mau Uprising (1952–1960), a violent rebellion against British colonial rule in Kenya, primarily led by the Kikuyu people. The uprising was fueled by deep-seated grievances over British land dispossession, forced labor, and systemic discrimination against native Africans. The Kikuyu rebels, also known as the Mau Mau, waged a brutal guerrilla war against the British and loyalist Africans, seeking to reclaim their land and independence. However, the British responded with extreme measures, including mass detentions, torture, and violent suppression, resulting in thousands of African deaths.

Walcott’s poem reflects this violent conflict, portraying the brutality on both sides—the British colonizers who massacred Africans under the pretense of maintaining "peace" and the Mau Mau rebels who also committed violent acts, such as hacking a white child in bed. The poem explores the moral complexity of colonial resistance, questioning the cost of freedom when it leads to widespread bloodshed. Walcott, as a writer of hybrid identity, struggles to take a side, as he acknowledges both the oppression of colonialism and the horrors of violent rebellion. Through this lens, the poem becomes a meditation on divided loyalties, postcolonial struggles, and the inescapable violence of history.

Line by Line Explanation: 

Derek Walcott’s A Far Cry from Africa is a powerful postcolonial poem that explores the brutality of colonialism, the violence of the Mau Mau Uprising, and the poet’s personal conflict as a hybrid of African and European heritage. The poem blends historical references, natural imagery, and philosophical reflection to highlight the moral complexities of war and identity. A line-by-line explanation will help uncover the layers of meaning, symbolism, and emotional depth within Walcott’s work.

Stanza 1: The Brutality of Colonial Conflict

1. "A wind is ruffling the tawny pelt of Africa."

The poet uses a metaphor, comparing Africa to an animal with "tawny" (golden-brown) fur. The "wind" suggests unrest, foreshadowing violence and turbulence in the land.

2. "Kikuyu, quick as flies, batten upon the bloodstreams of the veldt."

The Kikuyu people, central to the Mau Mau Uprising, are compared to flies feeding on blood. This simile suggests their aggressive uprising against British colonial rule. "Veldt" refers to the African grasslands, emphasizing the setting.

3. "Corpses are scattered through a paradise."

Africa is paradoxically described as a "paradise" filled with "corpses," showing the tragic destruction of its natural beauty due to violent conflict.

4. "Only the worm, colonel of carrion, cries:"

The worm (which feeds on the dead) is metaphorically called a "colonel," symbolizing how death dominates the battlefield.

5. '"Waste no compassion on these separate dead!"'

The poet cynically suggests that neither side shows empathy for the dead; instead, both focus on their own political justifications for violence.

6. "Statistics justify and scholars seize the salients of colonial policy."

The atrocities are reduced to mere numbers and political debates, as scholars and politicians argue about colonial policies rather than acknowledging the human suffering.

7. "What is that to the white child hacked in bed?"

The poet highlights the innocent victims of war—here, a white child brutally killed, likely by the Mau Mau rebels. This line challenges those who justify violence in the name of freedom.

8. "To savages, expendable as Jews?"

The British colonizers dehumanized the Africans, considering them "savages," just as the Nazis dehumanized Jews during the Holocaust. This comparison exposes the hypocrisy of colonialism, which claimed moral superiority while committing its own atrocities.

Stanza 2: Violence as a Natural Law vs. Human Cruelty

9. "Threshed out by beaters, the long rushes break"

The imagery of hunters beating the grass to flush out animals reflects the way colonizers and rebels hunt each other in war.

10. "In a white dust of ibises whose cries have wheeled since civilization's dawn"

The white ibises (birds), disturbed by the hunters, symbolize innocence and the disruption of Africa’s natural order by colonial violence.

11. "From the parched river or beast-teeming plain."

The contrast between dryness ("parched river") and abundance ("beast-teeming plain") reflects Africa’s beauty and suffering.

12. "The violence of beast on beast is read as natural law,"

Animal violence (survival instinct) is accepted as natural, but...

13. "But upright man seeks his divinity by inflicting pain."

Unlike animals, humans choose to be cruel in their pursuit of power, acting as if violence makes them godlike.

14. "Delirious as these worried beasts, his wars dance to the tightened carcass of a drum,"

Humans are as chaotic and irrational as animals in battle, but they glorify war, using drums (made from animal skins) to celebrate violence.

15. "While he calls courage still that native dread of the white peace contracted by the dead."

