SINDIWE MAGONA

What a remarkably creative writer Sindiwe Magona is! Recently (2021) at the age of 78, she published a new novel, When the Village Sleeps, another already acclaimed work.

This follows on the heels of her brilliant early works like To my Children's Children, Mother to Mother, and Push Push! (short stories). Beauty's Gift is another of her polished works of fiction, and Chasing the Tails of my Father's Cattle.

Yet, incredibly Magona came into creative writing as a mature voice, at least in her mid-forties at the time. Then the flow began, and still continues. She is now one of Africa's most prolific female writers, with a complement of literary quality to boot. "I revere Uma Sindiwe Magona a lot" Tiisetso Thiba, a young SA writer says with great pride and elan. "From the beginning, it was clear that this was an outstanding talent. Some of us start writing early, like myself; or more famously like Ben Okri who began writing wonderful fiction in his early 20s... Magona started as a mature, sensitive, competent wordsmith, and it showed in her early books "

Literary success came fast for Magona, and after her first burst of creativity world scholars were already raving about her varied work. This crystallized in scholar Siphokazi's early book length study of her work titled, Sindiwe Magona- the first Decade. The literary appreciation has become a cascade, as Magona over the years continued to publish new celebrated works, essentially championing the cause of women, their travails, tribulations, challenges, and their roaring successes....

AMOS TUTUOLA (1920 - 1997)

In many ways the Nigerian writer, Amos Tutuola was a special writer, the first from his country to publish a celebrated imaginative work in the western world. The novel in question was titled The Palmwine Drinkard.

From the very beginning (1952), with the publication of The Palmwine Drinkard, Tutuola was hailed and heralded more or less globally. He would go on to write and publish many other captivating books. Yet, Tutuola was a "semi-literate", though these things can be relative; he had like 6 or 7 years of formal education, but preferred to write his books in English, and western critics were very much enamoured with his "folk-loric" books Tutuola had a long literary career despite a lot of criticism (ironically from his own fellow Yorubas/Nigerians) many of whom found it difficult to appreciate his style of writing, allusions, grammar etc. But the man kept on writing, and the proliferating reviews and literary criticism of his books kept on gathering momentum over the decades.

For some 60 years now, the literary evaluation of Amos Tutuola's works has been a constant thread, not only in the Eurocentric world, but also in Africa. Exalted literary scholars all over the world have been very interested in Tutuola's writings; including "white" reviewers and critics like Dylan Thomas, Kingsley Amis, Gerald Moore, Harold Collins, Ulli Beier, Charles R Larson, and Bernth Lindfors. And not only Eurocentric critics. Top notch African scholars like Emmanuel Obiechina, Chinua Achebe, Omolara Ogundipe Leslie, Eldred Jones, Taban lo Liyong, A Afolayan have written substantial literary essays on Tutuola. And even a young Wole Soyinka evaluated the significance of Tutuola and his books.

Sundry commentary on Tutuola's work has been coming to the surface over the decades. For example, an early writer noted: "Since then this eager author (ie Tutuola after the publication of his second book) has sent some short stories, based on folk lore to the BBC. Three have been broadcast: interesting when you remember that a convention has been established that script writing is quite a different art form from written matter meant to be read silently. Tutuola has succeeded in both fields, using precisely the same technique..." Great wordsmith, the late Tutuola.

MOLARA OGUNDIPE (1940 - 2019)

Africa has produced many remarkable female literary critics and academics over the decades - like Ama Ata Aidoo (Ghana), Assia Djebar (Algeria), Menan Du Plessis, Zoe Wicomb (both South Africans) ... Nigeria's Molara Ogundipe-Leslie, like Aidoo, was one of the Black women literary pioneers from west Africa.

