I WILL PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME – LEOPOLD SEDAR SENGHOR
I will pronounce your name Naett,
I will declaim you Naett ǃ
Naett, your name is mild like cinnamon,
It is the fragrance in which the lemon groove sleeps,
Naett, your name is the sugared clarity of booming trees
And it resembles the savannah, that blossoms forth
under the masculine ardour of the midday sun ǃ…
Name of dew, fresher than shadows of tamarind,
Fresher than even the short dusk,
When the heat of the day is silenced.
Naett, that is the dry tornado, the hard clap of lightening
Naett, coin of gold, shinning coal, you my night, my sun
I am your hero, and now I have become your sorcerer,
in order to pronounce your names
Princess of Elissa, banished from Futa on the fateful day.
ANALYSIS OF THE POEM
I Will Pronounce Your Name is a poem that praises the beauty of an African woman who symbolizes the riches of Africa. Senghor compares the beauty, attributes, virtues and love of Africa to that of Naett, an African woman. Naett possess excellent qualities that deserve praise. Senghor compares the virtues of Naett to the pleasures, comfort, protection, and freshness that are derived from the natural resources in Africa. This is realized in the lines of ‘Naett, your name is mild like cinnamon, it is the fragrance in which the lemon groove sleeps, Naett, your name is the sugared clarity of booming trees, and it resembles the savannah, that blossoms forth under the masculine ardour of the midday sun, name of dew, fresher than shadows of tamarind’.
The personae proclaim the passion, enthusiasm and resilience of Naett (Africa). Hardships would not silence the resilience of Africans. Africa will rise and shine forth her appreciable qualities even in the midst of suffering. The virtues of Naett are compared to the sun in the line of ‘under the masculine ardour of the midday sun’. Nothing can prevent the sun from shinning and so shall Africa maintain its spirit of determination and shining. The way the entire earth benefits from the sun, it’s the same way other continents will see, admire and enjoy the values of Africans.
The poet praised Africa as a continent that is blessed with natural resources. Some of the crops, minerals and raw materials in Africa are stated in the lines of ‘Naett, your name is mild like cinnamon, it is the fragrance in which the lemon groove sleeps, Naett, your name is the sugared clarity of booming trees, and it resembles the savannah that blossoms forth, Naett, coin of gold, shinning coal, you my night, my sun”. The raw materials (trees), minerals (gold) and coal (fuel/energy) and Africa’s climatic weather of sunshine and rain contribute to the beauty of Africa. The shining coal means Africa shines forth desirable qualities despite all odds.
Credit to MADAM SITSOFE GANU
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
S. D. A. COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
ASOKORE – KOFORIDUA.