WAEC & NECO Literature-in-English 2026–2030 | African Poetry
Setting, Background and Poet of New Tongue
The world behind Elizabeth Kamara’s poem, the woman who wrote it, and why its message matters today.
Knowing the background of New Tongue helps you understand why the speaker sounds so troubled. Elizabeth Kamara writes from Sierra Leone, a West African country where foreign languages and cultures have long competed with local ones. The poem captures what happens when a generation lets go of its roots.
Line numbers follow the official WAEC text, which has five stanzas and 46 lines. For a refresher on the poem itself, read the stanza-by-stanza summary.
The setting and background of New Tongue
Kamara never names a town or country. Even so, several clues point to a modern West African community. The speaker mentions bathing at the back of the house on a rainy July day, a familiar scene in many West African homes during the rainy season.
Time matters as much as place. The poem sets a respected past, full of old songs, family bonds and honoured elders, against a present in which the young have abandoned all of these. Most of the poem describes that present, while the past survives only as a memory.
In the poem: Stanza 4 (lines 36–37) gives the July rain image. The old songs and ties of the past appear in stanza 1 (lines 6–8).
Language and culture in West Africa
Across West Africa, people speak many local languages. In Sierra Leone, for example, English serves as the official language, while Krio and many indigenous languages fill daily life. Nigeria has a similar mix, with English alongside Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and hundreds of others.
Language carries a people’s proverbs, songs, stories and values. When young people stop speaking their mother tongue, much of that heritage can disappear with it. This concern lies at the heart of the poem.
In the poem: The title and stanza 3, where the young block their ears “to the old tongue” (line 28).
Colonialism and Western influence
During colonial rule, European powers brought their languages, schools, religions and fashions to Africa. Many of these influences remained after independence. English and French became the languages of government, education and success.
Over time, some Africans came to see their own ways as inferior. The poem reflects this attitude when it describes the young “Glorying” in a borrowed tongue and culture. Kamara’s repeated use of the word borrowed reminds readers that these ways came from outside.
In the poem: Stanza 4 (line 30) and stanza 5 (lines 42–43).
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Likely WAEC and NECO essay questions with model answers, plus objective questions with answers for revision and class tests.
Globalisation and modern life
Today, television, music, films and the internet carry foreign trends across the world within seconds. Young people can easily copy accents, dances and fashions from abroad. At the same time, city life and busy schedules weaken the ties between young people and their elders.
The poem’s picture of new dances, broken family ties and every man for himself fits this modern world closely. Its storm imagery suggests the disorder that follows when a society loses its anchor.
In the poem: Stanza 1 (lines 1–2 and 8–10) and stanza 4 (lines 31–41).
About the poet
Elizabeth L. A. Kamara is a Sierra Leonean poet and educator. She grew up in the east end of Freetown and attended Holy Trinity Primary School and Annie Walsh Memorial School. Later, she studied at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, earning an honours degree and a master’s degree.
At Fourah Bay College, she lectures in Literature in English and has served as Head of the English Unit. She also founded the college’s Poetry Reading Club, which encourages young writers.
Kamara has published three poetry collections: Distilled, To Cross for a Daughter and Stolen Laughter. New Tongue comes from To Cross for a Daughter and Other Poems. Stolen Laughter explores injustice, from the suffering of abused children to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Translators have carried some of her poems into Spanish and Greek.
How the background of New Tongue shapes its themes
Each part of this background links to a theme. The spread of foreign languages explains the loss of identity. Colonial influence explains the pride in borrowed culture. Modern city life explains the breakdown of family ties and the rise of individualism. For a full discussion of each theme, see our guide to the themes in New Tongue.
Why the poem matters today
Many Nigerian parents now speak only English to their children. As a result, some young people cannot hold a conversation with their grandparents in their family’s language. Kamara’s poem asks readers to think carefully about what they gain from the new and what they lose from the old. That question feels more urgent now than ever.
Using the background of New Tongue in the exam
On its own, background rarely earns marks, so always connect it to the poem. For instance, you might explain that the borrowed tongue in line 30 reflects the influence of colonial languages. Short links like this show the examiner that you understand both the text and its context. Practise with our New Tongue questions and answers, or visit the complete study guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the setting of New Tongue?
A modern West African community, set against a past in which people honoured tradition and elders.
Where is Elizabeth Kamara from?
She is from Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Which collection is New Tongue from?
It comes from To Cross for a Daughter and Other Poems.
What is the background of New Tongue?
It reflects the effects of colonialism, foreign languages, globalisation and modern life on African culture.
Teaching this poem?
Get ready-made lesson notes, class tests and exam questions with marking guides for New Tongue and all 12 prescribed poems.