Leslie contributed a lot to the growth and promotion of African literature, from inception. She appreciated the early established African wordsmiths - males - but was never afraid to criticise them. She had early respect (her writings reveal this) for the greats like Wole Soyinka and Ayi Kwei Armah, but if she felt they should be censored, she did so in her earnest manner. Hence if she found some aspects distasteful in their disparate writings, she would pount this out, be it suggestions of "chauvinism" or "narcissism". In her many critical essays her intellectualism and nous stood out, with the broad canvas and striations all grist to her mill. Omolara Leslie's style of writing/criticism was direct, lucid and passionate. And well researched. Her message and thrust was delivered quite simply and made a lot of sense. She knew what she was all about and essentially basked in the writings of assorted writers and books. Early on, Leslie began to write splendid reviews for journals and magazines, including Okike from the early 70s. It was clear that she could not stand women being undermined. Her books are also a testament to her. She was born in Lagos, and attended Queen's School, Ede, and went on to become the first woman to obtain a first-class BA Honours degree in English at University College, Ibadan, then a college of the University of London. She also studied at Leiden University which has extensive studies/material on African Writing. She became a globally recognised scholar and writer. As a scholar, critic, educator and activist, Ogundipe is of course recognized as one of the most prominent and innovative writers on African women and feminism. Her works creatively capture most the nuances and complexities of African life. She died in 2019.

Published works Sew the Old Days and Other Poems, 1985 Re-Creating Ourselves: African Women and Critical Transformations, 1994 (ed.) Women as Oral Artists, 1994 (ed. with Carole Boyce Davies) Moving Beyond Boundaries, April 1995 (two volumes). Gender and subjectivity. Readings of "Song of Lawino". Dissertation Leiden University. Leiden, CNWS, 1999

ABDULRAZAK GURNAH (Tanzania)

 

 

By I. M Soqaga

 

Every time when the Nobel Prize winner in literature would be announced the news will invariably arouse great interest to literary pundits and literary aficionados.  Consequentially, in Africa news of the Nobel Prize winner in literature is welcome with an ambivalent feeling.  For the fact that this year 2021 Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to an African writer from Tanzania, Abdulrazak Gurnah, certainly Africa is very ecstatic about the news.

 

Abdulrazak Gurnah whose indigenous language is Swahili evaded the soil of Africa when he was a teen and opted to live in England.  He essentially writes in English and his proverbial writings are generally popular abroad where he lives.  Although he had been writing for many years now and his first novel, Memory of Departure (1987), would give a conspicuously picturesque that Professor Gurnah is indeed a well-established writer.

 

Nevertheless, he is a known Zanzibar refugee whose current home is England, after receiving the prestigious Nobel Prize in literature he described the winning of the award as ‘truly remarkable’, and said that it was a great honour for him to be given an award that had been given to so many talented writers worldwide.

 

The Nobel Committee lauded Gurnah: "for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fates of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents''

Fundamentally to the surprise of African critics and literary pundits, the Nobel Prize Committee in literature remains in essence a Western Political committee whose discretion on selections for the ultimate winner remains questionable.  Over the years and even this year 2021 outstanding African wordsmiths like Kenyan Ngugi waThiong’o and Somalia’s Nuruddin Farah were shrugged off when there was an explicit prospect that surely, they should be the recipients of the prestigious Nobel Prize.  Moreover, Wole Soyinka himself emphasised on receiving the Nobel Prize in 1986 that “he would not to accept the prize on a personal level... but as a tribute to the heritage of African literature, which is very little known in the West.'

Indeed, a robust Nigerian critic, Chinweizu has already ridiculed the Nobel Prize when he strongly expounded that “the conceit that a gaggle of Swedes, all by themselves, should pronounce on intellectual excellence for the whole wide world.  The Nobel Prize, is neither a world prize rather it is a Western European reward for those rendering a specific kind of service to Western power and Western global hegemony… A Nobel award to any African, therefore, is not a matter for rejoicing.’

Nevertheless Gurnah is a top notch writer whose works over the years include:

Memory of Departure (1987)

Pilgrims Way (1988)

Dottie (1990)

Paradise (1994)

Admiring Silence (1996)

By the Sea (2001)

Desertion (2005)

The Last Gift (2011)

Gravel Heart (2017)

Afterlives (2020)

Yet one must point out that Africa has many great veritable writers who even write in indigenous languages.  It is a fact that Africans whose literary lives are basically in Europe and America will to some certain be recognized and adored by the Western Institutions like the Swedes famous Western Europe control Nobel Prize. But let us still congratulate the polished man of Letters, Gurnah!!

