There are several themes in the poem, ‘Black Woman’. These themes are closely related to the overall focus of the poem. It is a celebration of the beauty and uniqueness of Africa and black people.

Theme of Beauty

Physical beauty is the most prominent of the human qualities the poet celebrates in ‘Black Woman’. Aspects of this beauty of the woman that the persona admires greatly include her bright eyes, the dark skin color, her naked form and her graceful movements.

The poet uses the beauty of the beloved as a metaphor for the positive qualities of Africa and her people. This reminds us of ‘I Will Pronounce Your Name, Naet’ another Leopold Senghor’s poem with similar elements.

In highly exaggerated terms, the poet paints a picture of a continent that is whole and perfect in all its ways. Indeed, the nudity of the black woman can be seen as the innocence and natural beauty of Africa as compared to the sun-baked passes of Europe. It, therefore, represents the unblemished natural state of Africa before the advent of foreign colonial domination.

Poetry, once again, has been used as an instrument of instruction. The poet is apparently calling on Africans who have failed to appreciate the beauty in their blackness to wake up and behold the huge potential in the continent. The images of the Savannah grasslands and precious stones carry a simple but direct message to those Africans who still have doubts about their identity and abilities. The natural resources, the cultural practices and the spiritual life of the people are worthy of praise and must be treasured for posterity.