English World Lit Essay

How does p'Bitek communicate his ideas about the clash between Acoli and Western culture through his presentation of the ritual of dance?
Throughout “Song of Lawino” p'Bitek represents various contrasts between Acoli and Western cultures, by focusing on different aspects of the every day life of the Acoli. His representations of the ritual of dance, which defamiliarises Western culture and ways, presents his passion to keep Acoli culture alive and strong, without it becoming westernized. P'Bitek's desire is to provide an antidote to the 'dirty gossip' permeated by colonial literature. Here it is the way in which Westernised African literature presents dancing as evidence of the primitive and animalistic nature of African culture.
Throughout chapter 3 p’Bitek describes Acoli culture as superior to Western culture, through describing the relationship between man and woman whilst dancing. African songs and dances are full of emotions as Lawino says:
“You dance with vigour and health”[1]
The use of the pronoun “you” forces the reader to accept the Acoli viewpoint in order for the reader to familiarise and involve themselves within Acoli culture. The word “you” is repeated with a verb, “you dance,…..you compete.”[2] This repetition gives the poem a rhythmic feel, which evokes the Acoli dancing. This immerses the reader in the Acoli world helping us to see our own culture from an outsider’s viewpoint.

P’Bitek describes the differences between Acoli and Western dances, his descriptions of both the Acoli and Western dances are described from the Acoli point of view.

“That is the lazy girl who fears grinding the kabir millet.”[3]

Here he uses the Acoli word “kabir” in italic, this attracts the reader into Acoli culture, away from the western world. He is describing the Acoli girl as not having Acoli qualities, this encourages the reader to see things from his view point.

Although the Acoli people are described as dancing naked, this is presented in a positive way, in contrast to traditional colonial representations.

“All parts of the body Are shown in the arena! Health and liveliness Are shown in the arena!”[4]
In this stanza p’Bitek emphasises the freedom Acoli dances have through the repetition of exclamation marks. He emphasises the honesty of Acoli culture through dances, nothing is concealed by clothes or make-up, unlike Western dancing.

Throughout this chapter he argues that nakedness is healthy because one can be open and expressive, this leads to nakedness becoming a metaphor for freedom and 'a more natural way of life', there is no need to be afraid or worried. The openness with which p’Bitek describes Acoli dances is completely contrasting to the way western dances are depicted. He describes them as dancing:

“ Tightly, tightly, they cannot breathe!”[5]
This is showing the body 'stifling' way in which they dance, without knowing how to be free like the Acoli. The repetition of the adverb “tightly” here shows the repressed sexuality of the westerners in their dance.
Dance is used to explore different attitudes to sex and the relationship between men and women.
“Her breasts are ripe”[6]
This describes her fertility and health, although he admits to the Acoli dances being sexual. They may arouse passion but yet this is a natural and healthy way. He depicts Acoli dances as a courtship display focused on love and procreation rather than sexual promiscuity. This is emphasised by the repetition of the word “lover”. From Lawino's point of view, imported forms of dancing result in immoral behaviour when each man dances with a woman who is not his wife, yet whilst dancing, he holds the waists of the woman and even touches the woman's breasts in order to provoke her for sexual inter course. P’Bitek seems to be disgusted at how the westerners hold each other tightly, closely.

“There is no respect for relatives:
Girls hold their fathers,
Boys hold their sisters close,
They dance even with their mothers.”[7] Lawino sees Western dances as incestuous. The very same behaviours on the dance floor that we see as reserved and civilised are presented as shameful. This changes the readers perception of western culture, because westerners have a reputation for fidelity and the opposite of this is more generally associated with the African culture. P’Bitek is attacking the colonialist writers who created this stereotype.
P'Bitek highlights the Acoli marriage traditions through describing what the white men do whilst dancing:
“Each man has a woman
Although she is not his wife,
They dance inside a house
And there is no light.
Shamelessly, they hold each other
Tightly, tightly,”[8]

The first two lines show that marriage is important in Acoli culture, by using the word “Although” it reiterates the disrespect p'Bitek holds for western culture, in Acoli life they should be man and wife to be dancing so closely. The fact that they dance “inside a house” emphasises the freedom and naturalness which western dances don't have.

P'Bitek refers to the westernised Africans as being disrespectful to the Acoli culture.

“They come to the dance dead drunk
They drink white men's drinks
As well as waragi.
They close their eyes.
And they do not sing as they dance
They dance silently like wizards.”[9]

Here the use of the pronoun “they” refers to the westernized Africans and shows disrespect.
The alliteration in the first line, leaving the word “drunk” isolated on a line on its own portrays the contrast to Acoli culture. “Drunk” being on it's own shows one of p'Bitek's structural devices, i.e. as if they themselves are disappearing and only the drink remains.
The fact that they are drunk, the fact they drink white men's drinks, the fact they close their eyes and do not sing as they dance is all different from the traditional Acoli culture and therefore conveys their disrespect which p'Bitek wants to bring across. They dance like “wizards” which makes the westerners seem scary, and mysterious, but the irony is, the Acoli tribe are traditionally represented to be more like wizards because of all their rituals, according to colonial stereotypes.

P'Bitek describes the westerners from the Acoli point of view and is continuing to represent them as physically unhealthy.

“Their waterlogged suits
Drip like tears
Of the kituba tree
After a heavy storm.”[10]

Here the imagery of heavy rain and tears suggests excess sweat and negativity. This shows that dancing with clothes is not a good idea in the heat of Africa. The Acoli word in italics shows p'Bitek explaining western habits through Acoli imagery so that one can see them through his eyes.

At the end of chapter 3 p'Bitek repeats again Lawino's views on western dancing and then
Lawino exaggerates her responses in the last two stanzas:

“If someone tries
To force me to dance this dance
I feel like hanging myself
Feet first!

I wish I could be
A meteorite
And I would know
Where to fall!”[11]

Lawino says she will hang herself, which is over dramatic and then p'Bitek follows it with humour: “Feet first!” The humour is emphasised be the exclamation mark. A “meteorite” has been translated because it's important, she is displaying her anger, she wants to destroy western culture, westerners and western sympathisers.

Through all these descriptions of dance p'Bitek has presented Acoli culture as superior to western culture, familiarising it. He is trying to protect Acoli culture from being criticised and stop it from becoming westernised. This chapter relates to the overall themes and messages of the poem, expressing the defamiliarisation of Western culture through creating a strong description of Acoli rituals and traditions. The poem is an antidote to colonial literature, which suggests West is superior.

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[ 1 ]. p.42, line 24
[ 2 ]. p.42, line 28
[ 3 ]. p.43, line 7
[ 4 ]. p.43, line 52
[ 5 ]. p.44, line 34
[ 6 ]. p.44, line 1
[ 7 ]. p.45, line 4
[ 8 ]. p.44, line 28
[ 9 ]. p.44, line 20
[ 10 ]. p.45, line 33
[ 11 ]. p.47, line 20