CAMAGU SOMANA (South Africa)

Many readers - Africa in mind here - find short stories in particular tantalising and gripping.  Such creative works are much easier to read and follow  compared  to novels. And some writers are specialists in this genre. A world class example that easily comes to mind is Katherine Mansfield.

Many, if not most of Africa's best writers, including novelists over the decades, published a lot of short stories too. Like Achebe, Mphahlele, Ekwensi, Marechera, Ngugi, Mabel Segun etc. Among the younger generation many literary pundits associate short stories with the polished Lesotho writer, Leseli Mokhele. He began to write short fiction from a young age.

So did CAMAGU SOMANA, whom those in the know would dub a born writer. He was barely 20 when he was publishing fiction of the shorter variety in South Africa. The flow was remarkable to the extent that very early in Ntate Somana's career, the late critic Peter Moroe wrote and published a fine critique of his work.

Literary critic Pule Lechesa, who has published many books on Literature, authors, and literary appreciation, says: "I read many of the early fiction of Camagu Somana.  It was glittering talent from a very young age. It seemed to fizzle out... ? At the moment, one can describe him as a marmoreal wordsmith but brimming with promise.  Will he fulfil his literary potential?"

And Camagu writes a lot of poetry too, quite polished poetry, an astonishing amount of it accessible on the internet.  A cerebral, sensitive, vivid character, his works cover a large canvas.

 

A selection of stories published by Camagu Somana

FESTUS IYAYI (Nigeria)

 

FESTUS IYAYI

By the mid 80s - decades ago Festus Iyayi was already ensconced as a major imaginative writer thanks to 3 superb novels published within a short time: Violence, The Contract, and Heroes.

The writer was famed for his treatment and denunciation of immorality and corruption in his native country. It was mind boggling, even more disturbing as the situation has if anything got even worse over the decades!!

Why was it that the country was enmeshed in endemic horrifying shameless corruption? Why were women ruthlessly exploited in the process? Could any "decent" person go against the system? The author was occupied with these posers amidst a welter of others. 

In his books, we can see the whole nauseating picture against the background of convincing characters and plots. Obviously the author flinched at the unedifying situation too, as we see from his works.

Here is an extract from one of Iyayi's major novels, Violence, which touches on the situation;

 "Not far off were the houses where which sweat and labour had already erected... labour had left its positive mark, the labour of hundreds and thousands of workers, working either in the intense sunlight or in the biting cold or in the blinding rain, piling the blocks higher and highet and wiping the salt and sweat from their eyes and their forehead s with the backs of their hands, and all underpaid, underfed and treated no better than slaves - the highest form of violence maintained and jealously guarded by a greedy, unfeeling class of exploiters, greedy moneymakers, conservative and reactionary public officers took all the credit for the achievements of (cheap) labour..."

To his credit also, Iyayi in his books also often infuses some women with special characteristics, noble, heroic even if they be poor. Women are living enviable beings in his work 

Books by Festus Iyayi

Violence

Heroes

The Contract

Awaiting Court Martial 

DORA OKEYO (Kenya)

 

By I. Mzwandile Soqaga (South Africa)

When we think of Kenyan Literature our minds often automatically go to outstanding writers like Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Meja Mwangi, David Maillu.

All men? Yes. But then again there are revered female literary voices from the country, like Grace Ogot. And in recent times we have new female voices from Kenya like the outstanding DORA OKEYO.

Dora is a quintessential bibliophile, a prolific reader, writer, review et al. Some have dubbed her as a one-woman literary industry.  And it is not even an exaggeration.

She had published many books herself- see a selection of her works at the end. She writes on many genres. She might remind you of Walter Scott because of her penchant for historical writings.

She also writes a lot for children.  In South Africa the likes of Gcina Mhlophe are revered for this; just like Mabel Segun in west Africa. So Dora is in good company!

