Wole Soyinka's 'Telephone Conversation': Decoding Racial Satire

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maya explore Wole Soyinka’s powerful poem 'Telephone Conversation,' delving into themes of white subjectivity, racial politics, and the power dynamics embedded in language.

The duo discusses the significance of Soyinka’s lyric ‘I,’ addressing the poet’s bold reclamation of personal voice, the systemic racial barriers of 1960s Britain, and the stark contrasts between the speaker’s calm demeanor and the landlady’s prejudice. Together, they unpack how Soyinka skillfully uses the poem’s structure—its caesura and capitalized dialogue—to convey a sense of social disconnect and power imbalance.

Exclusive resources for Poetry+ users on 'Telephone Conversation' include:

• Full PDF Guide
• Poetry Snapshot PDF
• Wole Soyinka Poet PDF Guide

Explore more about Wole Soyinka’s work and find thousands of analyzed poems on PoemAnalysis.com.

Tune in and Discover:

• Soyinka’s critique of British society and racial prejudice in the 1960s
• The intricate play of silence and power in Telephone Conversation
• How Soyinka’s Nigerian identity and his lived experience influenced his poetry

Listen now and deepen your understanding of this strikingly relevant poem.

As always, for the ultimate poetry experience, join Poetry+ and explore all things poetry at PoemAnalysis.com.