UNIT 8: CHINUA ACHEBE: “A MOTHER IN A REFUGEE CAMP”
Chinua Achebe’s Life
Chinua Achebe was born in Ogidi, Nigeria in 1930. He grew up in a Christian family and had a strong Igbo cultural background. Achebe had a passion for learning and attended St. Philips’ Central School and later Government College. Despite facing restrictions on speaking native African languages, he excelled in his studies.
After completing his education at the University of Ibadan, Achebe initially planned to study medicine but later switched to English Literature, History, and Theology. During this time, he discovered his talent for writing and began publishing his works.
Achebe was married to Christiana Chinwe Okoli, and they had two children. He travelled extensively across Africa and the United States, attending conferences and gaining insight into African issues.
Achebe briefly worked as a teacher at the Merchants of Light School before joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) in Lagos in 1954. He continued to write and experiment with African fiction, making significant contributions to the literary world.
Achebe’s upbringing, education, and experiences influenced his writing, which explored themes of African culture, colonialism, and the clash of traditions. His works have had a profound impact on African literature and continue to be celebrated worldwide.
Chinua Achebe’s Work
Chinua Achebe was a famous Nigerian writer known for his novels, poems, and critical essays. Some of his well-known novels include “Things Fall Apart,” “No Longer at Ease,” “Arrow of God,” “A Man of the People,” and “Anthills of Savannah.” He also wrote poetry collections like “Beware, Soul Brother and Other Poems,” “Don’t Let Him Die: An Anthology of Memorial Poems for Christopher Okigbo,” and “Another Africa.”
Achebe had close friendships with writers like Langston Hughes, Wole Soyinka, and Kofi Awonoor. He also experienced the loss of his friend Christopher Okigbo during the Nigeria-Biafra War, which influenced his poem “A Wake for Okigbo.”
Achebe worked at various universities, including the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the University of Nigeria. He received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to literature, including the Man Booker International Prize. Achebe passed away in 2013 in Boston and was buried in Ogidi, Nigeria.
Summary of the Poem-
The poem “A Mother in a Refugee Camp” portrays the love and sacrifice of a mother and the hardships faced in a refugee camp. It begins by describing a mother and her son, comparing them to Mother Mary and Jesus Christ. The poem captures the pain and suffering of the mother, who was once hopeful and happy but now shattered by the ravages of war.
The refugee camp is depicted as a place of suffering, with the air filled with the smell of illness and the sight of malnourished children. The conditions are horrifying, and many mothers have lost hope and surrendered to their fate. However, this particular mother clings to the fragments of her memories and continues to care for her son.
She treasures the little things that were special to her as a mother, even though everything else has been lost. She combs her son’s hair with a broken comb and bathes him with her bare hands, reminiscing about happier times. Despite the uncertainty of their future, she does everything she can to ensure her son’s survival, holding onto a fading hope.
In simple terms, the poem portrays the immense love and strength of a mother in the face of adversity, highlighting the challenges and resilience found in a refugee camp.
Question and Answer
Q.1. Discuss the life and works of Chinua Achebe.
Answer– Chinua Achebe was born in 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria. He grew up in a Christian family and had a strong interest in literature and his Igbo culture. Achebe attended St. Philips’ Central School and later Government College. Although he wanted to study medicine, he chose to study English Literature, History, and Theology at the University of Ibadan. After graduation, he worked briefly as a teacher before joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) in Lagos.
Achebe wrote and published various literary works, including his famous novels like “Things Fall Apart,” “No Longer at Ease,” and “Arrow of God.” He also wrote poetry collections, children’s literature, and short stories. Achebe was married to Christiana Chinwe Okoli, and they had two children.
He received prestigious fellowships that allowed him to travel and gain first-hand knowledge of African socio-political and cultural issues. Achebe attended conferences where he interacted with renowned writers like Langston Hughes, Wole Soyinka, and Kofi Awonoor. He also had a close friendship with poet Christopher Okigbo.
Achebe worked at several universities, including the University of Massachusetts and the University of Nigeria. He received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Nigerian National Merit Award and the Man Booker International Prize. Achebe passed away in 2013 in Boston and was buried in Ogidi, Nigeria.
Q.2. Explain the content of the poem in your own words.
Answer– The poem describes the sad and difficult life of a mother and her child in a refugee camp. The mother’s love and sacrifice are shown as she tries to take care of her son despite the harsh conditions they face. The camp is described as gloomy and filled with unpleasant smells. The children in the camp are suffering from malnutrition, and the mother can see their frail bodies and hear their cries of hunger.
The mother is depicted as a ghost of her former self, as the war has taken away her happiness and hope. She clings to her memories of being a proud mother and tries to recreate some semblance of normalcy for her son. She uses a broken comb to groom his hair and bathes him with her bare hands, reminiscing about happier times.
Despite the uncertainty of their future, the mother does everything she can to ensure her son’s survival, even though her hope is fading. It is a heart-breaking portrayal of the hardships faced by refugees and the resilience of a mother’s love in the face of adversity.
Q.3. Discuss some of the relevant themes that emerge from the poem.