The so-called "courage" in war is actually fear and desperation. The "white peace" refers to British rule, which is only enforced through mass killings.

Stanza 3: The Poet’s Personal Dilemma

16. "Again brutish necessity wipes its hands upon the napkin of a dirty cause, again"

"Brutish necessity" refers to the idea that violence is unavoidable. However, Walcott criticizes this as a "dirty cause," meaning both colonialism and rebellion are tainted with bloodshed.

17. "A waste of our compassion, as with Spain,"

Walcott compares the Mau Mau Uprising to the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), another brutal conflict where idealistic struggles led to immense suffering.

18. "The gorilla wrestles with the superman."

This line plays on racist stereotypes:

"Gorilla" = Africans, depicted as primitive.

"Superman" = British, claiming to be civilized.

Walcott rejects these racist labels, exposing the power struggle between colonizers and rebels.

19. "I who am poisoned with the blood of both, Where shall I turn, divided to the vein?"

Walcott personally descends from both African and European ancestry, making him a hybrid torn between two sides.

20. "I who have cursed the drunken officer of British rule,"

He has criticized the brutality and corruption of British colonial officials, who were often drunk with power (or literally drunk).

21. "How choose between this Africa and the English tongue I love?"

Walcott loves the English language (a colonial legacy) but also feels a deep connection to Africa. This cultural conflict leaves him unable to take sides.

22. "Betray them both, or give back what they give?"

He fears that supporting one side means betraying the other, making him feel helpless.

23. "How can I face such slaughter and be cool?"

Seeing so much death, he struggles to remain indifferent.

24. "How can I turn from Africa and live?"

Despite his dilemmas, he cannot abandon Africa, as it is part of his identity.

Final Thoughts

This poem reflects the deep moral conflict of postcolonial identity. Walcott does not glorify either side—he sees both colonialism and rebellion as violent and flawed. However, his personal hybrid identity makes this even more painful, as he is emotionally connected to both the oppressor and the oppressed. The poem ultimately leaves us with no clear resolution, emphasizing the tragic and unresolved nature of colonial history.

Summary: 

Derek Walcott’s A Far Cry from Africa is a deeply personal and politically charged poem that reflects on the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya and the moral dilemmas of colonial violence. The poem begins with a vivid and disturbing image of Africa as a wounded land, where violence has stained its natural beauty. The Kikuyu people, who are leading the rebellion against British colonial rule, are compared to flies feeding on blood, symbolizing both their suffering and their participation in the cycle of violence. Dead bodies are described as being scattered across what was once a paradise, showing the devastating impact of war. Walcott introduces a chilling voice, the "colonel of carrion" (a worm feeding on corpses), which dismisses the dead as mere numbers, reflecting how human suffering is often reduced to statistics and political rhetoric. The brutality of colonial rule is exposed as Walcott critiques how history justifies violence through intellectual debates, while innocent lives, such as a white child hacked to death, are lost in the conflict. He also draws a shocking comparison between how colonizers viewed Africans as expendable and how Jews were dehumanized during the Holocaust, emphasizing the hypocrisy and cruelty of imperialism.

Walcott then shifts to a broader reflection on human nature and violence, comparing it to the animal kingdom. He acknowledges that violence between animals is considered natural, yet humans, who see themselves as superior beings, justify war in the name of civilization. The phrase "delirious as these worried beasts" suggests that humans, like animals, are driven by fear and survival instincts, even though they claim to be rational. The imagery of war as a dance to the beat of drums made from carcasses portrays how violence becomes ritualistic and almost inevitable in history. The poet then brings his personal dilemma into focus, struggling with his hybrid identity—he is both African and European by ancestry. He describes himself as “poisoned by the blood of both,” feeling torn between his African heritage and his deep love for the English language and culture. He has condemned British colonial oppression but cannot fully align with African rebellion either. His conflicted emotions are evident in his rhetorical questions—how can he choose between the two without betraying one side? How can he turn away from the suffering in Africa and continue living? The poem ends without resolution, highlighting the complexity of postcolonial identity and the difficulty of reconciling cultural heritage with historical reality.

Themes:

Derek Walcott’s A Far Cry from Africa explores the complexities of colonial violence, identity crisis, and moral conflict. Set against the backdrop of the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, the poem reflects Walcott’s struggle as a hybrid individual of African and European descent. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem examines the brutality of both colonizers and rebels while questioning civilization, identity, and betrayal.

