From all
accounts, Nigeria’s Shehu Sani (above) is a much respected politician and principled
human rights’ activist. Like the southern African bard, Denis Brutus in the
past, Sani has been incarcerated for his commitment. Yet Shehu Sani, a
fascinating individual, to the delight of aficionados of African literature, is
also an adroit, skilled, versatile and prolific writer
Apparently,
in many cases especially in Africa literature is yet not regarded as something
that is considerably significant.
Utterly, it is not surprising to fathom about the fact that literature
for obvious reasons have been proscribed to proliferate in order to gainsay its
influence in Africa.
If one can
reminisce about the past colonial situation in Africa patently you will be
totally convinced that literature has been sensational in Africa. During the epoch of colonialism in Africa
literature was inspiring and was dynamically outstanding. In that period
literature was tractable and essentially exhilarating because African writers
were very influential and the wide readership was also pliant to such arresting
literature. That’s why works like
“Things Fall Apart” by the renowned African wordsmith Chinua Achebe cannot
efface from the limelight.
However, in
contrast today Africa experiences hiatus in literature. Such situation apparently attracts many
questions as why literature in the past was affectionately appreciated by the
wide population in Africa and the world.
In contrary, what is happening today in African literature is completely
incoherent. Why literature needs to be
regarded as minatory and venomous danger by certain Africans especially those
who are in power? To ponder the past
remarkable literary achievement, surely one will induce that African
literature has unalloyed reached an absolute apex in literature. However, the simple reality is that African
literature is retrograding and its detractors are those who used to employ the
slogan freedom, freedom, freedom to woo the beautiful African masses for
political support
Hence the significance of politician/writers like Shehu Sani. Yes, to highlight
it is obviously disappointing to see literature in Africa stagnant and being
abashedly enjoyed by the tiny well-off population. Why the present generation is not plunge into
literature? Why we have a situation
where Africans are not committed in advancing veritable literature? Or the present situation is affected by the
lack of emancipation from colonial stereotype standpoint? Africa cannot afford
to have a situation where education is not playing a meaningful role in the
lives of its people.
In fact
Europe is an exquisite example to consider, especially by making comparative
analysis. Europe also emanates from benighted era in history; however it is
amazing to learn how it magnificently develops over the years. Its noteworthy vigorous commitment is clearly
showed that Europe for many years was and is completely sedulous even to
somewhat that its people are dearly passionate to literature. For instance, sapient figures like Plato and
Aristotle although they lived many millenniums and centuries ago but their
artistically fame is strongly appreciated by many people in Europe and the
world at large.
Moreover,
another sordid colonial stereotype mindset which is extant among the Africans
is the incorrect tenet that is mischievous.
You will find that one when is attending a school will solely focus
his/her attention on what he/she is doing in school. This is a colonial tenet which is entrenched
since the founding of European schools in Africa. Aristotle is respected by his remarkable intelligent
and the philosophy he achieved through learning. His main interests were Biology, Zoology,
Physics, Metaphysics, Logic, Ethics, Rhetoric, Music, Poetry, Theatre,
Politics, and Government. Aren’t Winston
Churchill, Lenin, Karl Marx etc not writers who were politicians?
But Africa has never lacked notable wordsmiths who are immerse in politics. Kwame Nkrumah, Ebu Egbuna, Sol Plaatje,
Mazisi Kunene, Agostinho Neto, Steve Biko, Leopold Senghor, Amilcar Cabral,
Frantz Fanon, and of course Shehu Sani etc are popular politicians in Africa. In fact Sani has been dramatically
impressive as he has produced quintessential African literature. Apart from politics Shehu Sani is a prolific author
and playwright and poet and moreover he is an award literary winner. Of course Shehu has displayed a colourful
literary prowess cum with literary dexterity.
Grippingly,
it is quite breathtaking for an African writer like Shehu to write such
books while in his political life he suffered such daunting blows. Till date, Shehu Sani has been the recipient of several awards
and honours; he was honoured by the English Literary Association of ABU, Zaria,
awarded a Honorary Degree by Institute of Continuous Education, Inducted into
the Hall of Fame by Association of Nigerian Authors etc. Actually it will be wholesome to see the
generation of Africa bolster literature by making and writing studies about
African literary moguls. Like Sani, the
continent needs to know about their sublime wordsmiths who continue to write with admirable commitment..
Pleasingly
although Africa is surrounded by grisly challenges, but definitely there is a
hope that mother Africa will perpetually do its optimal best to underpin
African literature. Africa has to look
to the writers of the stature of Shehu Sani with profound attention. Notably, Africans need also to be fond of
literature to avoid a situation where ignoramus colonial stereotype to actually
continue to be a nuisance obstacle for literature to sour in Africa. Noticeably, Africa of today is not like
Africa of yesterday, today there are more opportunities like before therefore
it will be imperatively sagacious for Africans to seize this opportunity and plunge
into literature with great enthusiasm.
- By I. M Soqaga (South Africa)
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Shehu Sani)
Killing
Fields, 2007
Poverty in
Northern Nigeria
Political
Assassination in Nigeria, 2007
Youth as
vanguard in the Battle against corruption
Scorpion
under pillow, 2007
Civilian
dictators of Africa,
Always
wrong, can Yar’adua get it right, 2009
Betrayal and
Society, 2009
The Children
of Kaduna, 2011
The Children
of Jos, 2011
Protest and
Freedom, 2012
Rebellious
ideas, 2013
Nigeria and
Ethiopia: An analysis of historical ties, 2013
Hatred for
Black People
Prison
anthology, 2007 (poetry)
The poem of
peace in the season of bloodshed
Phantom
Crescent, 2009 (play)
Thugs at the
Helm (play)
