This poem is inspired by the Portuguese colonization of Angola. The saddened lands of Africa refer to the whole African populace who have suffered as a result of ancient and current slavery. In Angola, simple folks who stood up for their rights were brutalised. Angolans and other Africans were physically and mentally depressed as a result of the usage of iron and fire, which implied guns to mute Africans. During Angola’s colonial period, Africans were deprived of freedom of expression and human rights were assaulted. While enjoying themselves, the colonial masters made life miserable for Africans. Slaves received harsh punishment. The writer said of slaves’ horrific deaths, ‘Even the corpses thrown up by the Atlantic,’ ‘In the filthy gift of incomprehensibility and mortality.’ Considering the threats, Africans continue to practise their culture, values, and customs. ‘The honest blood of men’, ‘the deep desire of men’, ‘the sincerity’, all of which indicate that they will be able to keep their aspirations alive. Lastly, the poet declared that Africans will reclaim their territories from intruders ‘Because we are living and are imperishable particles’ It represents a ray of hope for Angola and the whole African continent.

‘The Grieved Lands of Africa’ is mournful poetry that tackles the blatant inequality and dehumanisation of mankind inflicted by African colonial rule. The poem is intended to act as a memorial to the numerous years of suffering and pain experienced by the hands of colonists, mostly Europeans, as evidenced in line 2: ‘tearful woes of ancient and modern slaves.’ This brings to mind the tears of Africans as slaves bubble up and down on the big oceans. The era didn’t end with enslavement but continued across Africa during the period of colonialism. The poet describes how Africa continues to exist despite all of these problems. It reflects the Africans’ brave and zealous character.

In the last stanza of the poem, the poet shows how enduring the land in itself is and how its tenacity has sustained it over the years, the line 37–42 has it that ‘they live’ this line is very emphatic. The grieved land of Africa is not dying; they live ‘because we are living’. African is ‘imperishable particles of the grieved lands of Africa.’