Song of Lawino & Song of Ocol

Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol is a groundbreaking African poetic duet that presents a cultural and ideological battle between Lawino, a proud, traditional Acholi woman, and her husband Ocol, who is obsessed with Westernization. Written in free verse and infused with oral rhythm, proverbs, and traditional imagery, these poems explore themes of identity, cultural conflict, gender, colonial mentality, and the destruction of African values.

Okot p’Bitek’s powerful voice captures the raw emotions of a continent grappling with modernity, colonial legacies, and cultural erasure. The poems serve both as a critique and celebration of African heritage and are essential reading for anyone studying African literature and post-colonial identity.