Introduction to African poetry: "The song of the woman of my land'' by omar farouk sesay - SS2 Literature Past Questions and Answers - page 2

Sesay uses language and imagery to create a sense of loss and despair in the poem in a number of ways. First, he uses words like "silent," "fading," and "dead" to describe the women and their song. These words suggest that the women's voices have been silenced and that their culture is dying. Second, Sesay uses images of darkness and emptiness to create a sense of despair. For example, he describes the women as "singing in the dark" and the land as being "empty and cold." These images suggest that the women are lost and that their world is devoid of hope.

Sesay challenges the effects of colonialism and oppression on African women in the poem by celebrating their strength and resilience. He describes the women as being "strong" and "resilient" in the second stanza. He also uses the metaphor of the "dying song" in the last stanza to suggest that the women's voices will not be silenced forever. Sesay's message is that the women of Africa are capable of overcoming any challenge, despite the hardships they face.