NAIWU OSAHON

To many readers, Naiwu Osahon, the long standing Nigerian writer, is synonymous with his early work, Sex is a Nigger. The latter novel during its heyday attained transcendental fame and notoriety - and even now, many decades after its initial publication, new generations of readers are enamoured with the work.

Yet Osahon is a proficient, versatile writer who has produced many other works over the years; even other novels like Climate of Darkness , which arguably was even more successful than Sex is a Nigger. In his works of fiction for adults, one deduces a vivacious streak, and a zany type of humour.

Actually, Naiwu Osahon might well be the most prolific writer in (black) African history.  He himself has stated that he has published at least 100 books (!), most of them for children. Now, over the age of 80, the great man still writes regularly.

Osahon is well known for his polemical writings and views, not only in his journalistic forays, but also in substantial published books of his; which include The Cradle: The ultimate Cosmology, and God is Black. the works might be somewhat controversial, but they also showcase his intellectual striations.

Osahon has of course garnered some flak for writing a work like Sex is a Nigger. As 

South African literary commentator, Raphael Mokoena notes:

‘In literary circles, some observers rather liked this work, whilst others panned it. The formidable Femi Osofisan, for example opined that this work is "cheaply melodramatic" and also "hysterically vulgar". He added that he saw this work as "arising from the low slums of artifice out of which no genuine perception can be reaped". I might as well state that I for one do not think the author had "high art" in mind when he wrote this book, anyway…’

Again, we must note the large corpus of Osahon's writings, which also includes the publication of plays, and poetry. His extraordinary work for children (copious books) have been translated into other languages, including German.

It is thus clear that Pa Osahon is not just a "pornographer" et al as some often claim, in ignorance. World literary history teems with great writers who were somewhat undermined by pundits intermittently - like DH Lawrence, RL Stevenson, Herman Melville  - but are now generally accepted as world class wordsmiths. I have no doubt in my mind that Naiwu Osahon has over the decades been a very important African writer.

 - O Bolaji       

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Climate of Darkness

Sex is a Nigger

A Nation in Custody

Black Power: The African Predicament

The Colour of Anger

No Answer from the Oracle: Two plays Fires of Africa (poems etc)

Africa know Thyself

Ada and Hunchback Child

God is Black

Bulubulu and Bamboko

Our Widow's Mite

The Cradle: The Ultimate Cosmology

Giant Alakuku

Poems for Young Lovers 

YEMISI OTASANYA (Nigeria)

Africa's first Nobel Laureate in Literature, Wole Soyinka has inspired hordes of writers across the generations, and one of them is Yemisi Aremu Otasanya, who candidly vouchsafes:  

"I was inspired most by Wole Soyinka. I came across his book 'The Trials of Brother Jero' and 'The Lion and the Jewel' in Literature class.  I prayed that (one day) God would grant me the opportunity to meet him in person"

Her wish would be granted later on, just as her dream of becoming a writer would also be realised. She has published books like Perfect Body Perfect Baby After Delivery; and Above the Ether.

Her love for creative writing was stoked as a child. "My passion for writing started at the age of 8. Going down memory lane, she explains:

‘My passion for writing started at the age of 8, when out of boredom, I picked up my pencil and wrote my first poem. Daddy was my first audience. May God bless his soul. He laughed heartily after reading the poem. It was more of a paradox about a frog who could not sing, but was a choir master.

"Rather than hang out with my friends during playtime, I spent most of the time imagining about adventures in space, fighting aliens and conquering colonies. I imagined I was a dashing irresistible warrior princess with no interest in love, a super hero, a secret spy and much more. At the age of 11, while in year 1 of Junior Secondary School, I wrote an adventure script and shared it with my friends. They loved it and pressurized me to write more, but I deterred. 

“As a teenager, I wanted to be a scientist and not pursue writing. I had a secret herbarium where I carried out research on the flora in Abuja city and did a lot of research writing and occasional articles in local dailies. I also engaged in loads of freelance writing and editing for friends, collecting stipends in return.

“I am currently an IT project manager, an author, a mother and wife and I love studying nature, stars and their constellations, elements, history, cultures, managing complex projects, meeting people, dancing (I have my own symphony, lol). I am crazy about science fiction."

She adds: “I do loads of research before embarking on a writing project and I have God as my father. I never make assumptions about people or jump to conclusions without hearing both sides of the story. I believe we all have the chance to be better. My weed is writing. I hope you enjoy reading my books.”

Otasanya who desires to become a "best-selling writer" has healthy respect for African literary icons like Chinua Achebe, and Buchi Emecheta.

DAVID G. MAILLU (Kenya)

By O Bolaji

David G Maillu of Kenya is one of Africa's most prolific writers; some pundits even claim that he has published more books than any other writer in the continent. But then again, a writer like Naiwu Osahon is said to have published up to a hundred works! What we can say is that Maillu's scores of books have straddled some six decades. To latch onto a cliche, ink decidedly runs in his veins!

As South African literary critic Pule Lechesa has stated: "I suppose it is often startling, even to literary pundits when one comes across a writer, especially an African writer who has published 50, 60 books...such writers are patently thin on the ground. There is a writer, Kgang Abel Motheane in SA who has published as much...and of course the internationally recognised, David Maillu"  

Maillu was born in 1939, in Kenya when the country was still far from attaining political independence from Britain. He attended a Salvation Army school, then an intermediate school en route to the then East African Cambridge School Certificate. His formal education again embraced the British Tutorial College where he studied for the High School education. From a young age, Maillu revelIed in the world of writing, and African Art and Sociology.  

