Literary Devices & Figures of Speech

Diop uses a number of poetic devices to make this lyric more appealing to readers. The use of
figurative language not only heightens the speaker’s love for his motherland but also his pain for
his fellow citizens’ suffering. The important devices used in the poem are exemplified below:

Personification
The speaker attributes Africa to human characteristics. Firstly, he infuses life into the abstract
idea of a nation and enables it with the capability of listening: “Africa my Africa.” This
impassioned plea is heightened with the representation of personified Africa as a mother whose
“blood,” according to the speaker, “flows in my veins”. He feels inspired when he sees her
unyielding spirit “that never breaks under the weight of humiliation” though her back
trembles “with red scars”. In this way, Diop personifies his nation, and later in lines 16-23, he
incorporates omniscience into the abstract idea.

Apostrophe
● Diop uses this poetic device to personify Africa. In the very first line, he addresses the
nation, “Africa my Africa,” with passion.
● “Africa, tell me Africa.” In these lines, Diop uses apostrophe by evoking the spirit of
his mother nation.

Metaphor
● Diop uses metaphors in order to draw comparisons between two distant ideas. For
example, Diop’s persona compares “blood” to water in the line, “You beautiful black
blood that irrigates the fields”.

● The next line, “The blood of your sweat,” contains another metaphor. Here the term
“blood” is synonymous with an untiring attitude and their will force that reflects in
Africans “sweat”.

● The “young and strong” tree is a metaphor for Africa: “That is your Africa springing up
anew,”
● “liberty” is compared to bitter fruit. Its taste is ironically bitter as liberty is hard to obtain.
Therefore, the fruit of liberty may taste sweet, but the journey is undoubtedly “bitter”.
Alliteration
Alliteration is when there is a repetition of identical sounds at the beginning of adjacent words. It
is used for the enhancement of the rhythm of the lines. Examples of alliteration include:
● “never known” (line 5)
● “But your blood” (line 6)
● “beautiful black blood” (line 7)
● “back that never breaks” (line 13)
● “faded flowers” (line 19)
● “bit by bit” (line 22)
Besides, readers can find consonance and assonance in the poem.

Consonance
The repetition of the same consonant sound in closely placed words can be found in the
following examples:
● “Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs”
● “back that is unbent”
● “under the midday sun”
● “young and strong”
● “bitter taste of liberty”

Assonance
The recurrence of the same vowel sound in neighboring words can also be found in the poem. It
occurs in:
● “Africa my Africa”
● “But your blood”
● “black blood”
● “irrigates the fields”
● “trembling with red”
● “grave voice answers”
● “alone amidst”
● “patiently, obstinately”

Allusion
Allusion occurs when something significant is indirectly hinted at through a phrase. It
develops an understanding that becomes important to fully appreciate a text’s depths and
layers. For instance, Diop alludes to the glorious past of African tribal culture in the line
 ● , “Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs,” and describes how the
ancestors fought against the expansion of European powers on their soil.
● “On the banks of the distant river” is an allusion to the Garonne river of Southwestern
France. Diop was born and brought up in Bordeaux, a port city on the Garonne bank.
● “The work of your slavery,” is another reference to the custom of slavery and how
Africans were bought and sold by colonizers. The torturous events of slavery are
captured through the lines:

Is this your back that is unbent

This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun

Repetition
● From the very beginning, Diop employs this device in order to make his appeal to his
nation more emotive. He repeats the term “Africa” in the first three lines to evoke
her spirit.
● In lines 6-8, he emphasizes the term “blood”, a symbol of national identity. This
repetition creates a resonance of the poet’s African identity.
● Again in lines 12-14, the word “back” is emphasized to draw readers’ attention to the
sufferings of Africans as enslaved people.
● Another repetition occurs when the speaker uses the term “tree” twice in lines 17-18
and the term “springing” in lines 20-21.

