Review of the Piano and Drums a poem by Gabriel Okara

The first time I heard of the poem,' piano and the drum', what came to mind was some musical instruments meant to be accompanied by a melodious song but I was wrong. Perhaps, the language of literature has made it difficult to understand by merely looking at the title or given meaning to the word literarily. I couldn't picture the message the poet is trying to pass across until I read the poem to the very last stanza.

The poem is about two different cultures; Traditional African Culture and the Western World in post-colonial Africa. The way the poet adopts his styles and technique makes it be one-sided as more attention is drawn on the western Culture because of its attractiveness which has made the poet and many Africans lost in thought of what to choose. source

The poet's choice of words makes the poem more easy to flow with, starting from the title of the poem,' the piano which portrays the complexity and sophisticated nature of the western culture. Merely looking it, there is no doubt many would fall for it as civilization has it, unlike, the drum which represents Africa culture that is primitive and also seems to draw the attention of the poet though he seems to value it because it made him remember his past, culture that gave birth to him.

What i found more interesting about the poem is the use of imagery by the poet which added to his indecision that seeps through the stanzas of the poem.

Another interesting part of the poem is the poet's reactions to each “instrument” which clearly captures the two cultures in which the poet seems to be in dilemma in his choice. Both the first stanza (drums) and the third stanza (piano) are arranged in a similar way. There are important three parts to each one. First, we hear the sound of the instrument. In the case of the drums, it has a “mystic rhythm” that is “urgent” and “raw” which shows the primitiveness and innocent of the African Culture. As for the piano, it is said to be “wailing” and “a tear-furrowed concerto” is being played though, it is seductive, it is far more complex and muiti-layered. This shows how a civilized and more sophisticated way of Western Culture.

This is just my opinion and clear review of the poem as many may reason differently base on their own understanding and perception as the poem gives room for more doubt since the poet wasn't able to decide which culture was best for him or should be adopted. we are left in the dilemma of two cultures.

care to read the full poem here is the link to a page that has the content