SATIRE IN ODIA OFEIMUN’S ‘THE POET LIED’

Abstract

The major characteristic features that the poetry of Odia Ofeimun projects is the constant attack on tyranny, the incessant denunciation of hypocrisy and the need and attempt for a revolution. Ofeimun indulges in satiric reprobation of tyrants as seen in the reading of poems like “The Messiahs”, “After the News”, “The Condemned”, “To Wa Thiong’o in Detention”, “AnotherEditor Detained”, etc. he alludes biblical figures in order to describe the tyrants in his poem. One of such allusions is noticeable in a stanza in “The Messiahs”. The image of tyranny is painted in the minds of the readers as the biblical Herodian dynasty is alluded. By referring the tyrants in the poem to Herod, the poet tries to show how cruel they are. In addition to creatively employing the technique of allusion, Ofeimun’s use of imagery tells us about the cruelty of the “Christs” whose alluded use is ironical in the context of the poem. Also in Ofeimun’s attack on tyranny, the poet explores the idea of tyrannic detention in a poem entitled “To Wa Thiong’o in Detention”. This poem condemns the forced detention of Ngugi the great Kenyan writer and activist. One unique thing about this poem is the technique of apostrophe which the poet employs. This technique is used to achieve realism as we actually visualize the incarceration of the famous novelist in one of the prisons in Kenya. Also the technique of apostrophe apart giving a realistic picture, also enhances the theme of tyrannic detention. Lastly, the technique of apostrophe shows the scornful attitude of the poet to the oppressors. Another poem by Ofeimun that condemns the forced detention of activists is “Another Editor Detained”. Political hypocrisy is an idea that causes anger in the poetry of Odia Ofeimun. In “The Messiahs” which has been analysed in the first chapter of this long essay, the concept of tyranny was our main focus. But the poem does not only deal with the theme of tyranny, it also explores the theme of political hypocrisy.