Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, emotional abuse, and graphic violence.

Through Lawino’s voice, the poem explores the idea that different cultures—in particular, African and European cultures—are fundamentally equal in value. For instance, when assessing the difference between European and Acholi doctors, Lawino proclaims:

White diviner priests,

Acoli herbalists,

All medicine men and medicine women

Are good, are brilliant

When the day has not yet dawned

For the great journey

The last safari

To Pagak (103).

In this quote, Lawino is highly complimentary of both cultures and suggests that they are equalized by the universal force of death. Similarly, she surveys the hairstyles of women from around the world and concludes that they are different but not that any particular style is better: “The hair of the Acoli / Is different from that of the / Arabs” (51).

As she continues, however, it becomes clear that the differences in style stem from differences in hair texture: “The Indians’ hair / […] needs to be cut / With scissors” (51). The idea that cultural differences are not arbitrary but rather reflect deeper distinctions between groups is an important corollary to Lawin’s belief in cultural equality: She firmly believes that individual people should remain loyal to the culture of their birth.