Read the following lines from David Diop's prescribed African poem *Africa*:
"That tree young and strong
That tree there
In splendid loneliness amidst white and faded flowers
That is Africa your Africa
That grows again patiently obstinately
And its fruit gradually acquires
The bitter taste of liberty."
What does the metaphor of the "young and strong tree" growing amidst "white and faded flowers" primarily symbolize?
- The resilience of the African continent undergoing rebirth and achieving independence despite the decline of colonial ruleAnswer
- BThe inevitable decay of indigenous African cultural traditions when exposed to modern Western influence
- CA literal description of native African agricultural landscapes flourishing under favorable climate conditions
- DThe speaker's nostalgic longing for his childhood memories spent in the ancestral rural countryside
Answer
The resilience of the African continent undergoing rebirth and achieving independence despite the decline of colonial rule.
The correct answer accurately identifies the allegorical nature of the excerpt. In David Diop's *Africa*, the 'young and strong tree' growing obstinately represents the enduring resilience and eventual rebirth of Africa as it moves toward independence. The 'white and faded flowers' symbolize colonial rule, which is fading and losing power. Thus, the image captures both the endurance of the continent and the hard-won victory of liberation.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Symbolism and Anti-Colonial Themes in Prescribed African Poetry