Answer– The poem explores two major themes: the consequences of war and the significance of motherhood. War has devastating effects on individuals and nations, as shown in the poem’s portrayal of a refugee camp during the Nigerian civil war. The camp represents the suffering, displacement, and loss experienced by those caught in the midst of conflict.
The theme of motherhood highlights the special bond between a mother and her children. The poem depicts a strong and resilient mother who continues to care for her son despite the difficult circumstances. It portrays her love, sacrifices and fears for her child’s well-being. The poem reminds us of the pain and sacrifices that mothers endure and the importance of cherishing precious moments with loved ones.
Both themes shed light on the harsh realities of war and the strength of maternal love. They evoke empathy and understanding for the struggles faced by individuals affected by conflict and the resilience of mothers in protecting and nurturing their children.
Q.4. Analyse the style and language in the poem “A Mother in a Refugee Camp”
Answer– Chinua Achebe’s poem is written in a style that reflects the historical, political, and socio-cultural contexts of Nigeria. The poem focuses on the impact of war on innocent lives, particularly on children and women in a refugee camp. Achebe portrays the devastating effects of war, showing how lives are paralyzed and displaced from the comfort of their homes.
The poem begins with a universal image of Mother Mary and baby Jesus, symbolizing the sacrifices and suffering of motherhood. Achebe uses vivid and powerful images throughout the poem, such as the mother’s “ghost-smile” and the children with their ribs showing and empty bellies. The poem captures the contrast between the mother’s past happiness and the uncertainty and loss she faces in the present.
Achebe’s language is simple yet impactful. He conveys the mother’s traumatic experience and her dying hope through the use of imagery and the portrayal of her silent eyes and silenced songs. The poem ends with the image of a grave and tributary flowers, symbolizing the mother’s fading hope.
Overall, Achebe’s poem showcases the suffering experienced by innocent people during wartime, and his use of language effectively communicates the emotional impact of their experiences.
Q.5. Explain with reference to context:
a) “No Madonna and Child could touch
Her tenderness for a son
She soon would have to forget….”
Answer– The lines you mentioned from Chinua Achebe’s poem “A Mother in a Refugee Camp” describe a mother’s deep love and affection for her son. The context suggests that the mother and her child are living in a refugee camp, facing difficult circumstances, possibly due to war or conflict.
The comparison made to “Madonna and Child” refers to the traditional image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, symbolizing the pure love and care of a mother for her child. However, the poem suggests that the mother’s love for her son surpasses even that of the Madonna and Child.
The line “She soon would have to forget” indicates the heart-breaking reality faced by the mother. Despite her immense love, she knows that their time together is limited and that she may have to let go of her son in the face of the harsh circumstances they are in. It portrays the pain and sacrifice she must endure as a mother.
These lines highlight the theme of a mother’s love, its strength, and the difficult choices and sacrifices that mothers may have to make in challenging circumstances.
b) “In their former life this was perhaps
A little daily act of no consequence
Before his breakfast and school; now she did it
Like putting flowers on a tiny grave.”
Answer- These lines from Chinua Achebe’s poem “A Mother in a Refugee Camp” talk about a small, ordinary act that used to happen before. It could be something like combing a child’s hair, which seemed unimportant back then. But now, in the difficult situation of being in a refugee camp, it has become a significant and heart-breaking act.
The comparison made is like putting flowers on a tiny grave. It means that the mother, despite the harsh reality of the refugee camp and the uncertainty surrounding their future, still takes the time to care for her child in a loving and tender way. Just like how someone would place flowers on a grave to show love and remembrance, the mother does this small act to show her love and to honour the child’s life.
These lines highlight the mother’s deep love and the painful contrast between their previous life and the harsh reality of the refugee camp. It shows the mother’s strength and her ability to find beauty and meaning in even the smallest gestures of care in the face of adversity.
Q.6. Who is considered as the father of modern African Literature?
Answer- Chinua Achebe is considered the father of modern African literature.
Q.7. Write a short note on the theme of ‘consequences of war’ as evident in Chinua Achebe’s poem, A Mother in a Refugee Camp.
Answer– In Chinua Achebe’s poem “A Mother in a Refugee Camp,” the theme of the consequences of war is vividly depicted. The poem explores the devastating impact of war on a mother and her child in a refugee camp. It portrays the harsh realities faced by those caught in the midst of conflict.
The poem highlights the emotional and physical toll of war on the mother. It describes her as a ghost of her former self, burdened by pain and suffering. The mother’s once-happy demeanour has been shattered by the rage of war, leaving her with a diminished sense of hope.
The consequences of war are also evident in the description of the refugee camp. The atmosphere is gloomy, and the air is heavy with the odours of sickness and malnutrition. The children in the camp suffer from hunger and lack of proper care, with visible signs of undernourishment.
Through the poem, Achebe emphasizes the loss and tragedy experienced by the mother and her child. It portrays the struggles, both physical and emotional, faced by those affected by war. The theme of the consequences of war serves as a powerful reminder of the human suffering that accompanies conflicts and the urgent need for peace and compassion.