Anaphora
● Anaphora occurs when consecutive lines begin with a similar word or phrase to
emphasize specific ideas. For instance, the first three lines of the poem begin with the
word “Africa”.
● In lines 8-10, Diop uses the same poetic technique in order to emphasize the inherent
power within Africans. These lines begin with the term “The”. Later, in lines 13 and 14,
the speaker emphasizes “This back” to portray the torture inflicted upon enslaved
people vividly:

This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation

This back trembling with red scars
Anadiplosis
It’s a type of anaphora where a phrase or word at the end of a line is repeated at the
beginning of the following line to create an interconnection. It occurs in lines 8-10:

The blood of your sweat

The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery

Metonymy
● The term “blood” is a metonym for African identity. Diop focuses on this particular term
in order to incorporate the essence of the Négritude movement, aiming to raise and
cultivate “Black consciousness” and African identity.
● The term “back” is another metonym (or symbol) for Africans’ unyielding spirit. Diop
employs the variation: a symbol for the thing symbolized in these examples.
● the “whip” represents the slavers, and the “midday sun” is a reference to the
scorching heat of the sun.
● -“Africa” represents Africans, and the variety used here is the container for the thing
contained.

Rhetorical Question
Though the line, “Is this your back that is unbent,” does not contain a question mark at the end,
it is an example of a rhetorical question. The speaker asks this question to his nation or fellow
citizens emotively. The answer lies in the question itself that is the back of his nation never
breaks.

Line-by-Line Analysis & Explanation

Lines 1-3
Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
In the first four lines of the poem, Diop expresses his love for Africa. He is aware of his lineage
and became familiar with the glorious past of his nation from the tales his grandmother used to
tell. That had made him keep the essence of Africa alive.
He evokes the spirit of Africa and proclaims his identity: Africa is his own, its people are his own.
No matter how colonizers see his country, he still takes pride in being an African. The
sense of cultural consciousness is there in his mind, and the bond with his actual nation can
never be broken. He also takes pride in the spirit of tribal warriors who bravely fought in the
open savannahs and tried to obstruct the invasion of heavily equipped colonizers. Though they
were under-equipped had traditional weapons, they still fought back to protect their soil.

Lines 4-6
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
The country “on the banks of the distant river” is where Diop was born and brought up. He spent
the most part of his life in Bordeaux, in Southwestern France. In his sojourn in a foreign land
(ironically that of the French colonizers), he never came to know about his nation’s glory. The
foreign banks of the Garonne river somewhat made him forget about his nation. As he says so,
his voice sounds sad and reverberates the aching of his heart.
The speaker has never known Africa, having lived in France, but he is aware of the
African “blood” gushing through his veins. Diop symbolizes the “blood” as his true African
identity. Like blood caters sustenance to the body, the sense of cultural consciousness keeps
his spirit alive. Else, his mind will become a hybrid of foreign culture and the broken remnants of
his own.

Lines 7-10
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
In these lines, Diop addresses Africa as a human being representing all colonized
Africans who irrigated fields for their white masters by putting in back-breaking labor.
The colonizers and their superiority complex subjugated them and their culture. The repetition of
the term “blood” creates a resonance of one of the main themes, cultural identity. Diop refers to
the beauty of their culture as well as identity. The blood that flows in his veins is the same that
runs through all the Africans, who toil under the scorching sun, work tirelessly, and serve under
European slavers. In this way, Diop binds all the Africans with the thin thread of equality. The
African farmers, enslaved people, and even the well-off intellectuals living abroad are all equal.
They are Africans.
Lines 11-15
Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun
With another impassioned address to his mother nation, the speaker asks her a rhetorical
question. He says whether her back is unbent under gruesome torture. Through this line,
the speaker refers to the slaves carrying the burden of lifelong “humiliation” on their
back sored “with red scars”.
● Despite the tortures, their back remains “unbent”. They carry the courage within
their heart to say no to the “whip” representing brutal colonizers. Their “whip”, an
instrument of torture, was brought down upon them frequently to punish them for not
meeting their disproportionate demands. Despite the pain and suffering, Africa will not
fear to fight back.

Lines 16-23
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.

