Serote’s Come and hope with me as ‘Testimony’

Abstract

This article explores Serote’s poem Come and hope with me (1994) as a form of transformation. This long poem written during the nineties is characterized by a quality of reassessment of re-writing history. South African writers display a shift in emphasis away from black and white racial polarities. This change implies the recognition of other important factors that constitute a community and its history, such as ideologies that shape history and perceptions of identity. With reference to Serote’s Come and with me (1994), this article deals with the aftermath of post-colonialism in Africa in general and apartheid in South Africa in particular. It should be viewed as an exercise in nation building after the rebirth of the ‘Rainbow Nation’. It aims to show that the poet is beseeching the people, requesting restoration and mercy. It is rooted in the context of people who have been exiled and the poet is appealing for their return. It advances a  plea for peace, righteousness and well-being through ‘hope’, invoking and creating a rich image.

S.Afr.J.Afr.Lang., 31(2) 2011