His published books over the decades are numerous indeed with some of his early works published in the 70s; including Troubles (1974) and The Kommon Man 1975)

Other popular works by the wordsmith include My dear Bottle, The Ayah, (The Benni Kamba adventures), eg Equatorial Assignment, After 4.30, Our kind of polygamy, and The Survivors (2002). But Maillu's most popular book international is probably For Mbatha and Rabeka.

Published in the erstwhile Macmillan Pacesetter series, For Mbatha and Rabeka struck a chord with many readers for a number of reasons, including its intrinsic humour, a superb seduction scene that never becomes vulgar, a rich cast of main protagonists, etc. It was quintessential Maillu.

But Maillu could turn his hand into virtually any type, genre of writing. The hefty work, African Indigenous political Ideology (1977) for example has intellectual savvy and undulations. Note that Maillu is actually a qualified Doctor of letters.

And he has published a number of books in the Swahili language too, including the well received Laana ya Mkufu.

Again, Dr Maillu has produced works with rather intriguing titles.  What about - How to look for the Right Boyfriend; or/and, PO Box I love you via my heart...?

The list seems endless, but other works by this distinguished writer again include Man from Machakus, Maillu Revolution, Kadosa, The poor child, Dear Daughter, The priceless gift, Untouchable, Unfit for human consumption, The black Adam and Eve, Thorns of life, Broken Drum,  and My dear Mariana. Talk of being prolific!

ES'KIA MPHAHLELE (1919 – 2008)

By I. M Soqaga

The impact of apartheid colonialism has virtually attempted to destroy the talents of oodles number of black South Africans who were so keen in ameliorating the lives of their communities with the craft they have.  To highlight, South Africa’s Es’kia Mphahlele’s essential vim and awesome vision about African literature was wittingly interrupted by apartheid in South Africa.  From the earliest times Mphahlele’s passion in literature was resplendent.

A fervent and prolific African writer began his literary career with an intention to formalized and vivify African literature in order to be studied in schools and universities.  However, his ambition in the height of apartheid was elusive, although he managed with the great stride to start to produce and establish his aspiration.  Eventually, Bantu Education infuriated many South Africans and Es’kia was one of the people who were not delirious with the introduction of the inferior education meant for African person and subsequently he opted to go to exile.

It was in exile where Es’kia 'sliterary aspiration proved to be outstanding.  He was very firm, pragmatic and resolute in contributing literature that is significantly pertinent to African literature.  A professional teacher, literary award winner Es’kia Mphahlele after he returned to South Africa in the late 70s he constantly illustrated his erudition with enormous proficient.  It is actually absorbing to understand that while in exile he was able to connect and work with exceptional prominent early African writers like a Nobel Prize winner in literature Wole Soyinka, poet Gabriel Okara, novelist Amos Tutuola etc in Nigeria.  In Ghana too he met with outstanding African writer Kofi Awoonor, playwright Efua Sutherland and he was fortunate enough to meet with the great Ullie Beir and other Nigerian writers which he eventually seeing himself contributing in Mbari Writers and Arts Club in Ibadan.

Es’kia Mphahlele spent two decades in exile and in that period he successfully travelled the world, doing magnificently great in advocating and disseminating veritable literature.  Moreover, in his entire life beginning in the early days in South Africa, Africa, the world and South Africa again he managed to flourish dramatically in showcases outstanding literary prowess.  A writer that was reliable and enthusiastically committed to offer his literary skill where it was appropriate.  He travelled to Nigeria, France, Kenya, US and to many part of the world. In a career spawning sixty years, Mphahlele received many international awards, among them: several honorary doctoral degrees and the Les Palmes Academiques medal from French language and culture.  In 1968, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature.  In 1998 the first president of democratic South Africa Nelson Mandela awarded Mphahlele the Order of the Southern Cross.

Of course, Es’kia Mphahlele was a very gifted and proud African writer who displayed to the world that an African is also an equal human being who has the brain to produce excellent ideas.   The world in Es’kia can learn a wonderful lesson of a writer who by all means wanted to see his culture be presented and recognized.  De trop racial oppression and the banning of his books never discouraged him to contribute eagerly in promoting African literature.  Es’kia Mphahlele was the catalyst and African literary pioneer who has achieved astronomically in his career as a sublime African writer.  Mphahlele was the illustrious author of two autobiographies, at least three novels (including the acclaimed The Wanderers), more than thirty short stories, two verse plays and a fair number of poems.  In nutshell the hassle of apartheid never vanquished him because his lively vigour for literature motivated him to make certain that African literature is recognized and appears in the institution of higher learning.

To accentuate, Africans need to reckon that Dr Es’kia Mphahlele played a major role to bolster literature in the world and in his country South Africa.  In 1979, he joined the University of the Witwatersrand as a senior research fellow at the African Studies Institute.  He founded the Council for Black Education and Research, and independent project for alternative education involving young adults.  He founded the department of African literature at Wits University in 1983, a significant event in the evolution of literature teaching in South Africa at the time.  

Vitally, Es’kia Mphahlele literary contribution continues to be recognized and acclaimed.  Obvious if oblivion, that can be a daft, destructive guff in particular for African writers to opt to neglect the literary works of Es’kia Mphahlele to plummet. If that can be possible, petrified-that will be a harum-scarum situation for African writers to discard and overlook the colossal literary achievement which Es’kia Mphahlele strove so diligently over the years for African literature to be recognized in the world and in particular in the academic rung.  Lastly it is encouraging to see some of the streets and institutions named after him in South Africa.