While the speaker thinks about Africa’s pain under colonial rule, a voice reaches out to him. She
points towards a tree, “young and strong”, standing “amidst white and faded flowers”, to
say that it is the Africa he is searching for. The phrase “white and faded flowers” portrays
the colonizers’ culture in the dim light in order to contrast the glow of his own culture.
Besides, the tree represents the nascent state of African nationalism that was “alone” amidst the
dominant European culture in the latter half of the 20th-century.
Like a perennial tree,
● Africa will grow slowly but steadily. Its fruits will obtain “the bitter taste of liberty”
gradually. The fruits of the tree represent Africans who will slowly cultivate a sense of
nationalism, black consciousness, and, most importantly, liberty within their hearts. Then
the time will come when they will rise up to assert what is their own. These lines provide
a sense of assurance and hope to the Africans that no matter what, the sense of
 freedom will flourish in their hearts with time.

Themes
Identity & Nationalism
In “Africa,” Diop reminisces about the marvelous land of his ancestors and the history that
has been passed down to the generations and finally reached him. He feels one-half of
himself is in his homeland, Africa, even though he has neither lived in Africa nor fully
experienced what it means to be an African living under colonial rule. In admiration of his fellow
Africans, he paints a vivid picture of their resilience and persistence in the face of suffering and
pain. Diop’s poetic voice is also filled with longing for a free, self-sufficient Africa that will grow
uninhibitedly, breaking the shackles of slavery.
Africa was colonized for an extended period. While Diop was writing this poem,
imperialism was at its height in Africa. Protests and liberation movements were on the
rise, and Diop, even being in France, showed his support for such revolutionary events
through writing. That’s why one of the major themes of this poem is nationalism. Through this
poem, he tries to say that Africans would no longer be oppressed. The theme of nationalism is
explored through the reference to history (lines 2-3), identity (or “blood”), collective sense (lines
7-10), and pride (lines 12-15).

Colonization & Suffering

Diop’s “Africa” is a protest against the atrocities of colonizers. Economic exploitation was at the
heart of the imperialist discourse. It showcased the true face of colonization. White colonizers,
for their own profit, dominated African nations and propagated the narrative of superiority by
calling the natives primitive and savage. The poem brings attention to such a selfish side of
human nature and the cultural darkness that was spread across the European colonies. The
physical and mental torture inflicted upon the Africans was inhumane. However, Diop portrays
their suffering in a positive light in order to inspire the spirit of Africans. No matter how cruel the
colonizers are, the African “back” can never be bent.

Cultural Heritage
Diop explores the theme of cultural heritage in this poem. He alludes to the courage of tribal
warriors who bravely fought against the colonial invasion. His grandmother sings in praise of
Africa. It means that Africans still took pride in their history even if they were dominated by an
alien culture and portrayed as an inferior race. Besides, the poet also depicts the tightly knit
communities of agrarian Africa and how they toiled together. Even as slaves, their spirit was
unbroken. Whenever the speaker thinks about his country, he is reminded of its cultural heritage
that includes the rich savannahs, its peace-loving agricultural communities, and its flora.

History of Africa
Another important theme of this poem is history. The speaker takes pride in his nation’s
glorious past. Through the songs of his grandmother, he came to know about the
courage of tribal fighters who tried to stop the colonizers. This poem shows the brief history
of Africa before and after colonization. Before colonization, Africa was a self-sufficient nation.
Afterward, when colonizers came, they undermined the indigenous culture, traditions, and lives.
The effect of colonization upon Africans is portrayed in the following lines:
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars

Symbolism
Diop employs several symbols in this poem. Some of the important symbols include:
● Black Blood: The “beautiful black blood” of Africa is symbolic of identity. The later lines
describe the painful lives of Africans as enslaved people.
● Back: In the line, “Is this your back that is unbent,” the term “back” symbolizes the
African spirit that is unconquerable and firm. It never breaks or bends.
● Whip: The “whip” is a symbol of slavery. Diop uses this symbol to portray how the
instrument is used to torture and inflict physical pain upon slaves.
● Tree & Fruit: The “tree” in the poem is a symbol for the nation, and its “fruit” represents
Africans. The tree that grows “young and strong” among the “faded flowers” is Africa
repairing itself slowly after being hacked and exploited by colonizers. The fruit (or
Africans) of that tree has to acquire a sense of liberty before finally asserting their right.

