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General Introduction
"A Villager’s Protest" is a poem written by Niyi Osundare, a prominent Nigerian poet known for his politically charged and socially conscious works. Born in 1947, Osundare is one of Africa’s most celebrated literary figures, blending themes of nature, social justice, and political criticism. His poetry is often written in a simple, direct style, aimed at engaging the ordinary person while addressing complex societal issues, particularly in post-colonial Nigeria. "A Villager’s Protest" critiques political corruption, a frequent theme in Osundare’s works, and reflects the disillusionment of rural communities with political leadership. The poem was likely written during the military regimes or early democratic struggles in Nigeria, a period characterized by empty promises from leaders to impoverished citizens.
A Villager’s Protest by Niyi Osunadre
They come more times
than the eye bats its lid
when they need your vote
at cockcrow
at noon
at sundown
when red rays
are bidding farewell
to the western sky
They come
armed with sweet words
inflated promises
and a chest that bribes
with countless prostrations
like the agama on the rock
We’ll build schools
We’ll build hospitals
We’ll bring water
To every backyard
And turn all nights into day
We’ll turn every footpath
Into a motorway
And fashion out a city
From every hamlet
We’ll give the farmer
The best for his sweat
And make poverty
A thing of the past
They come
They talk
They promise
Now in
and promises forgotten
fat cars, juicy damsels
and the best there is
in the world of softness
consume fat salaries
and constituency allowances
The mouth now is too honourable
to greet, the belly too obese to bend
Our man becomes a locust seen but once
in several seasons
his Mercedes thunders through the streets
our dust-laden mats announce the departure
of the man of power
Esuru grows swollen-headed
and outgrows the prestigious belly
of the mortar
the wasp power-stung
enters a race of waists
Men of deep unwisdom
knowing not that
power is the bird of the forest
which nests on one tree today
and tomorrow pitches its tent
on another.
Another rain will fall
(its clouds already gathering)
and the distant wayfarer
will come seeking shelter
in huts long neglected.
Title
The title, "A Villager’s Protest," immediately suggests a narrative of dissent or opposition from someone in a rural community. The word "protest" sets a tone of resistance, hinting at dissatisfaction and frustration with the status quo. The poem likely addresses the grievances of a marginalized villager who feels betrayed by political leaders, setting the stage for a critique of governance and societal injustice.
Stanza 1
In the first stanza, the poet sets the scene for the recurring visits of politicians during election seasons. The use of the phrase "more times than the eye bats its lid" emphasizes how frequent these visits are when the politicians are in need of the villagers' votes. The specific times of "cockcrow," "noon," and "sundown" indicate that these politicians are relentless in their pursuit, coming at all times of the day. The final line, "when red rays are bidding farewell to the western sky," evokes a sense of finality, symbolizing the end of another day but also hinting at the transient nature of political interest in the villagers. This stanza introduces the theme of political deception and the exploitative nature of politicians who only appear when they need something.
Stanza 2
In the second stanza, the poet focuses on the tactics politicians use to win over the villagers. They come "armed with sweet words" and "inflated promises," emphasizing the insincerity of their speech. The use of "armed" suggests that these words are like weapons, meant to manipulate the villagers. The phrase "a chest that bribes" directly implies corruption, where the politicians use gifts or money to sway votes. The simile "like the agama on the rock" evokes the image of the agama lizard, which is known for its ritualistic prostrations. This comparison highlights the false humility of the politicians, who, like the lizard, perform for the villagers but with no genuine intent to serve. This stanza reinforces the theme of deception and corruption in leadership.
Stanza 3
"We’ll build schools
We’ll build hospitals
We’ll bring water
To every backyard
And turn all nights into day
We’ll turn every footpath
Into a motorway
And fashion out a city
From every hamlet
We’ll give the farmer
The best for his sweat
And make poverty
A thing of the past."
This stanza is filled with the grandiose promises made by politicians. They pledge to transform the rural landscape, promising to build schools, hospitals, and infrastructure ("turn every footpath into a motorway"). These promises are exaggerated, as seen in the claim that they will "turn all nights into day," suggesting unrealistic improvements. The promise to "make poverty a thing of the past" shows the absurdity of their claims. The tone of the stanza is filled with irony, as these pledges are presented as hopeful but are ultimately empty. The promises touch on the villagers' basic needs, making this stanza crucial to understanding the theme of false promises and exploitation of the poor.
Stanza 4
In the fourth stanza, Osundare reveals what happens once the politicians have won the villagers' votes. The repetition of "They come / They talk / They promise" reinforces the cycle of deceit. However, once they are in power ("Now in"), the promises are quickly "forgotten." The focus shifts to the personal indulgences of the politicians, who now enjoy "fat cars," "juicy damsels," and "the best there is in the world of softness." This stanza underscores the corruption of power and the leaders' detachment from the villagers' needs, as they indulge in luxury at the expense of the people. The imagery of "fat salaries" and "constituency allowances" highlights how the politicians become self-serving after taking office.
