Aesthetics in Modern African Poetry

Abstract

The socio-cultural motivation and objectives for the creation of poetry by Black Africans has no more significant consideration than the factors that inform their aesthetics and aesthetic devices. In retrospect, the historical context of Modern African Poetry is similar across the African Continent and Black African poets have composed Poetry that speaks vociferously to such factors and issues that have plagued Africans through the long dark ages of Colonialism, Neocolonialism, and post-independence upheavals. The media used to communicate these themes range from songs of lamentation and critical tones to express tropes in direct and indirect poetic language, while at the same time eulogizing traditional African cultural practices and customs from which Modern African Poetry emerges. That is the burden of this paper. It explores ‘how' Black African poets have remonstrated in the light of colonial and post-colonial oppression”while showcasing African values. It specifically deals with their exploitive use of language and literary devices that are express in expressing themes of African liberation and African cultural values and ideals. The appreciation is based on selected anthologies of Wole Soyinka, Niyi Osundare, John Aidoo and Lade Wosornu. The paper has four main parts: the historical background of literary aesthetics, Modern African Poetry, aesthetics in Modern African poetry, and Conclusion.