SHEHU SANI (Nigeria)

 

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)