Themes, Metaphors and Rhythms in Hakahana

 Analysis of themes, metaphors and rhythms in Hakahana by Hugh Ellis

"Hakahana" is an Otjiherero expression with the denotation, "hurry up", and in Hugh’s poetry collection the speaker urges all Namibians to do the same. Ellis grew up in exile from Namibia during the Namibian liberation movement, but made the decision to return to Namibia following independence. His poems are a motivation to all Namibians as he ‘’ he would like to see a “non-racial society in Namibia. In this essay, I will analyse the themes in the  poem. ‘’ I Used to Want’’ by Hugh Ellis, then I will, look at the metaphor and rhythm to that effect.    

Firstly, Theme is an element of a story that binds together various other essential elements of a narrative. A poem's subject is the topic of the poem, or what the poem is about, while the theme is an idea that the poem expresses about the subject or uses the subject to explore.  It is known that Ellis was raised in exile from Namibia in the course of the Namibian liberation movement. He made the choice to return to Namibia following independence. For that reason, one of the major themes in Hugh’s poem is independence and some minor issues that revolve around it such as economic, political and racial concerns. Ellis sometimes feels remorseful as a white person in post-apartheid Namibia. ‘’I often feel- guilty questioning, confused, angry, sad, and any other number of intense emotions. (Not only am I white, I am a white German-American, so I often think of my ancestors and what they may or may not have done, of the various roles they may or may not have played in history – and I question what that has to do with me, living today in 2013)’’. Thus, he ran away from himself. In the poem he also focusses on reunion and the healing process after being impacted by colonialism. Another theme in Hugh’s poem is Loneliness. I believe the speaker feels Lonely and lost in the new Namibia era. The atmosphere in Namibia post-independence/ Apartheid seems confusing /uncomfortable to the him thus he feels isolated from his society.   Thus he says "l tried to learn all the languages and culture but I almost forgot my own’’ this indicates that His grief in not being able to fit into an all-black society and culture leads him into trying native language and culture.

Secondly, I used to want is a very short poem. It talks about how Ellis ran away from himself, he said ‘’it is a way of dealing with the guilt of being white in Namibia. It helps him not to obsess about the past, which doesn’t help anyone’’ (Crystal, 2013). Thus, a metaphor is a term or phrase that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but have something in common. In the Poem I used to want, there is a metaphor in the first line ‘’ they struggled as much as anyone else’’. In this line, they are compared to anyone else. ‘’Anyone else’’ in this case being the black people while ‘’they’’ being the speaker’s great grandfathers. Therefore, these two people are being compared as they both struggled and both classes were workers.

  

Thirdly, Rhythm is the pattern of stresses within a line of verse. I used to want to be black but now it’s okay to be red You see; my great grandfathers were workers they struggled as much as anyone else. ‘’In Hakahana, the poems depict various moods; they are lyrical, inspiring and melodious at the same time. Reading the poems one catches a glimpse of a sensitive spirit, of a soul in transition, fleeting, delicate, but with a strong presence’’ (Krishnamurthy, 2012).

In Addition, there is a lot of Repetition in the poem: in the First and last stanza. The poet repeats’’ I used to want to be black but now it’s okay to be red.’’ Here red and black shows a contrast in color. Hence, I believe the speaker feels estranged from his true identity, he feels the need to be part of the majority group. However, he does accept his distinctiveness in the last stanza by saying ‘’ now it’s okay to be red.’’ The poem ends on a optimistic note giving faith and courage, motivating its readers to accept themselves and strive on.

Going a step Further, Dr Krishnamurthy is currently the Dean of the School of Humanities at NUST (Namibia University of Science and Technology) . A few years ago year, she received an award for being the best researcher in her faculty. She also has a few words on the Collection, she is positive all the way says that ‘’ The anthology has many poems which are concise and beautiful. Simply written, they are at the same time not simple poems. The emotions evoked through reading them are complex and reflect the age that we live in. Almost symptomatic of what the poems are trying to say, the pictures in the volume are black and white photographs with many shades of grey. The photographs capture Namibian life just as the poems do. ''

Moreover, she says,  ''Hugh Ellis belongs to the new generation of Namibian poets who ponder upon things that are happening around them. To transform everyday reality into something poetic is a rare talent and Ellis is suffused with an ability to transmogrify a quotidian occurrence into words that sing and echo a sentiment that an ordinary lay person can identify with. But that is what poetry does. Poetry helps you to see the world better and in a new way. Formalists called this technique, "defamiliarisation’’.Thus, she comments on  Hugh’s poem -I used to want  by saying ‘’ The poet has a desire to overcome the loneliness that tears his inner being, therefore he seeks solace in discovering nooks and crannies in his country, which will fill the emptiness within’’ 

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Reference List

 Crystal. M. (2013). Namibia NOW: Hakahana. Retrieved From: http://collaborativesocialchange.blogspot.com/2013/02/hakahana.html

Krishnamurthy. S. (2012). HAKAHANA: Anthology of Poetry by Hugh Ellis. Retrieved from: Windhoek, Namibia: Wordweaver Publishing House.

I Used to Want, by Hugh Ellis

I used to want to be black But now it’s okay to be red You see, my great grandfathers were workers They struggled as much as anyone else

I used to want to be black And who can blame me? My great grandfathers became colonialists In order to fill their rotten stomachs

I used to want to be black And you must hear my voice ‘Cause my grandfathers kept their mouths shut Even though they disapproved

Now it’s okay to be red That’s how independence came My father wrote books about repression and liberation But that’s all his story, not mine

Now it’s okay to be red Namibian sunburn on my skin I tried to learn all the languages and cultures But I almost forgot my own

I used to want to be black But now it’s okay to be red I hope my children, if and when they come Won’t have to fight these demons