Dora’s sheer enthusiasm and passion for the world of writing is extraordinary (to put it mildly). She regularly performs endearing services to Literature (including African Writing) by presenting and reviewing sundry books for the literary world.

What a lady!

 

A Selection of Dora Okeyo's Books

Water

I love you This Much

Fire

Choose Me

Say You Love Me

Memories

Roses and Lies

Sifuna

Earth

The Crown of the Sea

You and I

SIPHO MNYAKENI (South Africa)

  

It was a sad sad day when Sipho Mnyakeni, South African writer, poet, motivator, inspirational icon and educationist suddenly breathed his last in 2020. Mnyakeni was a veritable man of letters.

He published a number of striking, thought-provoking books, including his debut work, THE WINNING COMBINATION which was a stirring, quality compendium that garnered praise across the board.

Lupna Avery e.g wrote about the book:

"Strange how these things happen. I never expected to have the chance to read this book right here in west Africa, but I did. This is a very intelligent author and a thinker; he can be critical in his analysis but all this is linked to what he knows about life, and his motherland (South Africa). It is also clear that he likes football a lot (unlike me), but that is neither here nor there. As for the wonderful poems later on in the book, what can one say? There can be no doubt that these poems can stand on their own as a mini-book. A remarkable author..."

Raphael Mokoena, an impressive man of letters himself, also commented:

"An original, awe-inspiring work. The author covers a wide range of ideas geared to forge ahead - and ends this book with remarkable poems that seem to go on and on..."

Mnyakeni did not disappoint with his next book,  titled, BLACK TENDENCIES.  His intellectual, analytical objective mien was again to the fore again. The book illustrates how much he cares and ponders about the proliferating people of Africa.

Ishmael M. Soqaga, well known bibliophile and widely published critic, says: "It was a horrific experience learning that a stratospheric bard like Mr. Mnyakeni was gone... alas, we (Black) Africans tend to undermine ourselves as the late Mnyakeni knew only too well. As a writer, he was polished, refined, innovative and a visionary. His talent as a poet was such that he was easily one of the best in Africa..."

 

Books by Sipho Mnyakeni

The Winning Combination

Black Tendencies

NTOMBAZANA: My Girl, Be

LOCKDOWN POETRY: Poets Ponder

IFEOMA OKOYE (Nigeria)

IFEOMA OKOYE suddenly began to carve a niche for herself in the early 80s (almost 40 years ago) in African literature with the publication of two novels: Behind the Clouds (1982) and Men Without Ears (1984)

It was clear from the beginning that the author was a competent writer . Her works also had the stamp of integrity, balance, and moral restraint.  No wonder she was well received from the beginning and likened to established literary female icons like Flora Nwapa and Buchi Emecheta.

In recent times, OKOYE is essentially regarded as an illustrious writer for children, and for her short stories. Certainly her collection, The trial and other stories, further augmented her lofty standing in the world of creative writing.

For decades she has been warmly embraced and respected for her dedication to quality versatile writing, her penchant for marmoreal writing as she is regarded among other things as a prose stylist in her own right.

"It warms the cockles to see Ma Ifeoma Okoye, a grand lady writer,  still with us, like the legendary Mabel Segun" reviewer Henry Ozogula has said. (Mabel Segun is over 90 now, whilst Okoye is in her 80s)

A contemporary (female) book enthusiast, Lupna Avery has written about Okoye thus, whilst focusing on her first novel, Behind the Clouds:

‘ The plight of African women...over the decades, centuries in Africa. Our outstanding writers have shown that it has always been pretty bad, horrendous (since) many years ago. ..It is not so different in this early book written by one of Nigeria and Africa's top female writers.

The main female character in Behind the Clouds, Ije, is in a relationship where she has to endure a lot though her man, Dozie, is a relatively good man under the circumstances. But the fine qualities of the woman make her outstanding, and it is so painful when she proves to be "barren", though it is actually the fault of the man. Ije pulls out all the stops to make her man happy, though of course he would go on to betray her and bring another woman into their lives. It is so poignant when it gets to the stage where a close friend, Beatrice, strongly advises Ije to seek the help of "faith healer Apostle Joseph" who would unfailingly sleep with her and make her pregnant!