Stanza 5
This stanza illustrates the drastic change in the politicians' behavior after gaining power. The metaphor "the mouth now is too honourable to greet" indicates that they no longer feel the need to interact with the common people. Their "belly too obese to bend" symbolizes both their physical and moral corruption, suggesting they have become too arrogant and self-important to show humility. The comparison of the politician to a locust, "seen but once in several seasons," highlights how rarely they visit the villages after elections. The image of the "Mercedes" thundering through the streets contrasts with the villagers' "dust-laden mats," further emphasizing the gulf between the elite and the poor. This stanza deepens the theme of disillusionment with leadership.
Stanza 6
This stanza uses metaphorical language to illustrate the dangerous transformation of those in power. "Esuru," a type of yam, symbolizes power or ambition, and its "swollen-headed" nature signifies how politicians’ egos and greed expand beyond the limits of their responsibilities ("the prestigious belly of the mortar"). The "wasp power-stung" refers to the politicians becoming overly confident or emboldened by their newfound power, leading them to act recklessly. The "race of waists" suggests competition among politicians for wealth and power, highlighting the self-serving nature of the political elite.
Stanza 7
In this stanza, Osundare reflects on the transient nature of power. He describes the politicians as "men of deep unwisdom," implying that they lack the foresight to understand that their power is temporary. The metaphor "power is the bird of the forest" suggests that power is elusive and unpredictable, constantly shifting from one individual or group to another. This stanza serves as a warning to the political elite that their time in power is limited and that they should not become too comfortable in their positions. The theme of the transience of power is central here.
Stanza 8
The final stanza provides a sense of inevitability and foreboding. "Another rain will fall" symbolizes another election season, with the "clouds already gathering" representing the approaching return of politicians, once again seeking votes. The image of the "distant wayfarer" coming to seek shelter in "huts long neglected" symbolizes the politicians' return to the rural communities they have ignored, repeating the same cycle of false promises. This stanza reinforces the theme of cyclical political exploitation and suggests that the villagers will once again be taken advantage of.
Niyi Osundare’s A Villager’s Protest offers a powerful critique of political leadership, particularly in rural African societies. Each stanza builds on the themes of political deception, corruption, exploitation, disillusionment, and the transience of power. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Osundare portrays the deep frustration of villagers who are continuously betrayed by those in power. The poem’s cyclical structure reflects the ongoing pattern of political exploitation, where promises are made, forgotten, and repeated, leaving the villagers trapped in a cycle of hope and betrayal.
Themes in A Villager’s Protest by Niyi Osundare
1. Political Deception and Broken Promises:
One of the central themes in the poem is the false promises made by politicians to the rural populace. The poem critiques how politicians repeatedly come during election periods with "sweet words" and "inflated promises," promising grand developments like building schools, hospitals, and eradicating poverty. However, these promises are quickly forgotten once they secure power. This theme reflects the cyclical nature of political campaigns, where leaders offer hope but fail to deliver, betraying the trust of the people.
- "We’ll build schools / We’ll build hospitals / We’ll bring water / To every backyard."
2. Exploitation of the Rural Poor:
The poem highlights the exploitation of the rural villagers, who are seen as nothing more than a means to political power. The villagers' needs are overlooked once the politicians have achieved their goals, as illustrated by the change in behavior from the politicians. Before elections, they "prostrate" themselves before the villagers, but after gaining power, they become arrogant, distant, and unapproachable.
- "They come more times / than the eye bats its lid / when they need your vote."
3. The Corruption of Power:
Osundare explores the corrupting influence of power, showing how politicians change once they gain authority. They start out making lofty promises but, once in office, become consumed by material wealth, enjoying "fat salaries" and "juicy damsels." The image of power inflating their egos is reflected in the metaphor of "Esuru grows swollen-headed," symbolizing leaders who become arrogant and disconnected from the common people.
- "Now in / and promises forgotten / fat cars, juicy damsels / and the best there is / in the world of softness."
4. Disillusionment with Leadership:
The villagers’ initial hope and faith in the political system give way to disillusionment as they realize that they have been used. The leaders, who once mingled with them, now ignore their needs. This sense of betrayal creates a tone of cynicism and bitterness in the poem, reflecting the widespread disillusionment felt by citizens in many post-colonial societies where leadership has failed to deliver on its promises.
- "The mouth now is too honourable / to greet, the belly too obese to bend."
