Song of Lawino - 1437 Words

Song of Lawino: Cultural Duality and Universality Song of Lawino by Okot p’Bitek centers on the main narrator Lawino’s plea towards her husband, Ocol, who shuns his old Acholi background for Westernization. Lawino implores Ocol not to abandon his heritage but rather accept both Acholi and Western cultures; as noted, cultural duality serves as the prime theme in Song of Lawino. Through the character of Lawino, p’Bitek conveys his message that Acholi and Western cultures could be fused in the era of Westernization. In making his point, p’Bitek employs techniques, namely the language, diction, syntax structures, imagery, and figures of speech, to ensure that Song of Lawino supports both Acholi and Western characteristics. Furthermore, the†¦show more content†¦For example, p’Bitek applies positive imagery when he portrays an Acholi woman in the arena, ready to dance: â€Å"The tattoos on her chest / Are like palm fruits, / The tattoos on her b ack / Are like stars on a black night; / Her eyes sparkle like the fireflies / Her breasts are ripe / Like the full moon.† (442 – 448). Immediately, the reader notices words and phrases, such as â€Å"palm fruits,† â€Å"stars on a black night,† â€Å"fireflies,† and â€Å"full moon,† which all relate to the natural world. In contrast, p’Bitek presents indecent imagery to delineate the environment â€Å"dances of the white people† take place in: â€Å"Some dungs are red like ochre / Others are yellow / Like the ripe mango, / Like inside a ripe pawpaw. / Others are black like soil, / Like the soil we use / For smearing the floor. / Some dungs are of mixed colours! / Vomit and urine flow by† (600 – 608). From this section, phrases like â€Å"ripe mango,† and â€Å"ripe pawpaw† also pertain to the nature. However, the depiction of the Acholi dancer emits an aura of fruitfulness and serenity, whereas the Western dances are rather filthy. This brings up an interesting aspect, as p’Bitek works with metaphors and similes associated with the nature in both cases, yet the two instances yield dramatically different effects. The enticing figures of speech indeed bring the two scenes in the spotlight; however, as opposed to supporting bothShow MoreRelatedSong of Lawino1470 Words   |  6 PagesThe son of lawino Literary analysis In the poem Song of Lawino racism reared its ugly head in a rather ridiculous form, some people might argue that any form of racism is ridiculous, which is very understandable, but in this particular situation in my opinion it is worst than the segregation in America throughout the early part of the century 20th century. It’s called self hatred, self hatred is a very uncommon form of racism and it can appear in any ethnic group but its black self hatred thatRead MoreA study on Okot pBiteks works Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol2281 Words   |  10 PagesSong of Lawino and Song of Ocol ï ¿ ½ PAGE * MERGEFORMAT ï ¿ ½1ï ¿ ½ Okot pBitek worked as anthropologist, poet, novelist an even footballer which led him to go and being educated in England on law and anthropology and later literature. He differed himself from other African writers who wrote in western styles and in western point of view. He has chosen an African tool to express himself, a tool associated with oral tradition of Africa. He called it song. He published his works in Acoli language howeverRead MoreTypical Ib A1 Hl English Exam Question2270 Words   |  10 Pagesused for the opposite effect of giving the poem a personal and intimate appeal. Although this does not necessarily mean that the poem does not have universal applications. This method of narration is used in the epic poem Song of Lawino by Okot p’Bitek. The persona Lawino is a prominent female member of the African Acoli tribe. p’Bitek uses her character as a spokeswoman and advocate of traditional African customs. Lawino’s character dislikes her husband’s behaviour as well as the other African’sRead MoreRole of African Elites in Dismantling Decolonization5146 Words   |  21 Pagescinema. (Beti: 1964:65) Colonial education taught Medza everything that is irrelevant to his African life. In Charles Mungoshi s Waiting for the Rain, Lucifer similarly feels alienated from his homeland because of his colonial education. In Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol, Okot P Bitek laments a situation in which colonial education emasculates the emerging African elite: my husband s house is a dark forest of books . . . /Their manhood was finished in the classrooms, their testicles were smashed