We are aghast when we read: "Ije...(my new baby) is Apostle Joseph 's". Ije was shocked.

"You don't mean it!..." And Beatrice with the weight of society on her neck, responds: "I do and I don't regret my action. My infidelity has saved my marriage... at least I'll have a child who will look after me in old age. A childless woman in our society does not realise the extent of her handicap until she grows old..."

Note that Ije does get to somewhat smile in the end, but in real life it seems unrealistic ...hence the plight of our women even now surely lingers on...’

 

IFEOMA OKOYE: Select Bibliography

Behind the Clouds

Men Without Ears

The Trial and other Stories

The Fourth Wall

LESELI MOKHELE (Lesotho)

 

When Leseli Mokhele of Lesotho published his first book, Home Grown Short Stories, in 2004, the work was greeted by a staccato of fulsome praise by both readers and critics. The shorter fiction in the book was well crafted, classy, polished and redolent with quality creativity.

Indeed, over the years, applause for Mokhele’s work is more or less invariable. For example in pithy fashion, Rets'elisitsoe Makara has stated in respect of the book, Home Grown Short Stories:

‘(Leseli) is one of the best storytellers in the whole world. I am just disappointed that movie directors have not seen this gem by Mr Leseli Mokhele…"

The late South African writer, columnist, and critic, Kgang Abel Motheane was more detailed and nuanced in appreciating Mokhele's talent.  Motheane wrote:

"Leseli Mokhele is one of the outstanding short story writers in Southern Africa; he hails from Lesotho, and made his debut as a very good writer of fiction with the book, Home grown short stories. The reader is struck with two things soon after being introduced to Mokhele’s work: his wide diction, and also his fertile imagination.  The underworld, the sleazy, different types of women; desperate men –  these are some of the themes in his short stories.

"Then there is also the violence. A lot of this seems to go too far and a streak of sadism might well run through his work. The sweetness and dangers that go with women are well highlighted, including heartbreak and Aids. The stories are more in the line of the hard school of overseas thrillers. But the beauty is that the background is very much the black world of the locations, and the like.

"That Mokhele is well read can be seen from his references to literature and literary giants in his fiction. Like (Dambudzo) Marechera, he pays tribute to his favourite writers directly and indirectly and spreads some enlightenment in the process ... Lovers of African fiction will do well to read Mokhele’s work"

Mokhele has published many other short stories in newspapers, et al, and has also produced outstanding plays (see Bibliography below). As a top-notch creative African writer, he has done his "small country" very proud!

Bibliography

Home Grown Short Stories

The Charismatic Charlatan

Tholoana tsa tsebo (play)

LORATO TROK

South Africa has a rich, quality history in respect of black women's Writing, with a staggering amount of pertinent creative comprising fiction, short stories, poetry, drama etc published over the years.

Literary pundit, Tiisetso Thiba recently stated: "Where can one even start? Is it with Miriam Tlali, supremely talented, who became the first black woman in the country to publish a novel? What about Laureta Ngcobo, world class and sophisticated, who produced superb novels? Or Ellen Kuzwayo, author of the stunning work, Call Me Woman?  These three women, all late now, have gone into history,"

Another world class female writer is Sindiwe Magona, who is still very much with us. Over the decades, she has produced literary masterpieces.  So has the enigmatic NMM Duman, and younger black female writers like Futhi Ntshingila, whose work is scintillating.

Lorato Trok is another very important South African female writer, chronicler, biographer, and children's author. She has published a string of quality books over the years, and continues to do so.

Biographies might well be Trok's forte, as evidenced by the shining success of one of her books: Rosina Sedibane Modiba. On the whole, Trok continues to be in the vanguard in promoting the culture of reading, literacy and literature. 

"All hands must be on deck for us to forge ahead in this wise," she says.  "No stone should be left unturned in the process."