5. The Transience of Power:
Osundare points out that power is temporary, a recurring theme in African oral literature and proverbs. He uses the metaphor of power being "the bird of the forest" that nests on one tree today and moves to another tomorrow, reminding politicians that their authority is fleeting and unstable. This theme serves as a warning to those in power to act justly because their time in office will not last forever.
- "Power is the bird of the forest / which nests on one tree today / and tomorrow pitches its tent / on another."
6. The Cycle of Political Exploitation:
Another significant theme in the poem is the cyclicality of political exploitation. Osundare emphasizes how politicians will return, seeking votes once again, repeating the same pattern of false promises. This creates a perpetual cycle of exploitation where nothing changes for the villagers despite the politicians' assurances. The gathering clouds in the closing lines symbolize the return of these deceitful leaders, hinting at the inevitability of more empty promises in the future.
- "Another rain will fall / (its clouds already gathering) / and the distant wayfarer / will come seeking shelter / in huts long neglected."
Through these themes, Niyi Osundare presents a scathing critique of the political system, particularly the way in which leaders deceive and exploit rural communities. The poem reflects not only the Nigerian political experience but also the broader human condition, where power often corrupts, and those who are supposed to serve the people end up serving themselves. Osundare’s exploration of disillusionment, betrayal, and the cyclical nature of political deception resonates with readers far beyond the poem’s immediate context, making it a powerful commentary on governance and leadership.
Literary Devices
1. Repetition: The phrase "They come" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the recurring visits of politicians during election periods. This repetition highlights the cyclical nature of political deception, where promises are made and forgotten.
- “They come more times / than the eye bats its lid.”
- “They come / They talk / They promise.”
2. Metaphor: The metaphor of the politician as a locust, “Our man becomes a locust seen but once / in several seasons,” is used to illustrate the rare appearances of politicians after elections. Locusts, known for their destructive nature, symbolize the fleeting presence and exploitative behavior of these leaders.
3. Simile: The comparison of the politician to the agama lizard, “countless prostrations like the agama on the rock,” is a vivid image of the politicians’ superficial humility and ingratiation during campaigns, only to revert to arrogance after elections.
4. Irony: There is heavy use of irony when the politicians promise grand improvements, such as turning "every footpath into a motorway" and making "poverty a thing of the past." The irony lies in the fact that these promises are never fulfilled, and the politicians themselves become symbols of wealth and greed.
5. Symbolism: "Esuru" symbolizes power that grows uncontrollable and corrupt, as the swollen-headed esuru (a type of yam) cannot fit into the mortar, representing leaders whose greed and power have outgrown their intended purpose.
- “Esuru grows swollen-headed / and outgrows the prestigious belly / of the mortar.”
6. Personification: The poem personifies power as a bird, constantly shifting its loyalties. "Power is the bird of the forest / which nests on one tree today / and tomorrow pitches its tent / on another," reflecting the transient nature of political authority and the fickleness of leadership.
Language and Diction
Osundare uses simple and direct language, which mirrors the rural setting of the poem and makes the message accessible to the common people. The diction is conversational, as seen in phrases like "We’ll build schools" and "We’ll give the farmer the best for his sweat." This colloquial tone contrasts sharply with the formal, inflated promises made by the politicians, highlighting their insincerity. The use of metaphors drawn from nature and rural life, such as “footpath,” “hamlet,” and “wasp,” reinforces the villager’s perspective and grounds the poem in a rural African context.
Mood and Tone
The mood of the poem shifts from initial hope to disillusionment and bitterness. At first, the villagers are hopeful, believing in the promises made by politicians, but as the poem progresses, the tone becomes more cynical and critical. The tone of the poem is accusatory, with the villager-speaker directly addressing the deceit of political leaders and their abandonment of the common people. The tone is also reflective, particularly in the closing lines, which forewarn the inevitable return of these politicians when they once again need the people’s votes.
Context
"A Villager’s Protest" reflects the historical and political context of post-colonial Nigeria, a period marked by political instability, corruption, and broken promises. Leaders often campaigned on promises of development and alleviation of poverty, but once in power, they indulged in personal gain, neglecting the needs of the people. Osundare’s poem speaks to the frustrations of rural communities who feel used by politicians for votes but abandoned afterward. This theme is especially relevant in countries with young democracies, where corruption and unequal distribution of wealth are pervasive issues.
Conclusion
In "A Villager’s Protest," Niyi Osundare masterfully critiques the political leadership of his time, exposing the duplicity and greed of politicians who exploit the trust of ordinary citizens. Through repetition, metaphor, and a conversational tone, Osundare highlights the deep disillusionment felt by rural communities. The poem’s relevance extends beyond Nigeria, serving as a universal indictment of corrupt leadership and the betrayal of the electorate. The poem concludes with a note of forewarning, suggesting that while these leaders may leave, they will inevitably return, once again making empty promises, and the cycle of political exploitation will continue.
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