1. Colonial Violence and Brutality:

The poem exposes the horrors of British colonial rule and the Mau Mau rebellion. Walcott condemns both the British, who oppressed and massacred Africans, and the Kikuyu rebels, who also committed brutal acts. He compares the dehumanization of Africans to the extermination of Jews in Nazi camps, highlighting how violence is justified through politics and ideology.

2. Moral Dilemma and Identity Conflict:

As a man of mixed African and European descent, Walcott feels torn between both sides. He cannot fully support either the African rebels or British colonialism. Describing himself as "poisoned with the blood of both," he reflects the postcolonial identity crisis, where people struggle to reconcile their ancestral roots with colonial influences.

3. The Hypocrisy of Civilization:

The poem questions human superiority over animals, showing that humans wage war for ideological reasons, while animals fight for survival. Walcott portrays war as mindless and ritualistic, with the image of "dancing to the tightened carcass of a drum" highlighting the normalization of violence in society.

4. Love for Language and Culture:

The poet admires the English language but also values his African heritage. This creates an internal conflict, as embracing one culture feels like betraying the other. He struggles with whether he should "betray them both or give back what they give," revealing his complex relationship with colonial history and identity.

5. Guilt and Betrayal:

Walcott feels guilt and helplessness, questioning how he can live while witnessing such atrocities. He fears turning away from Africa would be a betrayal, yet he cannot fully accept the violence of the Kikuyu rebellion. The poem ends with unresolved tension, reflecting his inner turmoil.

Conclusion:

A Far Cry from Africa is a deeply personal reflection on the consequences of colonialism and the struggles of a hybrid identity. Walcott presents a world where violence is justified, loyalty is questioned, and identity is fractured. The poem’s unresolved conflict mirrors the ongoing struggles of postcolonial societies and individuals caught between two worlds.

Title Analysis: "A Far Cry from Africa "

The title A Far Cry from Africa encapsulates colonial violence, identity conflict, and emotional detachment. It reflects Derek Walcott’s inner turmoil as a hybrid individual torn between his African and British heritage. The phrase "Far Cry" suggests both physical and emotional distance, irony, and helplessness, making it a powerful prelude to the poem’s themes.

1. Sense of Distance and Disconnection

The phrase "A Far Cry" implies separation, both literal and metaphorical. Walcott, though connected to Africa by heritage, is emotionally and geographically distant from its struggles. His mixed ancestry (African and British) places him in a conflicted position, preventing him from fully identifying with either side. This distance also reflects the alienation of postcolonial subjects trying to reconcile their past with their present.

2. Irony in the Title

The phrase "Far Cry" often means something drastically different from reality. Here, it highlights the contrast between the romanticized idea of Africa and its actual history of violence. The title is ironic because Africa, often perceived as an exotic paradise, is plagued by brutal colonial rule and native rebellion. Similarly, Walcott admires the English language yet recognizes its role in oppression, adding to his internal conflict.

3. Postcolonial Struggles and Identity Crisis

The title represents Africa’s suffering under British imperialism, particularly the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, where the Kikuyu fought against colonial rule. It also signifies the poet’s personal struggle—he is "poisoned by the blood of both," unable to take a definitive stance. The "far cry" suggests the deep historical wounds of Africa, which remain unresolved even after colonial rule ended.

4. Cry of Anguish and Helplessness

The word "cry" symbolizes pain, suffering, and desperation. It reflects Africa’s agony under colonialism and Walcott’s own struggle with his dual heritage. He is torn between his love for English culture and his African roots, making the title a metaphor for his internal conflict. The "far cry" also implies helplessness—neither Africa nor Walcott can escape the burdens of history, leaving them in a state of perpetual division.

Conclusion

The title A Far Cry from Africa is a metaphor for Walcott’s fractured identity and Africa’s colonial wounds. It highlights not only the continent’s struggle for freedom but also the poet’s inability to reconcile his heritage. The "far cry" is both a lament for Africa’s suffering and an expression of Walcott’s alienation, making it deeply poignant and thought-provoking.

"A Far Cry from Africa" as a postcolonial poem: 

Derek Walcott’s A Far Cry from Africa is a powerful postcolonial poem that explores the effects of British imperialism, identity crisis, and cultural conflict. It examines the violence of the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya while reflecting the poet’s own struggle as a hybrid individual of both African and European descent. The poem embodies postcolonial themes such as oppression, resistance, cultural alienation, and the complexities of identity in a world shaped by colonial rule.

