Telephone Conversation By Wole Soyinka Poem Analysis

Introduction
What is post colonialism?
Post colonialism refers to the period following the decline of colonialism. It refers to the collection of theoretical and critical strategies used to examine the culture of former colonies of the European empires, and their relation to the rest of the world when it is used in critical approaches.
What is post-colonial literature?
Post-colonial literature is writing, which has been affected by the imperial process to the present day. It carries with it the intention to promote and celebrate the new literatures which have emerged from the former colonial territories. In addition, it asserts the need to analyze and resist continuing colonial attitudes. It brought about a shift of perspective on the part

His activist thoughts are obvious in his creative work, which often tackles difficult social issues through keen satire. Soyinka grew up in western Nigeria, which was then under the British colonial rule. In 1954, Soyinka left for England to study at the university of Leeds. During his years in England Soyinka had many encounters with the indignities of racism. He satirized one such instant in his poem “Telephone Conversation” (1960), which brings out a conversation between a white lady and an African man. It reveals the racism and prejudice in his contemporary

She appears to be angry, but the speaker perceives the condition of the mother’s physical infirmity which makes her unable to earn a living. Her poverty stricken family, which consumes cheap food items: “fatback” and “lima beans” for “years” symbolize the poverty entangled with Black Americans in the postcolonial society. The mother’s inability to supply her children with the “childhood toys” evokes empathetic feelings in the minds of the readers, simultaneously showcasing the gravity of their poverty. Consequently, the mother has become depressed: “too mad to