Chapter 112 Battle Hymn for Independence

I can say that I know nothing about African literature, especially poetry, but since I participated in the Asian-African Conference held in New Delhi, India in 1955, and the Asian-African Conference held in Tashkent, Soviet Union in 1958, Instead of a writers conference, I got in touch with African writers and poets. From their speeches and conversations, I saw the anger in the forest and the surging river, and heard the roaring waves violently crashing on the cliff. Angry voice!The awakened African people are trying their best to break the iron chains around their necks. They want to stand upright on their fertile and rich land and be the masters of their own land. This kind of demand to overthrow the colonial rule and strive for national independence is incomparable. The strong desire and will are sung by these poets with the strongest voice that shakes the sky.

Since then, I have been searching and reading the creations of African poets enthusiastically and affectionately. Although the authors of these poems are from different regions, their works without exception make people read with blood and heartstrings!From these words written with the blood of loving the motherland and loving the people, we have seen the bloody rule and cruel exploitation of the colonialists in Africa, and we have also seen how the African people fought bravely under the iron hooves of the colonialists. In this heroic and strong team, our African poets are at the forefront of the struggle, beating the drums and blowing the horn to inspire brothers and sisters In this battle song full of anger and resistance, confidence and hope, they embarked on the road of independence and freedom.

Under the pens of poets, their majestic and beautiful motherland shines brightly; the purple sunrise on the coast, the green plains, the fragrant forests, and the flame-like flower trees... Just as the Senegalese poet David Diop wrote in "Africa" sung in: The Africa of the proud warriors, the Africa of my ancestors, the Africa of snowy mountains, the Africa my old country sang... But this Africa has become the Africa of slaves, and the poet goes on to sing: I see: blood and sweat as a The sweat of your labour, slave, the slavery of your children and grandchildren. The poet of Mosanbigi, Liliniyu Mikaia, also shouted angrily in his "Poem for You": On the land where I was born, on the land of Mosanbigi that covers the Indian Ocean Negroes of the land as old as this land—slaves yesterday, slaves to-day, slaves, slaves, slaves!

But the mighty east wind, which overwhelmed the west wind, blew from the morning sun that shone on their motherland. In this strong and warm east wind, the African people took action. Sing: How can you sleep peacefully, tell me!Sober up and answer! ... the voice of progress, now resounding throughout the world: Ah!Africa, it's time!Rise up and act! The poets are full of hope to call on the brothers to rise up to riot, to overthrow the bloody rule of the colonialists, and to be the masters of their own land! Ivory Coast poet Bernal Boua Dajib wrote in the poem "You Are the Master":

Awakened in the chaos of the times. O people, stop being weak! At the crossroads, under the boba tree, in the prison, in the workers' sheds on the outskirts of the town, I cry out to everyone, to the poor of my land: You are the master of the factory!You are the master of the fields!You are the people, then you are the master! The poet writes the image of the people who act and attack the enemy so majesticly and magnificently. The Algerian poet Saadallah described it in the poem "Mud": walking like an angry lion, holding his head high and his chest fearlessly Rushing into the depths of the forest, where the footsteps go, the darkness escapes.Let us march forward hand in hand to strive for victory and glory.

The African people, who are fighting for independence and freedom, declared to the people of the world through the poem "Yes, I Know This" by Ivory Coast poet Boa Kefei Bernard that they will turn the shackles of the world into rotten iron.It will be the revival of the earth and of all mankind, who have at last struggled to gain freedom, light, and the joy of the song of heaven, a comfortable life for all, and the labor of nourishing the world.The poverty, oppression and fear that have dominated the world for generations are about to be eradicated forever.The victory of mankind on all continents is coming!

In "A Poem Dedicated to You", Liliniu Mikaia, who was given by Mo Sanbi, also specifically mentioned the Chinese people: Brought to Himalayas and Andes snow peaks Through forests, across yellow plains, to China, where there are no more emperors and officials, but where free birds are flying everywhere over the hot rice fields. ... Go, with my cry, in the language of your own people, sing the song of my pain! The Chinese people who were once oppressed and exploited by the colonialists and finally stood up bravely will never forget the African people who are persisting in the struggle against colonialism. The 650 million Chinese people are listening to this angry and majestic speech. singing, and with warm sympathy and active support, watching the African people who "plant independent trunks on the road of happiness and freedom" in this singing.Moreover, from our own struggle experience, we firmly believe that the final victory of the African people will surely come, and on the beautiful and fertile land of Africa, the victory banner of independence and freedom will surely be erected!Because the struggle of the African people is not isolated, it has freedom and peace-loving people all over the world, including the Chinese people, and they are closely connected with them, just as Saadallah said:

Victory belongs to the people who fight in arms.