1. Colonial Oppression and Violence

The poem vividly portrays the brutality of British colonialism and the resistance of the Kikuyu during the Mau Mau Uprising. The poet compares the treatment of Black Africans to the genocide of Jews in Nazi concentration camps, exposing the hypocrisy of colonial rulers who justified their actions through "statistics" and political policies. This reflects postcolonial literature’s focus on historical injustices and the lingering scars of imperialism.

2. The Dichotomy of the Colonizer and the Colonized

The poem presents a moral dilemma by depicting atrocities on both sides. While the British inflicted large-scale oppression, the Kikuyu rebels also committed violent acts, such as hacking a white child in bed. This dual portrayal challenges the simplistic view of colonizers as evil and the colonized as victims, highlighting the moral ambiguities of colonial resistance. Postcolonial literature often grapples with this complexity, showing how colonial rule corrupts both the oppressor and the oppressed.

3. Hybrid Identity and Cultural Alienation

Walcott, of mixed African and European ancestry, embodies the postcolonial struggle of hybrid identity. He describes himself as "poisoned with the blood of both," emphasizing his divided loyalties. On one hand, he is deeply connected to his African heritage, yet he also loves the English language, a symbol of colonial power. This conflict mirrors the postcolonial subject’s alienation, where one belongs to two cultures but is fully accepted by neither.

4. Language as a Colonial Legacy

English, a tool of colonial dominance, is also the medium through which Walcott expresses his emotions. The poet acknowledges his love for the English language but questions whether embracing it means betraying his African heritage. This struggle represents a broader postcolonial concern—whether adopting the colonizer’s language erases indigenous identity or serves as a means of resistance by reclaiming it.

5. Moral and Emotional Dilemma

The poem ends with a question: "How can I turn from Africa and live?" This unresolved tension reflects the emotional turmoil of postcolonial subjects. Walcott cannot wholly align with either side, making his struggle emblematic of many postcolonial writers who wrestle with belonging, loyalty, and cultural inheritance.

Conclusion

As a postcolonial poem, A Far Cry from Africa addresses themes of colonial violence, identity crisis, and cultural hybridity. It critiques both the cruelty of imperialism and the moral complexities of resistance, making it a powerful reflection of postcolonial struggles. The poem’s unresolved conflicts mirror the lasting impact of colonial rule on individuals and nations, reinforcing its significance in postcolonial literature.

Symbols: 

Derek Walcott’s A Far Cry from Africa is rich in symbolism, using nature, animals, and historical references to convey the horrors of colonial violence, cultural conflict, and the poet’s identity crisis. These symbols deepen the poem’s meaning, making it a powerful reflection of postcolonial struggles.

1. Africa as a "Tawny Pelt"

The image of Africa as a "tawny pelt" (golden-brown animal skin) symbolizes both the beauty and the suffering of the continent. The wind "ruffling" the pelt suggests disturbance, possibly referring to the colonial disruption and the violence tearing Africa apart. The image also evokes Africa as a wounded animal, helpless against external forces.

2. Flies and Carrion

The Kikuyu are compared to "flies" that "batten upon the bloodstreams of the veldt," suggesting both their suffering and their violent retaliation. Flies, which feed on decaying flesh, symbolize death, destruction, and the cycle of violence that colonial rule has unleashed. Similarly, the "worm, colonel of carrion," represents decay and the inevitability of death, indicating that colonialism has reduced Africa to a battlefield of corpses.

3. White Child Hacked in Bed

This disturbing image symbolizes the moral complexity of anti-colonial resistance. While the British committed atrocities, the rebels' violence also claimed innocent lives. The white child represents colonial settlers, whose presence in Africa is now marked by bloodshed, highlighting the tragic consequences of imperialism.

4. Beasts and Human Nature

The poem repeatedly compares human violence to the brutality of animals. "The violence of beast on beast is read / As natural law," but humans, who claim to be superior, use war to assert dominance. The poet describes men as "delirious as these worried beasts," suggesting that war drives people to madness and savagery, blurring the line between civilization and barbarism.

5. The Gorilla and the Superman

"The gorilla wrestles with the superman" is a symbolic contrast between Africa and European imperialists. The gorilla represents African resistance—wild, untamed, and forceful—while the "superman" refers to the colonial rulers, possibly evoking Nietzsche’s idea of a superior being or the European sense of racial supremacy. This struggle highlights the ongoing battle between indigenous identity and colonial power.

