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Maqabane by Tatamkhulu Afrika
Like gnats after rain,
sudden beetles born
of thunder and storm,
we are the creatures of our time,
its passing wind,
murder done,
blood drying in the sun.
We drone,
not with the fat,
mellow hum of bees,
but the thin
snivelling of the fly;
or we roar. Faces turned
to the never-listening sky,
cacophonous as ass or mule,
beaten till the dumb
tongue festers into sound.
We have no song?
How shall we sing?:
as they who, blind
to the blood on their shoes,
sing of lives that never come alive,
mimed and stilled as the moons
in the prisons of their nails,
thrushes in the hedges of their minds?
Does one scream
in careful cadences, stretched
upon a rack of pain,
measure meter when one tells
of the slit throat’s roar,
ripped belly’s gut spilt,
smoking, onto the cold tar,
charred body’s settling
like the timber of a shack torched
by midnight hand?
Beyond the darkness, grey
morning breaks: a bird,
or child,
uncertainly cries, our feet stir
a visible dust, we breathe
a freshening air.
The familiar is suddenly behind.
They grey men, the grey
singers of irrelevant song,
they who hid
behind the stillness of their hands,
slot into the patterns of our heels.
Maqabane – yes –
let us sound that sweet
endearment once
more before the dust
clogs our tongues –
they will have us now,
with the teeth of their laughter tear
the flesh from our bones,
crack them for the marrow they no longer hold.
It is the way.
But still,
within ourselves,
there is the secret hearth
of our love, the place
of the holding of our hands,
and if one harsh note
of our crying woke
a sleeping heart, steeled
a timid spine,
then we, too, sang,
scoring our songs in the flesh
of those that, dead, do not die.
General Introduction
"Maqabane" by Tatamkhulu Afrika is a poignant and evocative poem that delves into the struggles, pains, and resilient spirit of a people oppressed by societal and political forces. The poem paints a vivid picture of suffering and resistance, capturing the essence of human endurance in the face of relentless adversity. Tatamkhulu Afrika, known for his activism against apartheid in South Africa, uses powerful imagery and language to convey the haunting reality of those who fight against oppression.
Title
The title "Maqabane" is a term of endearment in Xhosa, meaning "comrades" or "fellow fighters." It signifies solidarity and brotherhood among those who share a common struggle. The use of this word sets the tone for the poem, highlighting themes of unity, resistance, and shared suffering.
Themes
1. Oppression and Struggle
- The poem vividly portrays the harsh realities of living under oppression. Lines like "we are the creatures of our time, / its passing wind, / murder done, / blood drying in the sun" depict the constant presence of violence and death.
2. Desperation and Pain
- The theme of pain is recurrent, with phrases such as "stretched upon a rack of pain," and "ripped belly’s gut spilt, / smoking, onto the cold tar." These lines emphasize the physical and emotional agony endured by the oppressed.
3. Voice and Silence
- The poem contrasts the silenced voices of the oppressed with the "grey singers of irrelevant song." The line "We have no song? / How shall we sing?" underscores the difficulty of expressing joy or hope amidst suffering.
4. Hope and Resilience
- Despite the grim circumstances, the poem finds moments of hope and resilience. "Beyond the darkness, grey / morning breaks: a bird, / or child, / uncertainly cries" suggests a glimmer of hope and renewal.
5. Unity and Brotherhood
- The use of "Maqabane" throughout the poem underscores the importance of solidarity. The lines "within ourselves, / there is the secret hearth / of our love, the place / of the holding of our hands" highlight the strength found in unity.
Literary Devices
1. Simile
- "Like gnats after rain, / sudden beetles born / of thunder and storm" compares the sudden appearance of oppressed individuals to insects emerging after a storm, emphasizing their resilience.
2. Imagery
- Vivid imagery is prevalent, as in "slit throat’s roar, / ripped belly’s gut spilt, / smoking, onto the cold tar." These images convey the brutal reality of violence and suffering.
3. Metaphor
- The line "they who, blind / to the blood on their shoes, / sing of lives that never come alive" uses a metaphor to criticize those who ignore the suffering around them.
4. Alliteration
- The repetition of consonant sounds, as in "smoking, onto the cold tar, / charred body’s settling," creates a rhythm that enhances the poem's intensity.
5. Personification
- "the dumb / tongue festers into sound" personifies the tongue, illustrating the painful struggle to voice their experiences.
6. Irony
- The phrase "grey singers of irrelevant song" is ironic, highlighting the futility of superficial expressions of life when contrasted with the harsh reality of the oppressed.
Language and Mood
The language of the poem is stark and evocative, filled with intense imagery that evokes a mood of despair and resilience. The tone is both somber and defiant, reflecting the harsh realities of the oppressed while also emphasizing their unwavering spirit.
Context
Tatamkhulu Afrika, born in Egypt and later moving to South Africa, was an anti-apartheid activist whose work often reflected his political beliefs and experiences. "Maqabane" is set against the backdrop of apartheid, a period marked by severe racial segregation and oppression. The poem captures the essence of resistance and the indomitable spirit of those fighting for freedom and justice.
Conclusion
"Maqabane" by Tatamkhulu Afrika is a powerful poem that delves into themes of oppression, pain, and resilience. Through vivid imagery and compelling language, the poem portrays the harsh realities faced by the oppressed while highlighting their strength and unity. The title and repeated use of "Maqabane" underscore the importance of solidarity in the struggle for justice, making the poem a poignant reflection on the human capacity for endurance and hope.
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