Imagery
In “Africa,” Diop uses the following types of imagery:
 ● Visual Imagery: This type of imagery engages the sense of sight of readers. For
instance, in the second line, Diop vividly portrays the African savannahs: “proud warriors
in ancestral savannahs”. Other visual images in this highly descriptive poem include: “On
the banks of the distant river,” “This back trembling with red scars,” “That tree over there/
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers”.
● Tactile Imagery: Diop evokes the sense of touch in the lines, “But your blood flows in
my veins”, “This back trembling with red scars/ And saying no to the whip under the
midday sun”.
● Auditory Imagery: This imagery engages the sense of hearing. Some of the auditory
imagery used in this poem are: “Africa of whom my grandmother sings”; “And saying no
to the whip under the midday sun/ But a grave voice answers me”.
● Gustatory Imagery: This type of imagery is used in the last line, “The bitter taste of
liberty”. The speaker refers to the taste of a bitter fruit as the taste of liberty.

Tone & Mood

The tone of the poem is filled with the poet’s admiration and empathy for Africa and its people.
His voice reflects a sense of nostalgia for its past. When the speaker thinks about the suffering
of enslaved people, his tone turns sad yet reflects a sense of pride. The positive depiction of the
African spirit creates a hopeful mood. While the lines, “This back that never breaks under the
weight of humiliation/ This back trembling with red scars”, make the mood emotional as if the
speaker is mourning for Africans’ suffering as slaves. He is also hopeful about their future;
Africans will no longer be oppressed as the sense of liberty gradually grows within their hearts.

Setting
Diop wrote this poem while he was in Bordeaux, France. The poem is set in a foreign land. It
presents a speaker who nostalgically thinks about his nation, Africa, and describes his steadfast
love for his country. The distance may be too long to overcome, but the bond is stronger to
undermine. As the poem progresses, the speaker finds himself amidst the African savannahs,
their lands, and a land where the “tree” grows among “white and faded flowers”.

Historical Background
The poem “Africa,” also known by its first line, “Africa my Africa,” was first published in French
as “Afrique” in David Diop’s only collection of poetry, Coups de pilon (“Pounding”) in 1956. It was
published by the Pan-African quarterly literary magazine Présence Africaine. This journal was
highly influential in the Pan-Africanist movement, the decolonization struggle of former French
colonies, and the Negritude movement. Diop’s works, including the collection, were
posthumously published as Hammer Blows and Other Writings in 1973, translated and edited by
Simon Mpondo and Frank Jones. The translated poem is taken from this book.
In this poem, Diop, sitting in France, expresses his admiration for Africa. He became “the voice
of the people without voice”, such as enslaved and colonized Africans. He was a prominent
figure of the Négritude movement, which was in vehement opposition to colonialism. His Coups
de Pilon poems, including “Africa,” kindle the hope for free Africa and show his detestation
toward the colonizers. The pride in the African spirit, an assertion of African identity, ideas of
home, and a sense of belonging are part of this piece.

