An African Thunderstorm

An African Thunderstorm
POET
David Rubadiri was born on July 19th, 1930. He was a Malawian diplomat,
academic and poet, playwright and novelist. Rubadiri is ranked as one of
Africa's most widely anthologized and celebrated poets to emerge after
independence. He died on September 15th 2018.
From the west
Clouds come hurrying with the wind In the village
Turning sharply Screams of delighted children, Clothes wave like tattered flags
Here and there Toss and turn Flying off
Like a plague of locusts In the din of the whirling wind, To expose dangling breasts
Whirling, Women, As jagged blinding flashes
Tossing up things on its tail Babies clinging on their backs Rumble, tremble and crack
Like a madman chasing nothing. Dart about Amidst the smell of fired smoke
Pregnant clouds In and out And the pelting march of the
Ride stately on its back, Madly; storm.
Gathering to perch on hills The wind whistles by
Like sinister dark wings; Whilst trees bend to let it pass.
The wind whistles by

And trees bend to let it pass.
OVERVIEW
• African thunderstorm depicts a typical storm. The poem shows imagery as the storm
intensifies. It also highlights the destructive nature of the storm. African culture tells
us that rain is seen as a blessing and the upcoming rain is celebrated as it promises
hope of healthy crops and the survival of livestock. This poem however, centres
around the negative effects of rain for the mere mention of a plague of locusts
suggests that could only have a negative impact on crops. The poet captures the
impending threat of the storm. It also presents the varying attitudes of the people of
excitement coupled with fright.
OVERVIEW
The fierceness of the wind is described as it is unpredictable and is wreaking havoc.
The wind intensifies suggesting that more disaster is to come. The poet expresses the
way in which nature is working in sync to dispel the horrific storm, and the effects the
storm has on the people. The villagers respond differently to the storm specifically
mother and children. It is evident that the village is not prepared for the storm or seems
able to withstand the destruction. As the storm is about to hit the village the poem ends
leaving us in a bit of suspense as we are unknowing of the outcome even though we can
imply that it was not a happy sight.
OVERVIEW
ANALYSIS
The poem gives a description of an approaching storm and all the tremendous power
that an African thunderstorm possesses. The poet characterized the storm as a
contributor to chaos, disorder and turmoil. Rubadiri uses words such as locusts,
madman, pregnant clouds, sinister wings, to give us a vicious imagery of storm and
suggest the mayhem that is associated with the rains. The storm like other storms begins
as a gentle breeze that intensifies as the conditions change forcing everything in its path
to ‘fly helter skelter’, whirling and tossing. It’s seems difficult to understand the
extreme behaviour of the thunderstorm but one cannot ignore its dangerous qualities.
ANALYSIS
Innocent children seemed fascinated and mesmerized by the storm’s physical features.
However, the storms destructive nature left a trail and ‘smell of fired smoke’ in the air.
The women on the other hand are extremely uneasy and nervous as the storm advances.
The final stanza deals with the storm as it “Rumble”, tremble and crack”. It also alludes
to the storm being more than just a physical storm but suggest a metaphorical African
Thunderstorm.
The poem however, seems to deal with more than just a storm, as the poet focuses on
the wind and rain as the trail of destruction in their path. It makes one question if the
poet its telling us more than just the issues of a natural disaster.
ANALYSIS
Therefore another interpretation is offered. Can the idea of this “African Thunderstorm”
be an allegory? Or an analogy of the African society or the political situation that
existed? History tells of Africa’s colonial past, its domination by Europe and the effects
of colonialism on the people. It is not far-fetched to believe that the poet may have been
presenting some facts, and personal experience of the situation. Phrases such words as
“trees bend to let the wind pass”, “clouds ride stately on the back of the wind” tend to
suggest the domination of the people having to succumb to the ways of the colonizers.
ANALYSIS
Then let us not forget that Nigeria gained independence in 1960 and with that came
further conflict as there were struggles with who should be in charge. This view could
be supported by “tattered flags”. So is the poem just about a physical storm or is
Rubadiri highlighting political unrest?
FORM AND STRUCTURE
The poem is written in two parts where the ideas shift from general to specific. The first
section that is stanza one deals with the storm and its development. However, the
second stanza describes the effect of the storm on the people. The lengths of the lines
vary with some lines being just a single word. This highlights the chaos that is
occurring, the unpredictability of the storm, particularly the winds and the impact on the
surroundings. The technique continues in the second part of the poem. This time
focusing on the human element. The frantic women, as they ‘Dart about/In and
out/Madly’ (lines 22 – 24) showing the panicked state of the women.
FORM AND STRUCTURE
The description of ‘The Wind whistles by/And trees bend to let it pass’ in the second
stanza (line 14 – 15) is repeated to show that everything seems to be submissive and
respects the power of the ‘mighty’ storm.
THEME
Nature
This is the obvious theme since we are informed from the title of the thunderstorm. The
unpredictability of nature is highlighted by the way the weather seems to have changed
drastically. It also shows the helplessness of the people in protecting themselves in the
event of a natural disaster.
• 1.Identify the two similes used in stanza 1.
• 2. Why are the clouds described as “pregnant” in stanza 2?
• 3. Comment on the use of the word “stately” in line 10.
• 4. Quote two consecutive words in stanza 2 that suggest that the thunderstorm
• might be dangerous.
• 5. Explain why this thunderstorm might not be as welcome to the villagers.
• 6. In line 24, alliteration is used. Write down the line and indicate the alliteration
• and also comment on its effectiveness.
LITERARY DEVICES
Imagery
Rubadiri uses vivid imagery to paint the picture of the storm in the minds of the readers.
The image of the winds, locusts, trees bending, women rushing and frightened helps
the reader to visualize the storm as it gains momentum.
LITERARY DEVICES
Simile
Figures of speech (comparing devices) are used to portray the different aspects of the
storm. The simile in line 6 compares the approaching wind to that of a ‘like a plague of
locusts’. This highlights the appearance of the storm and the impending destruction that
seems apparent. The wind is compared again “like a madman chasing nothing” (line 9)
emphasizing the danger and also the unpredictability of the storm. ‘Gathering to perch
on hills/Like dark sinister wings’ (lines 12-13) suggests that the clouds seem to be
waiting in anticipation to strike at any time similar to that of larger bird ready to pounce
on a defenceless animal.
LITERARY DEVICES
The third stanza depicts the humans reaction to the storm. Hurriedly, the women try to
get ready for the storm, although this seems pointless as the ‘Clothes wave like tattered
flags’ (line 27), showing that the wind has the upper hand. Line 30 “As jaggered
blinding flashes” also gives the idea of the hopelessness of the situation as the storm
breaks. The metaphor of the ‘pelting march of the storm’ (line 33) tells the reader that
this storm is unstoppable.
LITERARY DEVICES
Onomatopoeia
In the description of the storm Rubadiri employs onomatopoeia as the wind is

