Niyi Osundare’s “The Leader and the Led” is a powerful exploration of leadership dynamics in society. Through vivid animal imagery, Osundare critiques the challenges of leadership and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The poem highlights the qualities of different animals and their attempts to lead, offering a subtle commentary on the nature of power and the responsibilities that come with it.
In this article, we’ll delve into 15 figures of speech used in the poem, discuss the poem’s mood and tone, analyze its language, and provide classroom activities and assignments that will engage students with the material.
The Poem: “The Leader and the Led” by Niyi Osundare
Here is the full text of “The Leader and the Led”:
The Leader and the Led
By Niyi Osundare
The Lion stakes his claim
To the leadership of the pack
But the Antelopes remember
The ferocious pounce of his paws
The hyena says the crown is made for him
But the Impalas shudder at his lethal appetite
The Giraffe craves a place in the front
But his eyes are too far from the ground
When the Zebra says it’s his right to lead
The pack points to the duplicity of his stripes
The Elephant trudges into the power tussle
But its colleagues dread his trampling feet
The warthog is too ugly
The rhino too riotous
And the pack thrashes around
Like a snake without a head
“Our need calls for a hybrid of habits,”
Proclaims the Forest Sage,
“A little bit of a Lion
A little bit of a Lamb
Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe
Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake
A leader who knows how to follow
Followers mindful of their right to lead”
Analysis of Figures of Speech in “The Leader and the Led”
- Metaphor:
- Example: “The Lion stakes his claim / To the leadership of the pack.”
- Explanation: The lion here symbolizes strength, dominance, and leadership. The metaphor emphasizes the lion’s natural inclination to claim power.
- Alliteration:
- Example: “The hyena says the crown is made for him.”
- Explanation: The repetition of the “c” sound in “crown” and “made” creates a rhythmic flow, highlighting the hyena’s bold claim to leadership.
- Personification:
- Example: “The Zebra says it’s his right to lead.”
- Explanation: The zebra is personified here as speaking and making a claim to power, reinforcing the anthropomorphic qualities of the animals.
- Hyperbole:
- Example: “The Elephant trudges into the power tussle.”
- Explanation: The verb “trudges” exaggerates the elephant’s heavy and ungraceful nature, emphasizing its imposing but ineffective attempt to seize power.
- Irony:
- Example: “When the Zebra says it’s his right to lead, / The pack points to the duplicity of his stripes.”
- Explanation: The irony lies in the fact that the zebra, who should embody honesty, is criticized for being deceitful, represented by the duplicity of its stripes.
- Symbolism:
- Example: “A little bit of a Lion / A little bit of a Lamb.”
- Explanation: The lion represents strength and power, while the lamb symbolizes gentleness and compassion. Together, they suggest the need for a balanced leader.
- Juxtaposition:
- Example: “The warthog is too ugly / The rhino too riotous.”
- Explanation: The warthog and rhino are juxtaposed to highlight how neither animal possesses the ideal traits needed for leadership—one is physically unattractive, and the other is too unruly.
- Antithesis:
- Example: “Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe.”
- Explanation: The contrasting qualities of toughness and compassion are placed side by side to show the ideal combination of attributes a leader should possess.
- Simile:
- Example: “The pack thrashes around / Like a snake without a head.”
- Explanation: The comparison of the pack to a headless snake illustrates confusion and disarray, emphasizing the lack of direction among the animals in their search for a leader.
- Anaphora:
- Example: “A leader who knows how to follow / Followers mindful of their right to lead.”
- Explanation: The repetition of “A leader” and “Followers” emphasizes the mutual responsibility of both leaders and followers in a functioning system.
- Allusion:
- Example: “Our need calls for a hybrid of habits.”
- Explanation: The idea of a “hybrid of habits” alludes to the need for a well-rounded and adaptable leader, drawing on multiple qualities to lead effectively.
- Euphemism:
- Example: “The rhino too riotous.”
- Explanation: The term “riotous” is a euphemism for the rhino’s overwhelming and disorderly behavior, which disqualifies it from leadership.
- Metonymy:
- Example: “The Lion stakes his claim / To the leadership of the pack.”
- Explanation: “The pack” is used as a metonym for society or the group being led, standing in for the people who are governed by leadership.
- Chiasmus:
- Example: “A leader who knows how to follow / Followers mindful of their right to lead.”
- Explanation: This reversal of roles in the lines emphasizes the interdependent relationship between the leader and the led.
- Oxymoron:
- Example: “Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe.”
- Explanation: The oxymoron here combines two contrasting traits—toughness and compassion—to show the complexity of ideal leadership.
Mood, Tone, and Language in “The Leader and the Led”
- Mood: The mood of the poem is reflective and instructive. It prompts readers to consider the nature of leadership and the qualities needed to lead effectively, while also showing the pitfalls of selfish ambition and power struggles.
- Tone: The tone is a mixture of irony and wisdom. Osundare critiques the flawed attempts of animals to lead while offering a solution in the form of a balanced and humble leader. The final lines of the poem, spoken by the Forest Sage, provide hope and direction.
- Language: The language is straightforward but rich with imagery. Osundare uses animal symbolism to convey complex political and social ideas in a simple, accessible manner, making the poem both poetic and pedagogical.
Class Activities for “The Leader and the Led”
- Leadership Debate:
Organize a debate where students take on the roles of different animals in the poem and defend why they should lead, using the traits described in the poem to support their argument. - Creative Writing Exercise:
Ask students to write their own version of the poem, using different animals to represent leadership qualities and exploring what makes a good leader. - Group Analysis:
Divide the class into small groups, assigning each group an animal from the poem. They will analyze the animal’s characteristics and explain why it is or isn’t suitable for leadership. - Leadership Reflection:
Have students write a reflection on a leader they admire, comparing that leader to one of the animals in the poem. They should discuss the traits that make the leader effective and how they relate to Osundare’s metaphorical animals. - Art Project:
Ask students to create visual artwork depicting the “hybrid of habits” described by the Forest Sage, illustrating how these qualities can come together in a successful leader.
Class Assignments for “The Leader and the Led”
- Essay on Leadership Qualities:
Write an essay discussing the qualities of a good leader as presented in the poem. Use examples from the poem to explain how each animal embodies different leadership traits. - Poetry Analysis:
Write a detailed analysis of the figures of speech in the poem. Explain how these literary devices contribute to the overall meaning and theme of the poem. - Research Paper:
Research the role of animal symbolism in African literature and write a paper explaining how Osundare uses animals to explore leadership dynamics in the poem. - Comparative Essay:
Compare “The Leader and the Led” with other works that critique leadership, such as Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Discuss how both authors use symbolism to critique leadership and power. - Presentation:
Prepare a presentation on the “Forest Sage” in the poem, explaining the symbolic role of the sage and how the poem’s message is ultimately shaped by the sage’s wisdom.