Questions and Answers

Explain David Diop’s “Africa” as a Négritude poem.
David Diop’s poem was first published in the Négritude journal Présence Africaine. It’s one of
his Coups de pilon (1956) poems that protest and depict the evils of slavery and colonialism.
The Négritude literary movement was developed mainly by francophone intellectuals of Africa
during the 1930s. Négritude writers of African diaspora raised and cultivated a sense of “Black
consciousness” through their works in order to kindle the fire of nationalism and liberty within the
hearts of the enslaved and colonized. Diop’s “Africa,” written in the 1950s at the height of the
movement, significantly features the Négritude themes of black identity, ideas of nation and
home, and the sense of belonging. This poem is about the poet’s unshakable love for Africa and
his hope for a free nation.
● What is the poem “Africa” by David Diop all about?
“Africa” by David Diop is all about the poet’s love for Africa. While writing this poem, he was in
France, yet his bond with the African soil was strong enough to compel him to write this poem.
he talks about the “blood” (the bond) he shares with his country and his fellow
countrymen who are either enslaved by Europeans or colonized. He empathizes with
their suffering and says their spirit is “unbent” even though they are tortured. A voice
(probably of personified Africa) directs him to see the “tree” representing the nation that grows in
a steady and headstrong way. Slowly its fruits, a metaphor for Africans, obtain the taste of
liberty. Thus, Diop expresses his hope for a free Africa.
● Analyze the style of writing in “Africa my Africa”.
David Diop’s “Africa my Africa” is a passionate ode to the spirit of the nation. There are three
shifts in the poem.
● In the first part (lines 1-10), Diop establishes his deep bond with the nation that never got
disconnected in the foreign land.
● The second part (lines 11-15) is about slavery.
● In the last shift (lines 16-23), an omniscient voice recites the prelude to freedom to the
speaker. In this way, Diop talks about why he loves Africa, how the African spirit inspires
 him the most, and why he is hopeful of a free Africa. In order to make his appeal to the
nation’s spirit more emotive, he employs frequent repetition and vivid imagery. He also
sprinkles figurative devices across the text to make his ideas gripping.
When was “Africa” by David Diop published?
The poem was first published in David Diop’s only collection of poetry in French, Coups de pilon
or “Pounding,” in 1956. It was written in the 1950s and first appeared in the literary journal
Présence Africaine. The collection was later published in English as Hammer Blows in 1973,
translated and edited by Simon Mpondo and Frank Jones.
In “Africa”, what does the poem reveal about David Diop?
The poem reveals David Diop’s deep bond with Africa. Though he lived in France while
writing this poem, his love for the nation was unrelenting. The speaker of this poem takes
pride in the blood that flows within the hearts of Africans. Therefore he can sympathize and
connect with the sufferings of his fellow brothers and sisters. He is not discouraged by the state
of Africa rather hopeful about its future.
How does “Africa” by David Diop show the eternal linkage of the living with the dead?
According to Diop, Africa is a land of proud warriors who fought in the savannahs. Their heroic
resistance is praised in the songs sung by the speaker’s grandmother. In this way, Diop shows
how the dead Africans are eternally linked with the living Africans, who are suffering during
colonial rule. The same ancestral blood gushes through their veins.
What does the poem “Africa” by David Diop mean?
This poem is about African culture, history, colonial past, its people, and a sense of liberty Africa
will experience in the near future. The title of the poem “Africa” or “Africa my Africa” displays the
poet’s love for the nation. Like an ode, it is a meditation upon the inherent African spirit of
determination, courage, and resilience. Diop glorifies this spirit throughout the poem and shows
how Africa will taste liberty.
What kind of poem is “Africa” by David Diop?
“Africa” is a free-verse lyrical ode to Africa and its people. It consists of a single stanza
containing 23 lines. This poem can be regarded partly as a protest poem and partly as a poem
of praise to Africa. Through this piece, Diop shows the colonial atrocities and how Africans will
remain unbroken in the face of adversities. Thus, he is hopeful that soon, Africans will taste
freedom.
What is the message of “Africa” by David Diop?
The message of the poem is embedded in the last few lines. According to Diop, the “tree”
representing Africa springs up in new vigor even after being hacked and exploited. It will rise
patiently and obstinately. Its fruits, a reference to Africans, will slowly get the sense of liberty and
will rise up to claim what is their own.
What does the poem “Africa” by David Diop reveal about the African character?
In this poem, Diop vividly depicts the African character through the personified Africa. According
to him, Africans are hardworking. Their will cannot be broken or bent. Even after facing
humiliation, their self-confidence neither dims nor trembles. Furthermore, those who are
oppressed as enslaved people will claim their rights and fight back when the bitter taste of
liberty reaches their souls.