‘whirling’ (lines 7 and 19) and it ‘whistles’ (lines 14 and 25). The screams of children
in excitement is almost as loud ‘the din of whirling wind’ (line 19). As the storm
increases in strength the onomatopoeias ‘Rumble, tremble, and crack’ (line 31) shows
the impact the thunder and lightning has on the land.
LITERARY DEVICES
Personification
“Pregnant clouds” line 10, “wind whistles, line 14 and “trees bend” lines 15 and 26 are
examples of personification. It demonstrates that the thunderstorm seems to have taking
on human qualities of having a mind of its own with the purpose of causing destruction.
LITERARY DEVICES
Symbolism
Rubadiri seems to have an underlying political agenda in the poem as such the poem
may be a symbolism of Africa’s uneasy colonial past and the struggle for independence
which also brought with it chaos and fighting for power.
LITERARY DEVICES
Mood
The poem’s mood is reflective as one can’t help but think about the discomfort of a
storm and possible “mess” it leaves behind.
LITERARY DEVICES
Tone
The tones shifts from the anxiousness of the women to prepare for the storm, to the
excitement of the naïve children, then back again to the nervous anticipation as
villagers await the impact of the storm.
ESSAY QUESTION
• In “Birdshooting Season” and “An African Thunderstorm”, each
speaker focuses on enjoying aspects of nature that may initially
appear destructive. For each poem, explain the experience
involving nature and discuss the impact of the experience
identified. In your essay, also identify One literary device used
by EACH speaker to explore the theme of deceptive
appearances and comment on its effectiveness.
• Total 35 marks
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An African Thunderstorm

Like sinister dark wings; Whilst trees bend to let it pass.

The wind whistles by

• 2. Why are the clouds described as “pregnant” in stanza 2?

• 3. Comment on the use of the word “stately” in line 10.

• 5. Explain why this thunderstorm might not be as welcome to the villagers.

In the description of the storm Rubadiri employs onomatopoeia as the wind is

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