Themes

South Africa is the region of the continent where the most European explorers settled. Europe colonized nearly all of South Africa. Consequently, the slave trade and other racially motivated atrocities occurred in the area. In the twentieth century, racial tensions culminated in Apartheid, forced segregation and subjection. Slavery wasn't outlawed in certain parts of the south until the 1940s. Finally, the decolonization of the countries in the south gradually unfolded during the mid twentieth century. All of these crucial historical events are outlined in the poem chronologically.