All time great South African (male) writer, Es'kia Mphahlele, always pays tribute to the strength, resilience and talent of women in his books, especially his classic, Down Second Avenue. It is no surprise that Trok also acknowledges the importance of her own mother, and aunt as she embraced the literary sphere.

Lorato Trok's new book is about another remarkable South African, SAUL SITHOLE.  Trok explains: "I enjoyed writing the story of Ntate Saul Sithole. He gave the Transvaal Museum (now Ditsong Natural History Museum ) 62 years of his life in ornithology and anthropology, with no formal education ... but my goodness what a gift he had!"

Quality books... what a gift…

THABO MAFIKE (South Africa)

The versatile Thabo Mafike has published a staggering amount of literary works, over 30 books, according to some pundits. He is a well known author of Sesotho books in South Africa, even though he sometimes writes in English.

He is also a pastor, poet, composer of gospel songs, motivational speaker and the owner of Mohaladitwe Broadcasting. Mohaladitwe comprises three divisions, Mohaladitwe fm, Mohaladitwe tv and mohaladitwe newspaper. You can access mohaladitwe broadcasting on youtube. 

Thabo Mafike has written riveting Radio plays for SABC and Mohaladitwe broadcasting. He is also mentoring Young people in South Africa  (at National  Youth Development Agency) NYDA. 

He is a writer and director of youth incorporating, it's a karate movie where Mafike himself stars with elan.  He studied radio and television course with Osmond casting in partnership with the University of Free State. After that he worked at radio BBT as radio Dj and Journalist.  At radio BBT, they awarded him with the best field reporter of the year (2000).

He was the director of art and culture in the defunct Greater Bloemfontein Youth Coalition.  He is the founder and the president of the following organisations: Bloemspreit Local football Association, YouthChange the World Centre, Thabo Mafike Foundation with the following divisions, Thabo Mafike Cup, Thabo Mafike bursary scheme,  Mafike Eleven FC and Mafike Academy. 

He is busy writing Mopheme II, the celebrated Sesotho book that was turned into a roaring radio and TV drama. This book was first written by S. Matlosa who was born in 1913. Matlosa wrote Mopheme l, in 1965. More than 50 years later he (Thabo Mafike ) has written Mopheme II. 

Mafike was nominated and awarded the first prize in the category of Arts and Culture at the (Free State) Premier's youth awards in 2003. He garnered Merit award by Free state karate (1998) he also won fouth place in South African karate championships in the same year. He became many times Free State under 60 kg. Championship during his active sporting times. He was the provincial finalist as  the SABC Old mutual community builder of the year 2005. 

Mafike started writing in 1995 , today he is one of the respected Sesotho writers. He has written more than 30 books to date.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Motho ke Motho - short stories 

2. Tjhe! Bo bophelo - drama

3. Think Big and succeed -  motivational 

4. Broken Heart - poetry 

5. Failure Sharpen our understanding - motivational 

6. Setjhaba sa Mookodi- comedy 

7. Ha le Dikela - Drama

8.  Qapa, Qala, Qoba, Qeta - Sotho Motivational 

9. Tataiso bakeng sa ho ngola pale ya Radio - 

10. Words of wisdom from world's Leaders- volume 1

11. Words of wisdom from world's Leaders -  volume 2

12. Monate wa sesotho 

13. Tataiso bakeng sa ho ngola pale ya seyalemoya pono, TV

14. Ke Mohlanka feela ya senang thuso , volume 1

15. Ke Mohlanka feela ya senang thuso,  volume 2

16. Mopheme - part 2

17. The road to a successful South Africa and Africa 

18. My first letter to my sons 

19. My 2nd Letter to my sons 

20. Dijo tsa moya  

21. The character of Jesus 

22. Me against the World 

23. As you think

24. God is God and is able

25. NA, o nku kapa Pudsey

26. Letsatsi la ka la pele sekolo 

27. Satin can knock you down but not off

28. When two become one 

29. Bloemspreit LFA 

30. From centner to  Millionaire 

 

 Radio plays and TV drama 

 

1. Youth incorporation - film

2. Toro ya ka - Radio Drama 

3. Ngwanaka Nkutlwe - Radio Drama 

4. Nako e sa le teng- Radio Drama 

EFUA T. SUTHERLAND (Ghana)

Efua T Sutherland is a fabled name in her native Ghana, and in Africa after her extraordinary contributions to the Theatre, and general Literature, in the last century.

