Africa (Maya Angelou poem) Essay Questions

In your opinion, what is the overall message the speaker wishes to convey? What is the purpose of this poem?

First, the speaker wishes to glorify Africa as a beautiful land that nurtures a rich heritage. As the speaker describes in the second stanza, this beauty was ravaged when the continent was forever changed by the brutality of the European slave traders. The speaker wishes to emphasize how terrible their actions were, and she appeals to the listen never to forget these atrocities. Ultimately, the speaker hopes for the listener—any human being who is willing to listen—to understand that the African people are in fact resilient and will always fight to overcome life’s challenges. The speaker honors the history of the African people as well as their strength, and wants the listener to recognize both the pain and the power of the African people.

In what ways does the poem resemble an anthem?

The poem’s simple title establishes immediately that the verse is a dedication and a kind of love letter to Africa. The repetition of the line “thus she had lain” in each stanza helps the speaker convey continuity in the story of the continent. This repetition also resembles the refrain of a song. However, it is the content of the poem that elevates it to a kind of anthem. The first two stanzas describe the history of the continent in vivid detail, much as a national anthem does. The third stanza makes an explicit reference to this history as well. In this stanza, the speaker delivers an empowering call to action—that the listener actively “remember” the suffering of the Africans. In addition, she conveys enthusiastically that Africa is rising above its troubles. By inviting others to join her in her recollection and celebration of Africa, she is stirring up pride and reverence for the continent as an anthem does for a country.