‘Telephone Conversation’ is a poem written by Wole Soyinka, a renowned African writer in English. The poem exposes the presence of racial discrimination at the individual level in society even after the passing of laws against it.
Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist, often tackles themes of oppression, tyranny, and human rights in his works. In 'Telephone Conversation,' he explores the social issue of racial discrimination, highlighting how it infiltrates even the most mundane aspects of life. His use of humor and irony not only entertains but also serves as a mechanism for critique, showing how absurd and inhuman racial discrimination can be. This piece is, without a doubt, his best-known.
The price seemed reasonable, location
Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived
Off premises. Nothing remained
But self-confession. "Madam," I warned,