BLESS THE AFRICAN COUPS BY “TABAN LO LOYIONG”

THE TRAGIC IS THAT

WHICH CHARTS ARE COUNTER OR UNCORSP

THE TRAGIC IS THAT

WHICH ALTERS A PEOPLE WHOLE CONCEPT OF GOOD AND EVIL

IT IS TRAGEDY

WHEN OVERNIGHT YOU ARE LABELLED A SINNER

IT IS TRAGEDY

WHEN YOUR FRIEND ARE OUT TO HANG YOU

IT IS TRAGEDY

WHEN YOUR BROTHER BETRAYS YOU FOR FUN OR FUND

IT IS TRAGEDY

WHEN DARKNESS DESCENDS AND YOU KNOW IT WILL SUFFOCATE YOU

TRAGEDY IS THE GODS SONG

WHEN THE BUTCHERS KNIFE IS NEAR

TRAGEDY IS THE SWARNS SONG

WHEN DEATH IS AROUND .

About the author ‘’Taban Io Liyong’’

Taban lo Liyong was born in Kajokaji, in the southern Sudan, in the late 1930s. He grew up in Uganda,
and studied at National Teachers’ College (Kampala), Howard University, and got an MFA in Creative
Writing at the University of Iowa. He has taught at the universities of Nairobi, Papua New Guinea, Juba,
and now at the University of Venda in South Africa. He is the author of numerous works of poetry and
fiction.

Setting of the poem

The poem "Bless the African Coups" does not have a specific physical setting. Instead, the setting of the
poem is a metaphorical representation of the political instability caused by coups in African countries.
The poet describes the tragic consequences of coups, which include the loss of trust, betrayal, and
labeling of innocent people as sinners. The poem creates a sense of darkness and suffocation,
representing the impact of coups on African communities. The use of metaphors such as "the butcher's
knife" and "the swan's song" further emphasizes the violent and destructive nature of political
instability. Overall, the setting of the poem is a metaphorical representation of the tragic consequences
of coups in African countries.

Structure of the poem

The poem ‘’Bless the African Coups’’ is a three stanza poem made up of eight lines. Stanza one is divided
into two lines, stanza two is divided into four lines and last stanza is made of two lines. It is a free verse
poem because there is no set rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. It also made of trochaic meter which
operates exactly opposite of the iambic metre. The poem is made up of declarative stanzas because they
are giving a statement.

Stanza analysis

The poem "Bless the African Coups" by Taban Liyong expresses the tragic consequences of political
upheaval and betrayal in African societies. Here's a stanza-by-stanza analysis of the poem:

Stanza 1: "The tragic is that

Which charts are counter or uncorsp"

In this opening stanza, the speaker introduces the concept of tragedy and suggests that it is related to
confusion or contradiction, particularly in terms of "charts" or maps that are not aligned.

Stanza 2: "The tragic is that

Which alters a people whole concept of good and evil"

Here, the speaker emphasizes the role of perspective and belief systems in shaping tragedy. When
people's fundamental understandings of what is right and wrong are upended, it can have a tragic
impact.

Stanza 3: "It is tragedy

When overnight you are labelled a sinner"

This stanza highlights the sudden and arbitrary nature of tragedy, particularly when people are unfairly
judged or condemned.

Stanza 4: "It is tragedy

When your friends are out to hang you"

The speaker further explores the idea of betrayal and the sense of tragedy that comes from being
targeted by people who were once close to you.

Stanza 5: "It is tragedy

When your brother betrays you for fun or fund"

This stanza continues the theme of betrayal, with a specific emphasis on familial relationships and the
painful nature of betrayal within them.
Stanza 6: "It is tragedy

When darkness descends and you know it will suffocate you"

The final stanza shifts to a more metaphorical sense of tragedy, suggesting a feeling of suffocation or
helplessness in the face of overwhelming darkness or uncertainty.

Stanza 7: "Tragedy is the gods song

When the butcher's knife is near"

Here, the speaker evokes the idea of tragedy as a kind of fate or divine intervention, particularly in the
face of violent or deadly circumstances.

Stanza 8: "Tragedy is the swarm's song

When death is around"

Finally, the poem ends with a similar sentiment, suggesting that tragedy is a kind of natural force

Summary of the poem

The poem "Bless the African Coups" speaks about the tragedy that comes with the change of power
through coups in Africa. The poet describes tragedy as a situation where people's concepts of good and
evil are altered, leading to the labeling of innocent people as sinners. The poem further highlights the
betrayal of friends and family members for personal gain, which leads to a sense of suffocation and
darkness. The author suggests that tragedy is the song of the gods and the swans when death and
violence are near. Overall, the poem reflects on the destructive impact of political instability on African
communities.

Stylistic devices in the poem

Repetition- Repetition is an important poetic technique that sees writers reuse words, phrases, images,
or structures multiple times within a poem. Eg tragic, tragedy, which and it has been repeated across the
poem

Alliteration- Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession such
as /b/ in brothers and betrayal and /f/ as in fun and fund

Consonance- Consonance is a stylistic literary device identified by the repetition of identical or similar
consonants in neighboring words whose vowel sounds are different. N example in the poem is in the
repetition of sound /r/ in the words brother and betrays

Personification- is a poetic device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects, are given human
qualities. In the poem tragic has been given the attribute of human being.
Enjambment. This occur when poet cuts off a line before its natural stopping. Through out the poem the
poet has used this device reuse words, phrases, images, or structures multiple times within a poem. E.g.
tragic, tragedy, which and it has been repeated across the poem

Themes present

In literature, themes refer to recurring ideas or messages that are present throughout a work or multiple
works. Themes are often universal, dealing with human experiences and emotions that transcend time
and place. They are typically expressed through the characters, setting, plot, and other literary elements
of a work. There are several themes in "Bless the African Coups" by Taban Lo Liyong, including:

African liberation: The poem praises coups as a form of liberation from the oppression of
colonialism and outside forces. However, it also acknowledges that the struggle for true liberation
is ongoing and requires ongoing effort and sacrifice.

Violence and brutality: The poem addresses the violence and brutality that often accompany coups,
suggesting that while they may be a form of liberation, they can also perpetuate the same power
struggles and corrupt practices that have plagued African societies for generations.

Colonialism and exploitation: The poem suggests that many of the struggles facing Africa today,
such as poverty and political corruption, are the result of a legacy of colonialism and ongoing
exploitation by outside forces.

Self-determination: The poem calls on readers to consider their own complicity in the ongoing
struggles facing Africa and to become actively engaged in the fight for liberation and self-determination