FIRST DAY AFTER THE WAR
Transcript of FIRST DAY AFTER THE WAR
FIRST DAY AFTER THE WAR
MASIZI KUNENE
“ CONTEXT
• WAR = struggle for equality in Apartheid South Africa
• AFTER THE WAR = end of segregated South Africa
• FIRST DAY = the initial reaction of citizens to their newfound freedom
MASIZI KUNENE
• Born in South Africa in 1930
• BA from the University of Natal in Zulu and history and then a Master of Arts in Zulu Poetry
• Writings banned by Apartheid government
• Left to live in London and USA
• Returned to SA in 1992
• Africa’s poet laureate in 1993 and 1st SA poet laureate in 2006
• Lectured until retirement
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We heard the songs of a wedding party.
We saw a soft light
Coiling round the young blades of grass
At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,
Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!
She woke us up with a smile saying,
‘What day is this that comes so suddenly?’
We said, ‘It is the first day after the war.’
Then without waiting we ran to the open space
Ululating to the mountains and the pathways
Calling people from all the circles of the earth.
We shook up the old man demanding a festival.
We asked for all the first fruits of the season
We held hands with a stranger
We shouted across the waterfalls
People came from all lands
It was the first day of peace.
We saw our Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon.
FORM AND STRUCTURE• Free verse
• Impulsive outpouring of joy
• Oral tradition
• Meant to be spoken out loud
• Praise poetry
• Repetition
• Parallelism
• Sound devices
• Two sections:
• Lines 1 – 8
• Gradual realization of the change
• Lines 9 – 10
• Celebrations of freedom
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“
We heard the songs of a wedding party.
We saw a soft light
Coiling round the young blades of grass
Creating a sense of
inclusion – the people
were united. REPETITION
emphasises this.
Songs are
synonymous with
celebration.
A joyous occasion
of union between
two parties.
SYMBOLISES new
beginning.
Beginning of a
new day (light
overtaking
darkness) &
gradual dawning
of a new era. SOUND DEVICES
ALLITERATION “saw a soft”
The sibilance creates a soft,
soothing sound to mimic the
gentle glow of light.
Another
SYMBOL of
new life.
“
We heard the songs of a wedding party.
We saw a soft light
Coiling round the young blades of grass
At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,
Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!
Creating a sense of
inclusion – the people
were united. REPETITION
emphasises this.
Songs are
synonymous with
celebration.
A joyous occasion
of union between
two parties.
SYMBOLISES new
beginning.
Beginning of a
new day (light
overtaking
darkness) &
gradual dawning
of a new era. SOUND DEVICES
ALLITERATION “saw a soft”
The sibilance creates a soft,
soothing sound to mimic the
gentle glow of light.
Another
SYMBOL of
new life.
Youth of SA.
Evidence of
someone’s
presence and a
path to a new
future.
Freedom is personified
as a female who is
gradually emerging to
a warm welcome (!)
You can imagine that,
after being oppressed
for so long, people
would be reluctant to
believe.
“
She woke us up with a smile saying,
‘What day is this that comes so suddenly?’
We said, ‘It is the first day after the war.’
Freedom arrives and is
instantly friendly.
Slightly ironic as they
have been waiting so
long but once it
happens, it happens
quickly. The people
confirm that it is
indeed the end of
the
METAPHORICAL
war = freedom
struggle.
“
She woke us up with a smile saying,
‘What day is this that comes so suddenly?’
We said, ‘It is the first day after the war.’
Then without waiting we ran to the open space
Ululating to the mountains and the pathways
Calling people from all the circles of the earth.
Freedom arrives and is
instantly friendly.
Slightly ironic as they
have been waiting so
long but once it
happens, it happens
quickly. The people
confirm that it is
indeed the end of
the
METAPHORICAL
war = freedom
struggle.
People are
unable to
contain their
excitement. SOUND DEVICES
ALLITERATION “without waiting
we” speeds up the pace of the
line to mimic running.
ONOMATOPOEIA in “ululating”
for us to hear the celebratory
calls associated with Africa.
CONTRAST to
their
oppression
which kept
people
confined.
Everyone is
included in the
celebration.
SYMBOL of
unity and
life. Associated with
African expression of
emotion and linked
to song (l.1).
“
We shook up the old man demanding a festival.
We asked for all the first fruits of the season
We held hands with a stranger
We shouted across the waterfalls
Their enthusiasm
manifests as intensity
of action.
Could be SYMBOL of
previous generation
who accepted
oppression/had given
up or wanting to share
with everyone.
Such a
momentous
occasion needs
to be celebrated
on a large scale.
Freedom has
brought
disparate
groups
together.
Only the best is
fitting for this
celebration.
Season could
reference new
times to come.
“
We shook up the old man demanding a festival.
We asked for all the first fruits of the season
We held hands with a stranger
We shouted across the waterfalls
People came from all lands
It was the first day of peace.
We saw our Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon.
Their enthusiasm
manifests as intensity
of action.
Could be SYMBOL of
previous generation
who accepted
oppression/had given
up or wanting to share
with everyone.
Such a
momentous
occasion needs
to be celebrated
on a large scale.
Only the best is
fitting for this
celebration.
Season could
reference new
times to come. SOUND DEVICES
ALLITERATION “first fruits”, “held
hands” and “travelling tall” create
lovely auditory links as we read/
listen.
ONOMATOPOEIA of “shouted” to
emphasise the boisterous
celebrations.
Freedom has
brought
disparate
groups
together.
The ANTITHESIS
to war.
Previous generations’
struggles have come to
fruition. They can now be
proud of their people and
are looking towards the
future.
Repetition of the idea
of diverse groups
uniting (they were
previously apart).
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THEME• Triumph of freedom over oppression
• Liberation
• Celebration
TONE and MOOD• Cautious optimism TO Joyful
celebration
• Energetic and celebratory TO Awe and Satisfaction
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