Piano and Drums

688 Words3 Pages
In Piano and Drums, Gabriel Okara has effectively managed to present two conflictingcultures, both of which he is a part of, through the form of music. On one hand is his innateAfrican culture symbolised by the raw wild beating of the drums and on the other hand is thesoft melodic and complicated rhythm of the piano, symbolising foreign European culture thathas invaded his African homeland. Throughout the poem, he discusses both cultures but itseems as if he has already made up his mind about one.In the first stanza, Okara describes how and where he hears the beat of the drums.³When at break of day´ suggests the time when he heard the beat but it could also meanrebirth or a new beginning for his African side. The words that Okara uses to describe thedrums are all short, monosyllabic words like ³mystic,´ ´urgent´ and ³raw.´ These wordsmimic the sound of the drums as if they are also in harsh short bursts. This is further supported by the use of the word ³telegraphing´ as a telegraph transmits short message burstsrather than one long sound. The drums could also be transmitting messages in their short but powerful burst sounds. ³Mystic´ here shows that the poet respects the drum beats and theculture they signify. ³Mystic´ means inspiring mystery and wonder. The drums take Okara back to his childhood and all the mystery of the jungle. The use of ³raw´ and ³bleeding flesh´somehow suggests that the drums are violent, even carnal but they¶re also savage andinstinctive. The drums evoke feeling in the poet without any thought or musing, they justdraw out the deep-rooted African inside him. The drums force Okara to regress back to ahunter in the primitive days. This is supported by the final three lines of the first stanza as the³panther ready to pounce,´ ³the leopard snarling about to leap´ and ³the hunter¶s crouch withspears poised.´ The alliteration in panther-pounce and
Open Document