Skip to main content

"The Fate of Vultures and Other Poems" by Tanure Ojaide

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT WHAT THE POEM ENTAILS.



This analysis mirrors the interpretation of Tanure Ojaide’s “The Fate of Vultures and Other Poems” as a text that functions as a conduit of vituperation. What this means is that writers often turn to their crafts (in this case, poetry) to voice their opinion on prevalent issues in the society. This is possible because writers such as Ojaide are categorized among writers with a social conscience. Tanure Ojaide is a poet who cares deeply for the people (especially, the masses) in his society. He cares about the plight of the poor, the uneducated, the un-exposed, the less priviledged and victims of numerous societal injusties.

This analysis endeavors to exemplify the areas that the poet, in this collection, expresses his social conscience nature. Certain poems in Ojaide’s “The Fate of Vultures and Other Poems” would be interpreted in line with the theme of a writer with a social consciousness, and as a writer that is an activist.


Since art is not just for art sake; art is made for more, and it is made of more. Art is made to not just for art, it is made for people. It is made for people to implement, and it is made to implement people. It is made to influence people. It is a means for intentions and expressions to be made known. It is a conduit for expression, for action and for intentions.

This is what poets, such as Tanure Ojaide, consciously perform in through their craft. They write for the people and to influence the people. It is propaganda poetry. Poetry to incite action from the people.

The aggregate thematic preoccupation of The Fate of Vulture and Other Poems is that it ridicules the excesses and corruption of the ruling elites in Africa. Selected poems in the anthology will be explicated in this analysis.



AYEOJUYO, OLAMILEKAN JOSHUA.

Comments

Post a Comment

This platform is not liable for any comment by visitors on this blog.

Popular posts from this blog

Analysis of "Come Away my Love" by Joseph Kariuki

According to Chinua Achebe, as stated in the Author’s biography, “Come Away my Love” is a love poem. It is a love poem about the trials and tribulation of a love affair between a black man from Kenya and a white woman from England. Analogously, it is about the embodiment of altercations experienced in an inter-racial relationship. That is, this will be the same issue encountered by an Asian espoused to a European/American, or an Indian alongside an African. Being a love poem, the title of the poem gives a hint about the typical lovers’ activities. They come away from the public eyes into a secret/romantic environment where there love, affection and energy can be optimally consummated. However, another meaning can be derived from this title. The meaning that can be derived is that the persona is asking his lover to rendezvous at a secret location away from the society that has proven counterproductive towards their love. The society has been an inhibiting factor for their love be...
Post a Comment
Read more

JOSEPH KARIUKI

JOSEPH KARIUKI’S BIOGRAPHY. A lot of commentary is written on his existence on earth, but just a little was mentioned about his birth, death, Alma Matter and about his existence. The little that is known about him states that he is a Kenyan, born in Banana Hill. He is educated both in Kenya and abroad: at Makerere and Cambridge.  He is popular for his famous poem which is an ode to the former Kenyan president, Jomo Kenyatta.   However, nothing was said about his date of birth, parents, marriage, occupation and his childhood. Chinua Achebe’s comment about Kariuki goes thus: that he has met Joseph Kariuki through his poems, especially through his love poem “Come Away my Love”.  He opined that the poem is about the trials and tensions of an African in love with a white girl in Britain.
Post a Comment
Read more

Mayorkun’s “Your Body”: The 2 Meanings Attached to the DMW Artiste’s Song.

  Mayorkun ’s “ Your Body ”: The 2 Meanings Attached to the DMW Artiste’s Song. Produced by Fresh VDM, and released December 4, 2020. Here is the amazing visual rendering of the song by Dammy Twitch . Mayorkun’s “Your Body" was released December 4, 2020. Because the song has grown on us all, we don't really notice that the song hasn't been around that long.  The song was welcomed with love and light by fans all over the world. Especially the ladies. (Quite ironic, right?) because the song is a satire about them. Like many other Mayorkun’s songs with the “ge ge” trademark, it was a hit (back to back).  While many fans vibed to it, a handful of us were ruminating on the lyrics. Asking life saving questions such as: “what could this song mean? Whom is it about?”  “Tell me wetin dey  your body your body….she ki n kaye fun e tori o yodi… gege”. One question keeps popping: is he curious about the innumerable pleasures in the lady’s body? Or, Is he being sarcastic? Sa...
Post a Comment
Read more