Sutherland was well educated in her youth, and returned home from overseas to become something of a phenomenal literary pioneer in Ghana. She wrote plays, developed actors and actresses, and also wrote excellent books for children; often collaborating with other bards. No wonder her legacy remains astonishing even now, with many spots named after her.

She was respected universally even by top-notch writers worldwide, many of whom have paid tribute to her in excellent studies and books. Literary giant Es'kia Mphahlele of South Africa for one, had great praise and appreciation for her, commending her selfless nature and passion for the arts.

Interviews with the great Efua Sutherland exist, collected in books like the classic, African Writers Talking (Edited by Duerden) where one can see the type of magnificent mien and aura the late Sutherland possessed. She freely talks about the importance of literature, for the mainstream, and not only for the restricted selected academia.

It was a very sad day in the literary fraternity when this altruistic, highly talented lady died in 1996. But of course her sterling legacy lives on.


Bibliography

FORIWA

EDUFA

Playtime in Africa

The Roadmakers

The Marriage of Anansewa

Voice in the Forest

Vulture! Vulture! 

Tahinta

Odasani

ANANSEGORO: Story-telling Drama in Ghana

TEBOHO MASAKALA (South Africa)

"Writing is a very serious business, and it is the same in Africa.  You can trace the trajectory of the born writers' as they start creating and writing from a very early age. Like Ama Atta Aidoo (of Ghana) and Ben Okri of Nigeria. They were writing fiction from a very young age - and also the great Ayi Kwei Armah of Ghana too," So says literary aficionado, Leke Giwa.

Certainly Teboho Masakala of South Africa began writing impressive short stories from a very young age too. By the age of 20 he was already well known for his intriguing short fiction which was already being published in newspapers, journals and on the internet. Of course he continued to grow by leaps and bounds. 

He hails from Thaba Nchu town, from the Free State in South Africa. As a kid ge was already very much interested in books and writing, inter alia basking in the Harry Potter series, and in quality African books written by the likes.of Chinua Achebe. Masakala has frequented libraries since he discovered the magic of Reading!

Masakala, born in 1988,  among many literary circles, is regarded as something.of a compulsive writer, a creative one, largely versatile. Short stories continue to be his forte - reminiscent of.kindred African writers like Leseli Mokhele (Lesotho), Maxwell Perkins Kanemanyanga (Zimbabwe) and Matshidiso Taleng (South Africa)

Books by Teboho Masakala

Mind, Pen, Paper, and Ideas (2010)

Through It All (2011)

The Fall of Marcus Desmond (2012)

Shout to the Lord (2013)

Shout to the Lord The Spiritual Corner (2014)

Restoring Everything Damaged (R.E.D) 2015

DE MA PLUME (2016)

Saved by an Angel (2020)

SARAH MKHONZA

By Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga

Women's Writing in Africa has obviously vivified and supplemented the much predominated patriarchal writing in the world of literature.  In Africa alone, this achievement can be clearly evinced by mentioning the sublime names of female writers like Miriam Tlali, Flora Nwapa, Ama Ata Aidoo, Danquah, Mabel, nee Dove, Grace Ogot, Mariam Ba etc.  Of course such wonderful women have contributed enormous corpus of literature that is radiantly gratifying.  

Because of their much fervent adoration for literature many generations that followed after them have emulated them, continually doing marvellous work in somewhat promoting African literature in the world.  Buchi Emecheta of the Joys of Motherhood, Yvonne Vera Butterfly Burning, Tsitsi Dangerembga Nervous Condition, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Half of a Yellow Sun and others have explicitly provided sheer evidence that African literature is exceptionally noteworthy. 

