This question requires the candidate to examine the poet’s concern over the grief of Africa. It was not a popular one and most responses lacked textual references.
Candidates were expected to discuss the following:

• Identification of the theme of colonialism and slavery and their negative effect on Africa

• Impacts of colonialism, causing grief: this is portrayed in ‘… the dreams soon undone in jingling of gaolers keys’ and ‘… the stifled laughter’ turned into lamentations.’
• Impact of slavery causing grief: this is seen in ‘… the tearful woes of ancient and modern slave’ and ‘the wickedness of iron and fire.’
• In spite of grief Africa’s resilience is manifest in ‘the unconscious brilliance of hidden sensations’ and ‘the perpetual alliance of everything that lives’
• The future of Africa is manifest in its people who continue to defy the odds stacked against them, their aspirations which could bubble up in dreams and their clear vision and in ‘the sincerity and simple rightness of the stars’ existence’

Candidates’ performance in the question was fair.