Introduction:
In The Museum of Ordinary life, Gabeba Baderoon states that, “In South Africa poetry has offered a ringing voice at a time of enforced silence, and a vision of prescence and complexity at a time when even the humanity of Black people was denied. Poets tell the secret histories of what happens in plain sight, and give voice to what is supressed. They register minute shifts in the air, in an era, and translate the orders of conciousness and the body into the delicate, powerful material of words” and through close analysis of the content and poetic devices used in the poem “They call you Mister Steve Biko now your dead” written by Shabbir Banoobhai , the words of Gabeba Baderoon are validated and prove the powerful place that protest poetry holds in society.
Relevant Context:
The poem“They call you Mister Steve Biko now you're dead” published in is based in Apartheid South Africa under the infamous control of the National Party Government (NP) and refers to South Africa's martyr known as Steve Biko. Steve Biko was a man that endured the ultimate price in order to give the black people of South Africa the same rights as white …show more content…
This is highly contrasted to what he would have been identified as during Apartheid times. Such as a terrorist. This is identified in the poem when the poet states; “They who tormented you when you were alive , Call you mister steve biko now you’re dead”. The Poet is also protesting against the fact that the courageous activities of Steve Biko are only recognized as valiant now that he has died. This is proven in the poem when the poet states; “You’ve been given coverage the size of a rugby field, now you are dead, but you’re
In The Museum of Ordinary life, Gabeba Baderoon states that, “In South Africa poetry has offered a ringing voice at a time of enforced silence, and a vision of prescence and complexity at a time when even the humanity of Black people was denied. Poets tell the secret histories of what happens in plain sight, and give voice to what is supressed. They register minute shifts in the air, in an era, and translate the orders of conciousness and the body into the delicate, powerful material of words” and through close analysis of the content and poetic devices used in the poem “They call you Mister Steve Biko now your dead” written by Shabbir Banoobhai , the words of Gabeba Baderoon are validated and prove the powerful place that protest poetry holds in society.
Relevant Context:
The poem“They call you Mister Steve Biko now you're dead” published in is based in Apartheid South Africa under the infamous control of the National Party Government (NP) and refers to South Africa's martyr known as Steve Biko. Steve Biko was a man that endured the ultimate price in order to give the black people of South Africa the same rights as white …show more content…
This is highly contrasted to what he would have been identified as during Apartheid times. Such as a terrorist. This is identified in the poem when the poet states; “They who tormented you when you were alive , Call you mister steve biko now you’re dead”. The Poet is also protesting against the fact that the courageous activities of Steve Biko are only recognized as valiant now that he has died. This is proven in the poem when the poet states; “You’ve been given coverage the size of a rugby field, now you are dead, but you’re