APARTHEID

Who sets the land free?

From inhumanity display?

Who sets the land free?

When calamity strikes?

From life of slave bond?

From the maltreatment of racism?

From discrimination of race?

To equity and fairly justice?

Nelson does

A man of honor

Captivated by sedition

Sentenced to prison

Suffered for justice and equity

In hard labor and hunger strike

In a strange land

After 27 years

In the valley of shadow of death

Was found not guilty

Free Mandela!

From the threat of Maggie Thatcher

The Europeans surrendered

To such a great wisdom

And determination of a man

To free his people

South African

From bondage of Slavery

And racial discrimination

Nelson Mandela

The prize beater

The noble peace Award winner of the South

Became the 1^st President overnight

With a high reputation to emulate

Free Mandela!

A man of the people

The commander

Of South African National Congress

A party

Achieving the goal of South African Independent

In a grand style

After sacrifices of their leader

But not forgetting Winnie Mandela

A political Activist

A woman of strong believe

That Nelson must be free

Winnie!

Notwithstanding the marital incompatibility

With Nelson your husband

We still commend your spirit

Of faithfulness indeed

To see that Nelson was liberated

From the claws of Thatcher

A powerful woman like you Winnie

Can they still exist?

Resisted the powers that  threaten

And still led South African National Congress

To freedom of your loved one

Nelson Mandela!

Can a man be successful?

As a leader indeed?

Without a powerful woman?

To stand by his side?

Winnie!

A human right Activist

A presidential instigator

And the controller

Of a powerful movement

That brought freedom

To South African

Free Mandela!

Free South African!

Written by: Onyia Emeka Harford

DESCRIPTION: The Poem Apartheid is a South African Poem that narrates the ordeal of Nelson Mandela who passed through hell in order to restore South Africa from the claws of European colonization. The plight of the poem is a tragedy to reckon with. The poem is epic poem which narrates the achievement of the Hero Nelson Mandela; the setting of the Poem is South African as a background.

From line 1-4: The poet let us to know that there was a time South African was in bondage of racial discrimination from the European’s masters. And a demand from freedom fighter was necessary, who surfaced in numerous but when the battle got fierce, some ran away and went hiding from the threat and inhuman treatment of the white Europeans colonial masters, others became indifferent. But no one was able to withstand the terrible torture of Europeans to citizens of South Africans in their own land. These events he expressed with rhetoric questions.

From line 5-8: The poet continues with the rhetoric question pointing to the enslaving of the South African citizens in their own land. The brutal maltreatment from the British Soldiers, especially during demonstration for freedom and sanction of black race in their own land from participating and associating with the Europeans Models in affairs of lives endeavor was obvious. The class distinction was so much and high rate or discrimination to the black race of South African by the colonial masters who cease fire arms and hard labor to compel obedient from the oppressed citizens. The poet said that this critical condition demands for one who is enlighten enough to stand for South African to the detriment of his life. And who will that be?

From line 9-12: The poet still let us know that a man named Nelson Mandela, irrespective of the ugly situation and humiliation from the Europeans to the black race of South African in their own land, stood his ground to defend the course of his people. But along the line, Nelson was wrongly accused and he was sentenced to life jail by the British government on the ground for him to compromise his stand in the opposition to racial discrimination to his people in their mother land South Africa.

From line 13-16: The  Poet continues to let us know that this Man Nelson suffered for 27 years imprisonment with hard labor and hunger strike in a foreign land for pleading justice and equity of his own people who were brutalized and intimidated for the same period.

From line 17-20: The poet continues to let us know, that in the valley of suffering and agony after 27 years, he was found not guilty of the ill accusation. Then, the freedom of Nelson Mandela in 1987 from the threat of Maggie Thatcher became obvious.

From line 21-24: The Poet let us to know that the European surrendered to such a great wisdom and determination of a man to the detriment of his disadvantage to free South African from bondage of colonization.

From line 25-28: The poet continues on the freedom of South Africa from bondage of slavery and racial discrimination. The poet begins with attribution of honor to Nelson Mandela.

From line 29-32: The poet still on attributing honor to his name called him “The prize beater” (One that has won several awards), the noble peace prize winner of African Nation and finally the first president of south African, with a high reputation and unbeatable distinction for everyone to admire.

From line 33-36:  The poet continuous to celebrate his freedom and attributes honor to this man who he remembered his exploit during freedom fighting and let us know that he was strong personality that command influence and as a result has led his party which South African National Congress as a strong leader.

From line 37-40: The poet continuous with his leadership in South Africa National Congress which was the party formed during freedom fighting, and the poet let us know that Nelson  led his party successfully in to achieving independent for South Africa in pains, suffering and agony.

From line 41-44: The poet let us know that Nelson did not achieve this dream alone, that there was a woman of powerful influence, a political activist who was his second wife that stood her ground that Nelson must be free. And that is Winnie Mandela.

From line 45-48: The Poet also let us knows that despite the marital incompatibility between Winnie and Nelson Mandela which led to often quarrel and separation. That Winnie deserved a handshake for her effort and spirit of faithfulness towards Nelson in the Prison.

From line 49-52: Still on commendation of Winnie’s effort to see that Mandela was free from claws of Maggie Thatcher. The poet noted her as a powerful woman of influence in the society.

From line 53-56: The Poet continuous to ask; if the calibers of women like Winnie Mandela still exist in South Africa. Describing her as a woman that resisted the powers that threatens their freedom and led South African National Congress on behalf of her husband to freedom of her dearest husband Nelson Mandela

From line 57-60: The Poet begins to ask some rhetorical questions to image of Nelson Mandela who is now late. Still on commending Winnie’s effort, the poet asks Nelson “do a man succeed in leadership without a powerful woman to stand by her side?

From line 61-64: The poet continuous with commendation and praises to Winnie’s image by calling her a human right activist and a presidential instigator.

From line 65-68: The poet called Winnie a controller of powerful movement which is the South African National Congress formed by Nelson Mandela; that is the party that fought for freedom of South Africa from the Europeans oppressors led by Winnie Mandela.

From line 69-70: The poet concludes by saying freedom Nelson Mandela and Freedom to South African.

WRITER/PUBLISHER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

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