By
M I Soqaga
Essentially, Africa has the endearing quality of fascinating
writers who write with dazzling enthusiasm.
African literature as part and parcel of global literature has been
excellently riveting. Obviously, it is
definitely congenial to see literature from Africa vie for any major literary
award in the world.
Although, the famous
Prize in Literature has been bestowed to illustrious African writer
“Professor”Wole Soyinka in 1986, nevertheless frequent questions concerning
this prestigious award have been asked-as why African writers could not be
conferred with the Prize after 1986.
Absolutely, Soyinka deserved incredible recognition in the world of
letters. However, the question will
invariable be ineluctable, because at this present moment Africa has
pre-eminent writers who unanimously qualify to be recognized internationally.
Apparently, it is importantly gratifying
to see large amount of African writers with their intriguing voluminous work of
literature. Moreover, seeing such works-been
globally recognised, surely it is the great fillip. A writer of the calibre of Barolong Seboni is
absolutely superb.
Indeed his contributions to
literature is fantastic. First and
foremost, it will be erroneous to avoid mentioning Mama Bessie Head especially
when you write about Botswana literature.
Her works blossomed in Botswana and she remained an inspiration as the
one of the few female catalyst of African literature.
Botswana poet and academic
“Barolong Seboni” has been doing exceptionally great in literature. Magnificently, he is the one of the few
African academic writers whose works is colourfully stunning. What is disappointingly astonishing about
African academics, especially writers is their stereotype colonial mentality
which they still adhere to even today.
Academics would think they are only people who possess requisite skill
in society.
Books produced by academics
are only scant in the grassroots because they are only confine to certain
individuals. Academics need to
emancipate themselves from obsolete notion of colonial times which used to
emphasise that they (academics) are the only educated people in society. Today people are familiar with writing; they
can easily read newspapers, magazines and books. But with writers of great integrity who are
academically unparalleled like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Es’kia Mphahlele,
ZakesMda, Ama Ata Aidoo, NgugiwaThiong’o, Buchi Emechete, Ayi kwei Armah, Taban lo
Liyong,Okot p’ bitek, Chinweizu Ibekwe,Sedar Senghor etc. are prodigiously enthralling
literary aficionados with great glee.
Furthermore, their works are glaringly showcases in public libraries,
universities and government libraries in order to be relish by general
population in the world.
Barolong Seboni is such an enchanting
academic who brilliantly writes in particular for people. In the decades after Head’s death, a number
of newer Botswana poets and novelists have appeared, many of whom also provide
commentary on Batswana values, social injustice, and discrimination.
Poet BarolongSeboni, for instance, spent his
formative years in London, where, through contacts with southern African
writers and refugees, he “caught the revolutionary spirit that was then blowing
across southern Africa in search of self-determination and self-actualization.”Born
in Kanye, Botswana, he received his BA from the University of Botswana and his
master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Impressively, he has translated Botswana proverbs into
English. He also had a column in the
Botswana Guardian and has done work in other mediums including radio.
