Zaynab
Alkali is a pioneer in her own way, in her own right - like a handful of other
extraordinary African female writers. Her compatriots, Zulu Sofola - the
first Nigerian woman to publish quality plays; and Flora Nwapa (the first
Nigerian woman to publish novels) made history.... just like in South Africa,
Miriam Tlali was the first black woman to write and publish a novel.
On her own
part, Zaynab Alkali is acknowledged as the first woman novelist from Northern
Nigeria, and a literary academic to boot. Over the years, she has made a name
for herself as novelist, poet, short story writer, and editor.
Alkali was born in Tura-Wazila in Borno State in 1950. She graduated from Bayero University Kano with a BA in 1973. She obtained a doctorate in African Studies in the same university and became the principal of a girls' school - Sakera Girls' Boarding School.
Alkali was born in Tura-Wazila in Borno State in 1950. She graduated from Bayero University Kano with a BA in 1973. She obtained a doctorate in African Studies in the same university and became the principal of a girls' school - Sakera Girls' Boarding School.
She went on to become a polished academic, a lecturer and writer of note. Markedly, she rose to become a dean in the Faculty of arts at Nasarawa State University in Keffi where she taught creative writing. And she began publishing her work since over 30 years ago.
Over the
years, readers and pundits have been pleasantly surprised by the freshness and
variety of her writings. Those who expected docile female protagonists are
confronted with the literary vibrancy and competence of the author.
Indeed,
Alkali's characters can be feisty (eg Li, in The Stillborn), well rounded,
ambitious, probing - no wonder "feminists" are very much interested
in the disparate strands of Zaynab Alkali's writings.
Selected Works
Selected Works
The Stillborn
The Virtuous Woman
Cobwebs & Other Stories
The Descendants
The Initiates
Zaynab
Alkali, Al Imfeld (eds), Vultures in the
Air: Voices from
Northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria
The Pioneers...uMama Alkali is one of them. Their pulsating achievements warm the cockles of the heart. Kudos...
ReplyDeleteMama Zaynab Alkali, has achieved a lot in her career, academic and literature side. And it is pleasing to strive hard to achieve our goals, as Mama Zaynab did and become the first Nigerian woman to publish a quality plays.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive.
Thank you for this Profile. I remember reading one of her books, Stillborn I think, when I was much younger, and could not understand it too well. One thing I admire the author for is that she is always encouraging people to read, not only females, but Africans in general so to speak. Well done.
ReplyDeleteIt is exhilarating to discover African female writers, no matter where they come from. The experiences of women remain largely the same irrespective of colour, creed or station. Our female writers should know that we love and respect them a lot; and these days we know as a fact that such women’s literary talents often far outweigh that of men!
ReplyDeleteTalent is talent, and would always emerge… such is the case here. Writing, literary talent occurs in virtually everywhere in the world, and it is just a question of time when it would emerge. Such talent might be nurtured to facilitate the process but at the end of the day, a writer will do all they can to succeed. Without stoking so-called ethnic tensions Chinua Achebe was a world class writer from the Igbo people, who have over the years produced many excellent writers. Ditto Wole Soynka, a Yorubaman who won the Nobel Award for writing, but is just one out of so many brilliant Yoruba writers. Ken Saro Wiwa was from a minority people (the Ogonis) but he was world class too as a writer. Our mother here, Zaynab Alkali made history too, but what should be of main interest is that she is a talented African woman writer. And she has been going strong for decades
ReplyDeleteInteresting profile...it was a pleasure to post it. I always believe that there are many (potential)African female writers out there; probably they are rarely encouraged. Few women can have the fierce determination and passion of,lets say Buchi Emecheta for one
ReplyDelete