Who speaks in the poem “Africa” by David Diop?
The speaker of the poem is none other than the poet David Diop himself. He uses the
first-person point of view to express his love for Africa.
What is the theme of the poem “Africa” by David Diop?
This poem features a number of themes that include identity, nationalism, history, cultural
heritage, colonial atrocities, and slavery. The overall poem orbits around the theme of patriotism,
the poet’s unshakable devotion for his motherland, Africa.
How did David Diop describe Africa?
In this poem, Diop describes Africa as a unique genderless entity. It represents all Africans
as one and binds them with the thread of equality. The Africa of Diop’s dreams includes the rich
terrain of savannahs, its proud warriors, the fields, and, most importantly, its determined people.
According to him, Africa’s head is bloody yet unbowed. One day it will bear the fruits of freedom,
and the bitter taste will reach the souls of his fellow citizens.
Why was the poem “Africa my Africa” written?
When Diop was in West Africa during the French colonial rule, he had a firsthand experience of
how colonization worked. It undermined the indigenous culture and treated people as slaves to
fuel their machinery. Their fundamental rights were denied and treated like animals. Besides,
the economic exploitation also captures his attention. Thus, through writing the poem “Africa”,
Diop tried to assert the African identity, the glory of the nation, and its unyielding spirit in order to
kindle the fire of nationalism in Africans’ hearts.
Who is the voice behind the text “Africa my Africa”?
The “voice” behind the line, “But a grave voice answers me,” is of the personified Africa. It
asserts its omniscience through the reference to the tree that thrives even after getting a
thousand cuts.
Who is the target group of readers of the text “Africa my Africa”?
The target group of the poem “Africa my Africa” is all the people of the African diaspora living at
home and abroad. This poem appeals to everyone who loves their nation with all its good and
bad sides.
What is the speaker’s stand in the poem “Africa my Africa”?
The speaker takes an anti-colonial stand in this poem. Though he does not go into head-on
criticism of colonial rule, he expresses his detest towards the atrocities. By highlighting Africans’
suffering, he draws attention to the fact that a thousand blows of oppressors cannot colonize the
African spirit. The sense of liberty will definitely reach the people’s hearts, and they will assert
their rights.
How does David Diop depict local color in “Africa”?
Diop begins the poem with a golden tinge taken from the African savannahs. The rich yellow
terrain of the vast grassland is the inspiration to the poet. He takes pride in the “black” color,
which is representative of African identity. Africans should not be ashamed of this color. Instead,
they have to wear it like a shield. In the ending lines, Diop depicts a green tree growing amidst
white and faded flowers.
What are the speaker’s attitude and values in “Africa”?
The speaker’s attitude in the poem is subjective. There are emotive terms, repetitions, and
a sense of personal bonding. The poem begins with an attitude of pride, sorrow, and empathy.
From line 16, the attitude shifts to an optimistic tone. The speaker expresses his hope for a free
Africa. The overall poem is based on the values of empathy, freedom, equality, and justice.
What moral lesson does the poem “Africa” convey?
The moral lesson of the poem concerns Africans must not lose faith in their identity and
culture. No matter what the colonizers portray about their culture and history, they must take
pride in what is their own. Another moral lesson is that liberty is the essence of one’s holistic
growth. Thus, the sense of liberty should never be discouraged.
How does Diop celebrate his love for Africa in the poem “Africa”?
Diop celebrates his love for Africa by saying that though in the distant shore of France he never
knew Africa, its blood still runs in his veins. His African identity is alive even though he lives
mainly in the colonizer’s country. He loves the way Africans react in the face of humiliation. Their
back remains straight and unbowed. This unyielding spirit is what inspires the poet most.
Why is the taste of liberty bitter?
Liberty is never tasted in complacence and rest. People have to agitate until freedom is
achieved. Several lives will perish, and people will suffer, yet their determination should not dim.
Thus, the bitter journey to freedom is what enhances the sweetness of success.
What is the dream shared by David Diop at the end of “Africa”?
The poet believes that a day will come when Africa will finally be free and grow beautifully
despite its horrific past, reclaiming its pre-colonial glory. It will establish itself as an equal nation
consisting of free and confident individuals. This dream is shared through the symbol of the tree
and fruit.
How does the poem “Africa” talk about colonial atrocities?
Diop felt an inherent connection with Africa and hence empathized with its people. He was
aware of what Africans faced during colonial rule: the back-breaking labor as slaves,
whiplashes, and humiliation. Colonizers treated them as degenerate human beings, thus
showering their cruelty to “civilize” them. The glaring “red scars” on Africa’s back show the
extent to which they went to keep the colonized in line.