The Leader and The Led by Niyi Osundare is a recommended poem in the 2021-2025 UTME, WAEC, and NECO Literature Examination Syllabus
The lion stakes his claim
To the leadership of the pack
But the Antelopes remember
The ferocious pounce of his paws
The hyena says the crown is made for him But the Impalas shudder at his lethal appetite
The Giraffe craves a place in the front
But his eyes are too far from the ground
When the Zebra says it’s his right to lead
10 The pack points to the duplicity of his stripes
The Elephant trudges into the power tussle
But its colleagues dread his tramping feet
The warthog is too ugly
The rhino too riotous
15 And the pack thrashes around
Like a snake without a head
“Our need calls for a hybrid of habits,”
Proclaims the Forest Sage.
“A little bit of a Lion
20 A little of a Lamb
Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe
Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake
A leader who knows how to foll Followers mindful of their right to lead”
Poet's Background
Niyi Osundare was born in Ikere, Ekiti, in Western Nigeria in 1947. He attended Amoye Grammar School in Ikere and obtained B.A. degree in English at Unuversity of Ibadan. He had M.A. from Leeds University in English and Ph.D from York University in Canada. In 1977, he became a professor of English from University of New Orleans.
Account of the Plot/Subject Matter
The poem was written as a result of political transition in African countries. African nations were disorganized by military juntas who were more corrupt than the politicians they overthrown. The African politicians are worse than the military; they are crude, self-serving, unprincipled etc. The leader and the led is a warning to electorate to evaluate candidates they voted for. It is also on the process of leadership transition and disappointment of the electorate following the contestant (animals in the poem). Finally, the forest sage advocates for leader that is tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe, transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake. The poet said to have ideal society in Africa; our leader must be ready to serve.
THEMES FROM THE POEM:
A political fable: Fable is a fictional story that features animals that are given human activities. The animals speak like human beings and contested for elections.
Transition process: The military disengagement from power to political power by politicians.
Hybrid of Habits: Hybrid is something that is formed by combining two or more things together. A leader must have characters that reflect tough and compassion.
POETIC/LITERARY DEVICES FROM THE POEM:
1. Language: The language is simple and prosaic. It has direct speech of the forest sage. The right words matches the physical appearances of each animal-ferocious, pounce, paws, shudder, duplicity. The speech of each animal are put in form of direct speeches lines 5, 9.
2. Fable: This is when human attributes are transferred to animals. Animals like human beings contest for the position of leaders-lion, hyena, giraffe, zebra, elephant, warthog and rhino.
3. Personification: Throughout the poem, animals like Lion, Hyena, Giraffe, Zebra and Elephant are personified. The animals represent African leaders that are aspiring to rule the continent.
4. Simile: It is the comparison of two things from different nature but share same characteristics. In lines 15-16, the entire race stages a protest by moving about violently like a snake that its head had been cut off. All the contested animals were rejected based on their appearances.
5. Symbol: This is when an object is used with something associated with it. The poet wants the ideal African leaders to have a combination of characteristics of lion, lamb, tiger, doe, river and lake. Lion-means courage and boldness, Lamb means obedience and humility, tiger depicts determination, will power, toughness and glory. Doe stands for compassion and gentleness. Zebra depicts fraud, decadence. Elephant symbolizes ruthless military leaders.
6. Paradox: It is a contradictory statement. It was used in lines 23-24. Instead of the people following the leader, it is the leader that is following the people by preparing to serve the nation instead of serving himself. ‘’ A leader who knows how to follow,’’ ‘’followers mindful of their right to lead.’’
7. Metaphor: The comparison of two different things without the use of ‘’as’’ and ‘’like.’’ All the animals in the poem represent the leaders that destroy the African continent both military and civilian. The story of different animals that want to rule African nations. Lion, Hyena, Giraffe, Zebra, Elephant, Warthog and Rhino join politics for their self-interest instead of serving the masses.
8. Repetition: This is when a word, phrase or sentence is said more than once in a poem. The poet repeats the word ‘’pack’’ lines 2, 10, 15. The noun phrase ‘’A little bit of a’’ lines 19-20 to emphasize that leaders must not be too harsh or too simple.
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