Gabriel Okara’s “Piano and Drums”

  Gabriel Okara’s “Piano and Drums”

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This blog is a part of thinking activity which based on the Gabriel Okara’s “Piano and Drums” This blog reflect the short introduction of author and very brief summary of poem  also along you can find some Q&A section. This task assigned by Megha ma'am.

About Author:-

Gabriel Okara (1921–2019) was a highly influential Nigerian poet and novelist, often regarded as one of the most important voices in postcolonial African literature. His writing is known for its fusion of African oral traditions and Western literary forms, as well as its exploration of the complexities of modernity, colonialism, and the preservation of indigenous African culture. Okara’s work delves deeply into the tensions that arise when African traditions collide with Western influences, a theme central to many postcolonial works.

Early Life and Background: Okara was born in 1921 in the town of Bumadi, located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which profoundly influenced his literary voice and thematic focus. He grew up in a rural community, immersed in the traditions and culture of his people, the Ijaw, which provided the foundation for much of his later work.

Literary Career: Okara’s literary career began in the 1940s, when he worked as a clerk and later as a civil servant. He wrote poetry and prose that often reflected his experiences and observations of Nigerian society during the post-colonial transition. He is most famous for his novel The Voice (1964), which examines the complexities of cultural identity and the clash between traditional African values and the forces of modernity. The novel's protagonist, a young man named Zik, represents the struggle of an individual caught between these two worlds. The Voice is recognized for its lyrical prose and its nuanced portrayal of the psychological impact of colonialism on African societies.

Notable Poem – "Piano and Drums": One of Okara's best-known poems is "Piano and Drums," which explores the emotional and cultural conflict between Western influences (represented by the piano) and traditional African values (symbolized by the drums). The poem is celebrated for its vivid imagery and the way it encapsulates the tension between the past and the present in postcolonial Africa. Okara's use of these contrasting symbols offers a poignant reflection on the loss and adaptation of cultural identity.

About Poem :-

When at break of day at a riverside

I hear jungle drums telegraphing

the mystic rhythm, urgent, raw

like bleeding flesh, speaking of

primal youth and the beginning,

I see the panther ready to pounce,

the leopard snarling about to leap

and the hunters crouch with spears poised.

And my blood ripples, turns torrent,

topples the years and at once I’m 

in my mother’s laps a suckling;

at once I’m walking simple

paths with no innovations

rugged, fashioned with the naked

warmth of hurrying feet and groping hearts

in green leaves and wild flowers pulsing.

Then I hear a wailing piano

solo speaking of complex ways

in tear- furrowed concerto;

of far away lands

and new horizons with

coaxing diminuendo,  counterpoint, 

crescendo, but lost in the labyrinth of its complexities, it ends in the middle of a phrase at a daggerpoint

And I lost in the morning mist

of an age at a riverside keep

wandering in the mystic rhythm

of jungle drums and concerto.

Analysis of  Poem  :-

Summary of the Poem

In Piano and Drums, Gabriel Okara talks about the differences between traditional African culture and modern Western culture. He uses two musical instruments—the drum and the piano—to show this contrast.

Drums – Symbol of Tradition

In the first part of the poem, the sound of the drums takes the poet back to his African roots. The drumbeat is simple, natural, and strong, making him feel connected to his ancestors and childhood. He imagines scenes from traditional African life: wild animals, hunters, and people living close to nature. The drums remind him of a time when life was straightforward and full of warmth and community.

Piano – Symbol of Modernity

In the second part, the sound of the piano represents modern Western culture. The music is complex and sophisticated, but it also feels confusing and distant to the poet. He hears sadness in the music and feels lost in its complicated patterns. The piano reminds him of modern life, which, though full of new opportunities, also brings loneliness, confusion, and a sense of being incomplete.

Main Ideas in the Poem

• Cultural Clash: The poem shows the struggle between traditional African values and modern Western ways. The poet feels torn between these two worlds.
• Love for Tradition: The poet feels happy and safe when he thinks about his traditional African past.
• Struggle with Modern Life: Modern life, represented by the piano, feels too complicated and unsatisfying for the poet.

