Derek Walcott’s ‘A Far Cry from Africa’: A Deep Dive into Conflict and Identity

Derek Walcott’s “A Far Cry from Africa” is a powerful and deeply personal poem that grapples with the complex legacy of colonialism, the brutal realities of the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, and the profound internal conflict of an individual caught between two worlds. Written in 1962, the poem reflects the turmoil of a post-colonial era, where the promise of independence was often marred by violence and the lingering psychological scars of imperial rule. Walcott, a Nobel laureate from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, masterfully uses vivid imagery and a questioning tone to explore themes of divided loyalty, the barbarity of violence, the search for identity, and the enduring impact of history.

Contextualizing the Poem: The Mau Mau Uprising

To fully appreciate “A Far Cry from Africa,” it’s essential to understand its historical backdrop: the Mau Mau Uprising (1952-1960) in Kenya. This was an armed rebellion by the Kikuyu people, Kenya’s largest ethnic group, against British colonial rule. The uprising was characterized by immense brutality from both sides. The Mau Mau fighters engaged in guerrilla warfare, targeting white settlers and loyalist Africans, while the British forces responded with harsh counter-insurgency measures, including mass detentions, torture, and executions. Thousands of Kikuyu were imprisoned in detention camps, and many died. The conflict was a deeply traumatic period for Kenya, exposing the violent underbelly of colonialism and the desperation of those fighting for freedom.

Walcott, though not directly involved in the Kenyan conflict, felt a profound connection to it. As a poet of African and European heritage, he understood the complexities of a hybrid identity shaped by colonial history. The violence in Kenya became a metaphor for the broader struggles of decolonization and the internal conflicts faced by individuals like himself, whose ancestry linked them to both the oppressor and the oppressed.

Summary Explanation of the Poem

The poem opens with a stark and visceral image of violence in Africa, immediately drawing the reader into the heart of the conflict:

This imagery personifies Africa as an animal, its “tawny pelt” being ruffled by the winds of change and violence. The mention of “Kikuyu,” “fox-fur,” and “jackal” blurs the lines between human and animal, suggesting a primal, brutal struggle for survival. The “still-hunting blood” evokes a sense of ongoing, silent savagery.

Walcott then directly confronts the paradox of the situation:

Here, the poet highlights the “corporal punishment” inflicted, a euphemism for the violence. The repetition of “the white man” emphasizes the colonial presence and its undeniable role in the suffering. The crucial line, “whose face is my own face, who is also myself,” reveals Walcott’s personal dilemma. He recognizes his own European ancestry, connecting him directly to the colonizers, even as he condemns their actions. This creates an immediate sense of internal conflict.

The poem continues to highlight the brutality, noting that “the worm is at the root.” This metaphor suggests that the corruption and violence are deeply ingrained, affecting the very foundations of society. He speaks of “the shriek of the white child/ of the shriek of the Mau Mau child” being indistinguishable in their terror, emphasizing the universal nature of suffering in conflict. Both sides are victims of the brutal logic of war.

Walcott then broadens his critique to include the romanticized view of Africa, a view often held by outsiders or even by Africans themselves who might glorify a simplistic image of their heritage. He dismisses “the cry of the tribe” and “the ancestral spirit,” recognizing that the current reality is one of bloodshed and a distorted sense of identity. He states:

This is the core of Walcott’s internal struggle. He feels “poisoned” by the conflicting bloodlines within him. He is “divided to the vein,” a powerful image of an inescapable split in his very being. He has condemned the “drunken officer of British rule,” acknowledging the historical injustices of colonialism. Yet, he also expresses his love for the “English tongue,” the language that has shaped his poetic voice and his intellectual heritage. This creates a profound dilemma: how can one love the language of the oppressor, even as one identifies with the oppressed?

The poem concludes with a sense of unresolved anguish. Walcott cannot choose a side because to do so would be to deny a part of himself. He acknowledges the beauty and the brutality of both his African and European inheritances. The conflict is not just external but deeply internal, a personal civil war:

The poem ends without offering an easy resolution. The speaker remains in a state of anguished indecision, a “far cry from Africa” both geographically and emotionally, yet inextricably linked to its struggles through his heritage.

