THE BLACK WHITE IMAGERY: THE SATIRIC METAPHOR IN OKOT P' BITEK'S 'SONG OF LAWINO'
The late iconic Ugandan poet and philosopher, Okot P" Bitek, is generally regarded by many modern African literary critics and scholars as the pioneer poet of the Metaphysical tradition in East African poetry. Okot P" Bitek (1974) expressed a strong affirmation of literary faith in literature as existing ,first and foremost to be enjoyed" This is the spring source of his voyage of definite influence into the Metaphysical tradition. He had, thus, arrived at an end and a destination in the business of poesy which every lover of poetry, in particular, and Art, in general, has, in one way or the other, in practice and in principle, come to accept unconditionally as his or her artistic destiny. This is the fundamental explanation one can give for the cesspool of hypnotic imagery that P" Bitek turned his ,Songs" particularly the ,Song of Lawino" into. This paper is, therefore, primarily aimed at providing the general reader with another evergreen opportunity to enjoy the variegated buffet of artistic honey distilled from the nectar of Okot P" Bitek"s uncommon search for intensity and association in the ,Song of Lawino" Any reader of this poem tries to appreciate the transfiguration and transplantation of words the writer uses for maximum artistic and utilitarian effect. The reader is equally being treated to a study in the creation of imagery for fundamentally satiric intent. These are what the present researcher tries to expose and therein lies the significance of this paper. "Song of Lawino" has become an immortal piece even when many literary critics have placed a very hypothetical verdict of thematic cliche on its content.