Why This Poem is Important

Okara’s poem helps us understand how many people in Africa felt when colonialism brought new cultures that clashed with their own. The poem highlights the emotional difficulty of choosing between holding on to one’s heritage and embracing modern life.

Q&A Section  :-

Q.1). Write a detailed note on post-colonialism with reference to “Piano and Drum”.

Postcolonialism is a field of study that looks at the impact of colonialism on countries and people that were once under foreign rule. It focuses on how colonial powers influenced the culture, language, and identity of the colonized nations, and how these nations responded after gaining independence. Postcolonialism also explores the lasting effects of colonialism even after the colonizers have left. Many writers and thinkers like Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, and Frantz Fanon have discussed how colonialism changed the world and how people in former colonies continue to deal with its consequences.

Gabriel Okara’s poem “Piano and Drums” is an excellent example of postcolonial literature. In this poem, Okara describes the struggle between African traditions and Western culture. The poem uses the symbols of the drum and the piano to represent these two different worlds. The drum stands for African heritage and traditions, while the piano represents Western influence brought by colonialism. Okara’s poem reflects the challenges faced by African people in finding a balance between their original culture and the new ways introduced by the West.

Postcolonial Themes in “Piano and Drums”

1. Cultural Conflict and Hybridity

One of the main themes in the poem is the conflict between two cultures. The speaker in the poem feels torn between the simple, natural world of African traditions and the complex, modern world of Western culture. This idea is closely related to the postcolonial concept of hybridity, introduced by Homi Bhabha. Hybridity refers to the mixed identity of people living in postcolonial societies, where they are influenced by both their native culture and the foreign culture imposed by colonizers. In the poem, the drum represents the speaker's African roots, while the piano symbolizes the influence of Western culture.

2. Nostalgia for the Pre-Colonial Past

The speaker in the poem feels a deep connection to the African past, represented by the sound of the drum. The drum is described in simple, vivid images:

"When at break of day at a riversideI hear the jungle drums telegraphingthe mystic rhythm, urgent, rawlike bleeding flesh"

These lines show that the speaker feels the drum’s rhythm in a very natural and instinctive way. The words “urgent” and “raw” suggest that this connection to African culture is strong and immediate. The phrase “like bleeding flesh” emphasizes how deeply the speaker is tied to his roots. This part of the poem reflects the postcolonial feeling of longing for the pre-colonial past, a time before Western influence disrupted traditional ways of life.

3. The Psychological Struggle of the Colonized Subject

The piano in the poem represents the Western culture brought to Africa by colonial powers. The speaker describes the piano’s music as:

"Then I hear a wailing pianosolo speaking of complex waysin tear-furrowed concerto;of far-away landsand new horizons withcoaxing diminuendo, counterpoint, crescendo."

Here, the piano is associated with complexity, sadness, and emotional weight. Words like “wailing,” “tear-furrowed,” and “complex” suggest that the speaker finds Western culture difficult to understand and emotionally challenging. The piano offers “new horizons” or new possibilities, but it also brings confusion and a sense of alienation. This reflects the psychological struggle faced by many people in postcolonial societies, who feel caught between their native culture and the foreign culture imposed upon them.

4. The Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Identity

In the final part of the poem, the speaker expresses a feeling of being lost. The drum and the piano pull him in different directions, and he is unsure of where he belongs. This reflects a common postcolonial theme: the loss of a clear cultural identity. Colonialism disrupted traditional societies, and even after independence, many people in postcolonial countries struggle to find a balance between their indigenous traditions and the modern world influenced by the West.

Conclusion

Gabriel Okara’s “Piano and Drums” beautifully captures the postcolonial experience of cultural conflict and identity crisis. The poem uses simple yet powerful imagery to show the struggle between African traditions and Western influence. Like many postcolonial texts, it highlights the challenges faced by individuals trying to find their place in a world shaped by colonial history. Okara’s poem reminds us that even after the end of colonial rule, the impact of colonialism continues to affect cultures and identities, making the search for belonging and authenticity a constant struggle.

Work cited: 

Okara, Gabriel. “Piano and Drums.” The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43055/piano-and-drums.

Okara, Gabriel. The Voice. 1964.

Thank you