Commentüs on: Afrique / Africa by David Diop (1927-1960)

By: Awa Niang

Awa Niang — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:42:27 +0000

Well I dont know what to say about this poem!!! I was born in Senegal.Like what these people say they force me to memorize it until it become a part of me heart. I LOVE IT!!!

Anyway if there is anyone who knows where to find the peom of the death of David Diop ( la mort de david diop) by his friend Birago Diop please let me know.
My email is awa.niangAThotmail.com thank you!!!

By: Dan Aragon

Dan Aragon — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:50:03 +0000

This poem is overflowing with nationalism and love for ones country. Just goes to show that nationalism still exists. Which makes me really happy, because nationalism is something every country needs. It’s like the key to success, because if you have this passion for your country you’d be willing to see it succeed and grow at any cost. Just like a hero. Being nationalistic is like being a hero. Which is exactly what David Diop is to Africa because of this poem.

Im not African or anything but this poem really inspires me to love my own country more. I remember reading this during english time. My teacher called me to read it in front, she told me to read the poem changing the words ‘Africa’ to ‘Philippines’, my country. Saying Philippines again and again made me proud. This poem is just really amazing. And im glad that we took this up during english time:D

By: Edith yeboah

Edith yeboah — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:41:33 +0000

I HAVE READ THIS MASTER PIECE TIME WITHOUT NUMBER AND I MUST SAY THAT I AM ALWAYS IN ECSTASY. I AM PROUDER THAN EVER TO BE AN AFRICAN(GHANAIAN).THE MISTAKE THAT THE WHITES DID WAS TO EDUCATE THE BLACK MAN.THE BLACK MAN IS MORE THAN READY TO MANAGE HIS OWN AFFAIRS.WE BELIEVE IN THE CAN-DO-SPIRIT. LONG LIVE AFRICA.VIVA MON AFRIQUE.

By: zairon23

zairon23 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:07:18 +0000

i really love this poem even though i admit i don’t understand some parts of it. . . . after i had read this poem i realized that people no matter if they are black or white deserved to gain respect from others. . . i don’t know why in the world there are people who spend their time criticizing other because of their faults and outside appearance instead of correcting or appreciating what is good in them. . . . David Diop only proves he’s not ashamed to be an African no matter what other tell him. .

By: Ranga

Ranga — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:30:57 +0000

I am student from India. I started liking and respecting Africa after I read this poem. The poem seeks to both inspire and make me think. It’s amazing how much one poem can change one’s perspective.

By: FairWoode at McCarthy Hill

FairWoode at McCarthy Hill — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:39:06 +0000

I cannot believe that my Mother Elaine of blessed memory was a Thomas Hardy, Yates and John Pepper Clark addict yet I always hated literature. So much so, that I had to appeal to her NOT to study it at O’Levels and beyond. Until my 11 year old came home one day with this poem asking me about OXYMORONS, COUPLETS every other “poetic device” you can mention. I had to google this poem and even ask for the examples on the net just to help my precious baby pass his poetry exam at age 11! What a disgrace for me not to have known such a great poet and now today I came back for it to add to my Business Strategy Meeting Write up about my role in the African market and my recommendations for budget year 2009. I receited the end part of the poem and stated that “Africa had just burst its borders” on the economic, financial and technological scene. It was however to be a “bitter taste of liberty” as we must have the infrastructure and implementation skills to handle its “springing forth”. I must however thank you Madame la Blogger in Paris for this and hope that another poet of such depth can truly rise up out of the “banks of the distant river”

By: Okechukwu

Okechukwu — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:21:46 +0000

I read David Diop’s poem about 25 years ago as a secodary school student in Cameroon. We were made to memorize both the English and the French version and I tell you it was great, although, I must confess, the total meaning of the poem was not completely evident to me.
I don’t know what happenned but somehow, just yesterday, right here in the USA, I felt a longing passion to go back search out David Diop’s poem “AFrica”. I could still recite some parts of the poem (both the French and English version) but I needed to get it right again! Alas, as I searched the internet, I found this great work, where both versions have been placed side by side.
God Bless you for this…I am going back to memorize and internalize this great master piece again…Sure it is gonna make me feel good and maybe start really reflecting on who am I…An African…Yes, A true African.
God Bless Africa………

By: Agape Love

Agape Love — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:51:50 +0000

i love this poem….it touched my heart…i’m just a 2nd year high school student of Fellowship Baptist School and i love this!!!!:p

By: Karl

Karl — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:45:02 +0000

I have also read this poem several times and considered it a passionate cry for recognition and freedom from alienation by the author who himself barely knew Africa. However there is another one which strikes me more as an attempt to freedom from alienation by another poet whose name I just can’t remember. The title of this poem is “Hoquets”. Can anyone out there refresh me on this? Thanks.

By: Fatou

Fatou — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:52:17 +0000

This poem is the dearest to my heart. It takes me back to high school in Africa/Guinea. I am so proud to be African, so proud of our humility and all I wish is to inject the entire continent with confident and positive energy. I wish one day I will be able to do so
Best poem ever!