Major Themes in “A Far Cry from Africa”

1. Divided Loyalty and Hybrid Identity

This is arguably the central theme of the poem. Walcott, as a person of mixed African and European ancestry, embodies the very conflict he describes. He feels a deep connection to both cultures but is torn by the historical antagonism between them. The lines, “I who am poisoned with the blood of both, / Where shall I turn, divided to the vein?” perfectly encapsulate this internal struggle. He is a product of both colonization and the colonized, making it impossible for him to simply align himself with one side without betraying another part of his identity. This theme resonates deeply with anyone from post-colonial societies who grapples with the complexities of their heritage.

2. The Brutality and Pointlessness of Violence

Walcott unflinchingly depicts the horrific nature of the Mau Mau Uprising. He uses stark, unsettling imagery to convey the widespread suffering: “blood in the straw-coloured grass,” “the shriek of the white child / of the shriek of the Mau Mau child indistinguishable in their terror.” He doesn't shy away from showing the violence perpetrated by both sides, emphasizing that in such conflicts, humanity is diminished for everyone involved. The poem suggests that violence, regardless of who inflicts it or for what cause, ultimately leads to a loss of moral clarity and profound suffering for all. It challenges any romanticized notions of liberation struggles, exposing their grim realities.

3. The Legacy of Colonialism

The poem is a direct indictment of British colonialism and its devastating impact. The Mau Mau Uprising itself is a consequence of decades of oppression, land appropriation, and cultural subjugation. Walcott critiques the “drunken officer of British rule,” highlighting the arrogance and destructive power of the colonizers. The lasting scars of colonialism are not just physical but psychological, leading to fragmented identities and ongoing conflicts. The poem suggests that even after the formal end of colonial rule, its effects continue to shape societies and individuals.

4. The Search for Identity and Belonging

For Walcott, the violence in Africa becomes a mirror to his own search for a coherent identity. He is a poet writing in English, a language of the colonizer, yet his heritage connects him to the colonized. This creates a profound sense of not fully belonging to either world. His anguished question, “How choose / Between this Africa and the English tongue I love?” encapsulates this dilemma. The poem suggests that for individuals with hybrid identities, the path to self-understanding is often fraught with internal contradictions and a longing for a place where all parts of oneself can coexist.

5. The Power and Problematic Nature of Language

Walcott’s love for the English language is a significant internal conflict. English is his tool, his medium of expression, the very vehicle through which he articulates his anguish. Yet, it is also the language of those who inflicted immense suffering. This paradox is central to the poem’s thematic depth. Can a language be separated from the history of its speakers? Can one truly love a language that has been used to subjugate and oppress? This theme resonates with many post-colonial writers who must navigate the complex relationship with the language inherited from their colonizers.

Conclusion

“A Far Cry from Africa” is more than just a commentary on the Mau Mau Uprising; it is a deeply personal exploration of the complexities of identity in a post-colonial world. Derek Walcott masterfully uses the specific historical context to illuminate universal themes of conflict, loyalty, and the search for belonging. The poem’s enduring power lies in its refusal to offer easy answers or simple allegiances. Instead, it embraces the painful contradictions of a divided self, a self that cannot deny either its roots in Africa or its intellectual and linguistic ties to Europe. Walcott’s honesty in confronting his own internal struggle makes the poem resonate with anyone who has felt the pull of conflicting loyalties or the weight of a complicated heritage. It reminds us that the ripples of historical events, especially those as traumatic as colonialism, continue to shape individual lives and collective identities for generations.

Sources and References

• Walcott, Derek. "A Far Cry from Africa." In Collected Poems 1948-1984. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1986. (The primary text for analysis)
• Maughan-Brown, David. Land, Freedom and Fiction: History and Ideology in Kenya. Zed Books, 1985. (For historical context on the Mau Mau Uprising)
• King, Bruce. Derek Walcott: A Caribbean Life. Oxford University Press, 2004. (Biographical information and insights into Walcott's work)
• Various literary analyses and critical essays on Derek Walcott's poetry, particularly those focusing on his engagement with post-colonial themes and identity. (General academic resources for deeper understanding of critical interpretations.)