Although African political conditions have changed since the attainment of freedom and independence from colonial rule, yet other oppressive dimensions are still prevalent especially towards writers.  Apart from previous colonial domination, in stark contrast, the very same promises of freedom have veered.  It is absolutely known that in the past, Africans in Africa and Diaspora were very connected as they were experiencing a similar gruesome racial situation.  That’s why outstanding female writers like the first black female writer to win Nobel Prize in Literature, Toni Morrison will invariably be attached to Africa.  In her vigorous sacrifices, she also considered African literature by becoming an active literary wordsmith who eagerly championed black writing throughout the world.  By developing Contemporary African Literature (1972), a collection that showcases the work of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, and Athol Fugard etc was to her attention that Africa too was her motherland.  (Writers like Lorraine Hansberry, Lorna Goodison, Alice Walker from Diaspora are also black female writers whom Africa should reckon with pride.)  

Imperatively, in Europe over the years women's writing was not a common thing.  Pre-eminent female writers who broke up these barriers like Selma Lagerlof the first woman to win Nobel Prize in Literature, Mary Shelley, and American Edit Wharton who also became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize are celebrated with great zeal.   An obvious thing that is known to the world is that nothing can be a deterrent to women's writing especially today.  However, in contrast, Africa in particular countries female writing is often considered as precarious component to the authority.  It is very surprising to find out that in the 21st century where the world is remarkably modernized you will shockingly discover that women writing is denied an opportunity to truly blossom.  

Instead (especially in Africa) women writing might be regarded as subversive threat to authority.  To recall, Bessie Head suffered racial alienation in the country of her birth during apartheid.  On the basis of such racism the highly talented literary genius Bessie Head opted to permanently leave her country South Africa and ultimately she ended up living in Botswana where she stunningly thrived as a great African female writer.

Notwithstanding, today in a tiny country and a last remaining monarchy in Africa Swaziland, the world is dumbfounded by what is called stygian experience women writers are faced with.  An acclaimed African literary woman and academic, Sarah Mkhonza is now living in exile because she was unfairly rejected in her own country Swaziland.  She is or her writings are generally pondered as journalistic fiction.  Without any other alternative Sara Mkhonza because of the situation of her country, she decisively preferred to express her opinion by writing.  As a professional, she has achieved a lot in her career.  However, instead she received an unpalatable treatment from Swaziland authorities. 

 Unflinching Mkhonza would declare: “I didn’t attach writing to politics; I just thought it was important to inform Swazi’s about certain simple things that can be harmful.” In 1996, Sarah Mkhonza earned her Ph.D. at Michigan State University.  Sarah Mkhonza is a talented female African writer whose unswerving audacious demeanour under a macabre situation does not dishearten her to be outspoken about the grim conditions which continue to beset her country.  Ostensibly, today the world may think the prospect of literature is congenial and exists without any hurdles induced by the powers that be in the world. 

Alas, it is astonishing to see an African female writer being maliciously inflicted with retribution because she is writing about whate believes is absolutely unacceptable in her country.  Sara Mkhonza's complete efforts to promote African literature will of course never be thwarted by any unscrupulous authority in the world.   Likewise, Newal El Saadawi of Egypt experienced the same grim situation in her country as a female African Arab writer.  Enthusiastically, Sarah Mkhonza constantly produced impressive literature in the world and she is playing a very important role in advocating African literature abroad.  In her country she was a journalist who was an exponent cum spokesperson for the disenfranchised and impoverished people.  

While living in Swaziland she published two novels, What the Future Holds and Pains of a Maid. Subsequent books by her published in the United States unclude Two Stories, Woman in a Tree, and Weeding the Flowerbeds.  Patently, the dismal question which will be continually asked will be “for how long Africa will shun its own intellectuals - including its glittering female wordsmiths - by resorting to bestial persecution?”   

Works by Sarah Mkhonza

What the Future Holds

Pains of a Maid

Two stories 

Woman in a Tree

Weeding the Flowerbeds