# XXIII: Shake That Thing Again explained — Banjo

> Chapter companion for Banjo by Claude McKay.

## What happens

Ray returns to the Ditch and joins Banjo and the gang at the African Bar, where they celebrate with music and dancing. Banjo plays 'Shake That Thing' and the party is lively until a tout warns of a police raid. Ray slips away to avoid trouble and meets Latnah in the Bum Square. They go to her place and share an intimate moment, smoking opium and discussing their mixed heritage and pasts.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Comradeship

The gang gathers to celebrate, share music, and support each other, even as they face external threats like police raids.

### Alienation and Modernity

Ray and Latnah's conversation about their mixed heritage and feelings of not belonging reflects a sense of alienation in a modern, colonial world.

### Art and Music

The chapter is centered on music and dance, with Banjo's performance of 'Shake That Thing' bringing the community together.

## Character check-ins

### Banjo

Hosts the celebration at the African Bar, plays 'Shake That Thing', and has received notice to prepare for departure.

### Ray

Returns to the Ditch, joins the party, but leaves before the police raid; later shares an intimate moment with Latnah.

### Latnah

Meets Ray in the Bum Square, invites him to her place, and shares her mixed heritage and an opium ritual.

### Malty Avis

Joins Banjo in the music, blowing a horn or whistling during the celebration.

### Dengel

Dances wildly with a girl at the party, surprising everyone with his energetic jig.

### Ginger

Present at the celebration at the African Bar.

## Key lines

> Ray returned to the Ditch, and at the African Bar Banjo was treating Malty, Ginger, Dengel, and some West African boys.

Ray came back to the Ditch and found Banjo buying drinks for Malty, Ginger, Dengel, and some West African boys at the African Bar.

_Sets the scene for the chapter's celebration._

> Banjo revived 'Shake That Thing' for the party.

Banjo brought back the song 'Shake That Thing' to get the party going.

_Highlights the musical and communal spirit._

> Just at that moment a tout entered and whispered something to the Jellyroll patronne of the bistro, who held up her hand and called: 'Listen! If any of you have guns or any other weapons, give them to me, for there's going to be a rafle tonight.'

Suddenly a tout came in and whispered to the bistro's owner, who announced that a police raid was coming and asked everyone to hand over their weapons.

_Introduces the threat of police violence._

> Ray felt that he could not stand being handled by them again just then. He might do something crazy and get into serious trouble. So he quietly slipped off.

Ray couldn't bear the thought of being arrested again, so he quietly left before the police arrived.

_Shows Ray's fear and avoidance of confrontation._

> In the Bum Square he met Latnah. Her manner was strangely preoccupied.

Ray ran into Latnah in Bum Square, and she seemed unusually distracted.

_Introduces the intimate encounter with Latnah._

> My mother was Negresse, said Latnah. Sudanese or Abyssinian—I no certain. I was born at Aden. My father I no know what he was nor who he was.

Latnah revealed that her mother was a Black woman, possibly Sudanese or Abyssinian, and that she was born in Aden, but she never knew her father.

_Reveals Latnah's mixed heritage and sense of rootlessness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/banjo_se/chapters/xxiii-shake-that-thing-again
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/banjo_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/banjo_se/chapters