Vanity – Themes

THEMES

1. Loss of value – The poem portrays the high rate of decadence in African cultural value which is being taken over by that of America and the western world.
2. Backwardness – The backwardness in politics and administration, education, health and economy of Africa is bitterly expressed in the poem by the poetic persona when he refers to Africans as beggars with large open mouths. The idea of the beggars portrays a vivid picture of someone who is tattered, wearing rags and have no option but to take whatever is given to him or her. It creates a pitiful sight. It also highlights the level of poverty in Africa.
3. Helplessness – the poetic persona opines that no one will look, or listen to the impoverished Africa. Not even a heart will come to their rescue. Although, the situation was created by the western world, they will not rescue Africa if called upon. This is exemplified by the current status quo in international relationship between Africa and the developed countries. Hardly will they come to your aid without taking something of value.
4. Inconsistency – the poem hammers on the inability of Africans to follow the blueprint footstep of their ancestors. This attitude of inconsistency has led them to poverty and economic downpour.
5. Stubbornness – Most times we are advised to follow a path that is secured which will lead us to success, but adamantly, we will not heed to that advice. Africans refused, out of sheer stubbornness and negligence of the wisdom of the ancestors, to heed the advice of their forebears. See where is has landed them to.
6. Negative effects of acculturation – Acculturation is when a cultural group intentionally or unintentionally assimilates the culture of other people. In terms of African, materialistic and affluent lifestyle is borrowed from the western world. And to this borrowing, there is no control.