"Telephone Conversation" by Wole Soyinka

 

"Telephone Conversation"

  

                                                               Wole Soyinka

 

The price seemed reasonable, location

Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived

Off premises. Nothing remained

But self-confession. "Madam," I warned,

"I hate a wasted journey--I am African."

Silence. Silenced transmission of

Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came,

Lipstick coated, long gold-rolled

Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was foully.

"HOW DARK?" . . . I had not misheard . . . "ARE YOU LIGHT

OR VERY DARK?" Button B, Button A.* Stench

Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak.

Red booth. Red pillar box. Red double-tiered

Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed

By ill-mannered silence, surrender

Pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification.

Considerate she was, varying the emphasis--

"ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?" Revelation came.

"You mean--like plain or milk chocolate?"

Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light

Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted,

I chose. "West African sepia"--and as afterthought,

"Down in my passport." Silence for spectroscopic

Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent

Hard on the mouthpiece. "WHAT'S THAT?" conceding

"DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS." "Like brunette."

"THAT'S DARK, ISN'T IT?" "Not altogether.

Facially, I am brunette, but, madam, you should see

The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet

Are a peroxide blond. Friction, caused--

Foolishly, madam--by sitting down, has turned

My bottom raven black--One moment, madam!"--sensing

Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap

About my ears--"Madam," I pleaded, "wouldn't you rather

See for yourself?"

 

Summary

"Telephone Conversation" by Wole Soyinka is a satirical poem that explores the themes of racism and prejudice through the lens of a simple phone call. The poem highlights the absurdity and cruelty of racial discrimination, using irony and humor to convey its message. Wole Soyinka’s "Telephone Conversation" effectively uses a worldly interaction to shed light on the deeper issues of racial discrimination, making a powerful statement about the need for societal change.

 The poem presents a narrative of a phone call between an African man and a white landlady. The man is inquiring about renting an apartment and initially, the conversation seems polite and straightforward. However, it soon takes an unsettling turn when the landlady asks the man about his race, specifically asking, "Are you dark or very light?"

This unexpected question introduces the theme of racial prejudice. The man, caught off guard but maintaining his composure, answers honestly, stating that he is African. The landlady, not satisfied with this, presses further, asking, "How dark?" The man realizes that she is trying to gauge his skin tone to determine whether he is acceptable as a tenant.

In response, the man uses irony and wit to highlight the absurdity of her question. He describes his skin color in elaborate and almost poetic terms, referring to himself as "West African sepia." He humorously discusses the nuances of his complexion, mentioning how different parts of his body might appear under various conditions—like his palms being lighter due to less exposure to the sun.

The conversation takes on a satirical tone as the man plays along with the landlady’s shallow focus on skin color. He uses exaggerated descriptions to mock the ridiculousness of her concerns. For instance, he remarks that his bottom is darker than the rest of his body because it is less exposed to the sun, subtly mocking the landlady’s fixation on skin color.

The landlady's silence following this detailed and ironic response suggests her discomfort or possibly her realization of the offensive nature of her inquiry. The poem ends without a clear resolution, leaving the reader to reflect on the absurdity and cruelty of judging someone solely based on their skin color.

  Themes:

1. Racism and Prejudice:

   • The central theme of the poem is racial discrimination. The landlady's question about the man's skin color reveals her bias and the pervasive nature of racism.

2. Irony and Satire:

   • Soyinka uses irony and satire to expose the absurdity of racism. The man's witty and exaggerated descriptions of his skin color mock the superficial judgments based on race.

3. Identity and Dignity:

   • The poem highlights the struggle to maintain one's dignity in the face of discrimination. Despite the offensive question, the man responds with humor and intelligence, asserting his identity beyond his skin color.

4. Power Dynamics:

   • The conversation also reflects the power imbalance between the man and the landlady. The landlady's ability to control who rents the flat underscores the societal power dynamics influenced by race.

5. Cultural Critique:

   • The poem critiques societal norms and attitudes towards race, exposing the irrational and harmful nature of racial prejudice.