This poem celebrates African identity and resistance to colonialism. It is written by a talented young French West African poet from the 1950s who tragically died in a plane crash. The poem is told from the perspective of the poet asking their grandmother about Africa. Their grandmother responds that Africa is represented by a strong and resilient tree that continues to grow towards liberty, despite facing humiliation and hardship, through its stubborn and patient nature.

1. Two-Voice
Poem

2. a. ancestral b. slavery c. irrigates d. unbent
e. Humiliation f. whip g. midday h. impetuous
i. splendidly j. obstinately k. liberty
1. The only records of the ______ forms are their fossils.
2. People are still suffering under the yoke of _____.
3. The water from the lake is used to _____the area.
4. Mark took the paperclip from her hand and ____ it.
5. I hope I don’t experience ______ during the
presentation.

3. a. ancestral b. slavery c. irrigates d. unbent
e. Humiliation f. whip g. midday h. impetuous
i. splendidly j. obstinately k. liberty
6. The wind made the branches ____ wildly back and forth
7. The shop will close at _____.
8. She was _______ to the point of being reckless.
9. The ceiling is ________ decorated.
10. He ________ holds on to his beliefs.
Bonus Point: People lost their ______ without due process.

4. a. ancestral b. slavery c. irrigates d. unbent
e. Humiliation f. whip g. midday h. impetuous
i. splendidly j. obstinately k. liberty
1. The only records of the ______ forms are their fossils.
2. People are still suffering under the yoke of _____.
3. The water from the lake is used to _____the area.
4. Mark took the paperclip from her hand and ____ it.
5. I hope I don’t experience ______ during the
presentation.
A
B
C
D
E

5. a. ancestral b. slavery c. irrigates d. unbent
e. Humiliation f. whip g. midday h. impetuous
i. splendidly j. obstinately k. liberty
6. The wind made the branches ____ wildly back and forth
7. The shop will close at _____.
8. She was _______ to the point of being reckless.
9. The ceiling is ________ decorated.
10. He ________ holds on to his beliefs.
Bonus Point: People lost their ______ without due process.
F
G
H
I
J
K

9. - one of the most talented of the
younger French West African poets of
the 1950s, whose tragic death in an
airplane crash cut short a promising
career.
- known for his contribution to the
Négritude literary movement
(celebrates the African identity and
resists the legacy of colonialism.)

10. Africa, my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
inherited from an ancestor.
a continuous flow of
water or liquid.
the ownership of a person
as property, especially in
regards to their labor.
make or become
straight

11. This back that never breaks under the weight of
humiliation This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew springing up
patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires The bitter taste of liberty.
action of humiliating
someone
move fast or suddenly
the middle of the
day; noon.
acting or done quickly and
without thought or care.
unreasonably determined, despite
what anyone else says; stubborn
freedom