6. Tightened Carcass of a Drum

The phrase "dance to the tightened carcass of a drum" symbolizes how war and violence dictate human actions. The drum, made from an animal’s carcass, represents the rhythm of destruction and death, suggesting that conflict has become an inescapable part of African history under colonial rule.

 7. The Poet’s Blood as Poison

Walcott describes himself as "poisoned with the blood of both" African and European ancestry, symbolizing his inner turmoil. His mixed heritage is not a blessing but a source of suffering, as he is torn between two opposing worlds. This symbol captures the postcolonial theme of identity crisis and divided loyalties.

Conclusion

Walcott’s use of symbolism in A Far Cry from Africa enhances the poem’s exploration of colonial violence, identity conflict, and moral ambiguity. Through images of animals, nature, and war, he portrays Africa’s suffering and his own struggle as a hybrid individual. These symbols make the poem a powerful reflection on the consequences of imperialism and the emotional weight of postcolonial identity.

Literary Devices: 

Derek Walcott employs various literary devices in A Far Cry from Africa to enhance its themes of colonial violence, identity conflict, and moral ambiguity. These devices create strong imagery and emphasize the poet’s inner turmoil regarding his hybrid identity and the brutality of war.

1. Metaphor

Walcott uses metaphors to illustrate Africa’s beauty and suffering. The phrase "A wind is ruffling the tawny pelt of Africa" compares Africa to an animal, emphasizing its natural richness while foreshadowing violence. Similarly, "Dance to the tightened carcass of a drum" suggests that war is like a ritualistic dance, driven by death and destruction.

2. Imagery

Vivid imagery makes the brutality of colonialism and rebellion more striking. Phrases like "corpses are scattered through a paradise" juxtapose Africa’s natural beauty with death, while "the white child hacked in bed" provides a shocking visual of violence. Such images evoke horror and highlight the consequences of conflict.

3. Symbolism

The poem uses symbols to deepen its themes. The "worm, colonel of carrion" symbolizes death and decay, showing how war reduces human lives to meaningless corpses. The line "the gorilla wrestles with the superman" contrasts indigenous Africans (gorilla) with European colonizers (superman), symbolizing the power struggle between the oppressed and the oppressors.

4. Irony

Walcott employs irony to expose colonial hypocrisy. The title A Far Cry from Africa ironically suggests distance while the poem deeply engages with Africa’s struggles. Additionally, "To savages, expendable as Jews?" is a bitter comparison, pointing out how Europeans condemned Nazi genocide while justifying colonial violence.

5. Allusion

The poem references historical atrocities to emphasize its themes. The line "expendable as Jews" alludes to the Holocaust, equating colonial violence with genocide. The mention of "Spain" likely refers to the Spanish Civil War, drawing parallels between African struggles and other historical conflicts. These allusions highlight the universal nature of oppression.

6. Personification

Walcott gives human qualities to non-human elements to enhance the poem’s emotional impact. The "worm, colonel of carrion, cries" personifies death, making it seem like a relentless force in war. Likewise, "The violence of beast on beast is read / As natural law" personifies violence itself, showing how humans justify cruelty by comparing it to nature.

7. Paradox

The poet’s inner conflict is expressed through paradox. The line "Betray them both, or give back what they give?" presents an impossible choice, reflecting Walcott’s struggle between his British and African heritage. This paradox reinforces his moral dilemma, making his situation seem unsolvable.

8. Enjambment

The poem’s use of enjambment—continuing sentences across multiple lines—reflects the poet’s emotional turmoil and the chaotic nature of war. The lack of full stops in certain sections mimics the overwhelming flow of thoughts and emotions, intensifying the reader’s engagement.

9. Contrast

Walcott contrasts civilization and savagery to challenge colonial narratives. The so-called "civilized" British colonizers commit brutal acts, while the rebels are also violent, making it hard to distinguish justice from cruelty. Similarly, the contrast between Africa’s breathtaking landscape and the horrors of war highlights the tragedy of destruction in a land that should be peaceful.

Conclusion

Through literary devices like metaphor, irony, symbolism, and imagery, Walcott captures the complexities of colonial violence and identity struggles. These techniques make A Far Cry from Africa a powerful exploration of postcolonial conflicts, personal alienation, and the lasting impact of historical injustices.

          

                           Presented By : Aninda Manna