FIRST DAY AFTER THE WAR

MASIZI KUNENE

“ CONTEXT

• WAR = struggle for equality in Apartheid South Africa

• AFTER THE WAR = end of segregated South Africa

• FIRST DAY = the initial reaction of citizens to their newfound freedom

MASIZI KUNENE

• Born in South Africa in 1930

• BA from the University of Natal in Zulu and history and then a Master of Arts in Zulu Poetry

• Writings banned by Apartheid government

• Left to live in London and USA

• Returned to SA in 1992

• Africa’s poet laureate in 1993 and 1st SA poet laureate in 2006

• Lectured until retirement

Logo here 3

Logo here

We heard the songs of a wedding party.

We saw a soft light

Coiling round the young blades of grass

At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,

Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!

She woke us up with a smile saying,

‘What day is this that comes so suddenly?’

We said, ‘It is the first day after the war.’

Then without waiting we ran to the open space

Ululating to the mountains and the pathways

Calling people from all the circles of the earth.

We shook up the old man demanding a festival.

We asked for all the first fruits of the season

We held hands with a stranger

We shouted across the waterfalls

People came from all lands

It was the first day of peace.

We saw our Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon.

FORM AND STRUCTURE• Free verse

• Impulsive outpouring of joy

• Oral tradition

• Meant to be spoken out loud

• Praise poetry

• Repetition

• Parallelism

• Sound devices

• Two sections:

• Lines 1 – 8

• Gradual realization of the change

• Lines 9 – 10

• Celebrations of freedom

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“

We heard the songs of a wedding party.

We saw a soft light

Coiling round the young blades of grass

Creating a sense of

inclusion – the people

were united. REPETITION

emphasises this.

Songs are

synonymous with

celebration.

A joyous occasion

of union between

two parties.

SYMBOLISES new

beginning.

Beginning of a

new day (light

overtaking

darkness) &

gradual dawning

of a new era. SOUND DEVICES

ALLITERATION “saw a soft”

The sibilance creates a soft,

soothing sound to mimic the

gentle glow of light.

Another

SYMBOL of

new life.

“

We heard the songs of a wedding party.

We saw a soft light

Coiling round the young blades of grass

At first we hesitated, then we saw her footprints,

Her face emerged, then her eyes of freedom!

Creating a sense of

inclusion – the people

were united. REPETITION

emphasises this.

Songs are

synonymous with

celebration.

A joyous occasion

of union between

two parties.

SYMBOLISES new

beginning.

Beginning of a

new day (light

overtaking

darkness) &

gradual dawning

of a new era. SOUND DEVICES

ALLITERATION “saw a soft”

The sibilance creates a soft,

soothing sound to mimic the

gentle glow of light.

Another

SYMBOL of

new life.

Youth of SA.

Evidence of

someone’s

presence and a

path to a new

future.

Freedom is personified

as a female who is

gradually emerging to

a warm welcome (!)

You can imagine that,

after being oppressed

for so long, people

would be reluctant to

believe.

“

She woke us up with a smile saying,

‘What day is this that comes so suddenly?’

We said, ‘It is the first day after the war.’

Freedom arrives and is

instantly friendly.

Slightly ironic as they

have been waiting so

long but once it

happens, it happens

quickly. The people

confirm that it is

indeed the end of

the

METAPHORICAL

war = freedom

struggle.

“

She woke us up with a smile saying,

‘What day is this that comes so suddenly?’

We said, ‘It is the first day after the war.’

Then without waiting we ran to the open space

Ululating to the mountains and the pathways

Calling people from all the circles of the earth.

Freedom arrives and is

instantly friendly.

Slightly ironic as they

have been waiting so

long but once it

happens, it happens

quickly. The people

confirm that it is

indeed the end of

the

METAPHORICAL

war = freedom

struggle.

People are

unable to

contain their

excitement. SOUND DEVICES

ALLITERATION “without waiting

we” speeds up the pace of the

line to mimic running.

ONOMATOPOEIA in “ululating”

for us to hear the celebratory

calls associated with Africa.

CONTRAST to

their

oppression

which kept

people

confined.

Everyone is

included in the

celebration.

SYMBOL of

unity and

life. Associated with

African expression of

emotion and linked

to song (l.1).

“

We shook up the old man demanding a festival.

We asked for all the first fruits of the season

We held hands with a stranger

We shouted across the waterfalls

Their enthusiasm

manifests as intensity

of action.

Could be SYMBOL of

previous generation

who accepted

oppression/had given

up or wanting to share

with everyone.

Such a

momentous

occasion needs

to be celebrated

on a large scale.

Freedom has

brought

disparate

groups

together.

Only the best is

fitting for this

celebration.

Season could

reference new

times to come.

“

We shook up the old man demanding a festival.

We asked for all the first fruits of the season

We held hands with a stranger

We shouted across the waterfalls

People came from all lands

It was the first day of peace.

We saw our Ancestors travelling tall on the horizon.

Their enthusiasm

manifests as intensity

of action.

Could be SYMBOL of

previous generation

who accepted

oppression/had given

up or wanting to share

with everyone.

Such a

momentous

occasion needs

to be celebrated

on a large scale.

Only the best is

fitting for this

celebration.

Season could

reference new

times to come. SOUND DEVICES

ALLITERATION “first fruits”, “held

hands” and “travelling tall” create

lovely auditory links as we read/

listen.

ONOMATOPOEIA of “shouted” to

emphasise the boisterous

celebrations.

Freedom has

brought

disparate

groups

together.

The ANTITHESIS

to war.

Previous generations’

struggles have come to

fruition. They can now be

proud of their people and

are looking towards the

future.

Repetition of the idea

of diverse groups

uniting (they were

previously apart).

Logo here

THEME• Triumph of freedom over oppression

• Liberation

• Celebration

TONE and MOOD• Cautious optimism TO Joyful

celebration

• Energetic and celebratory TO Awe and Satisfaction

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