this is like africa's 50 best book game; i hate this canonization. not least because it freezes something living into a Classic that we treat with Awe. some of my criticisms of soyinka on this list met that same attitude, a "how do you dare question the Great One." i've always wanted people to remain people, not be Great Ones, and i've always appreciated meeting "great" writers or critics who've known how to keep their humility. i could offer tons of examples of those who have not, but an example of one who has is Appiah.
i wander.
why not.
Arrow of God is much more interesting, when reread and reread, than TFA. TFA is an institution; Arrow a novel that welcomes complexity and depth of readings
Man Died? never. the obvious choice is Death and the King's Horseman. I'd love to know if there is another WS choice for people out there. There was a time when i wouldn't have hesitated at saying The Road, and i still love it, nostalgically. But there is something really significant about Jero which might eclipse the others.
Ben Okri? why not; Famished Road seems obvious. But have you read and reread Stars of a New Curfew?
Lastly, i know this is not a universal sentiment, but Graceland and Virgin of Flames stand out there with my favorites. i love the cover of Virgin. i love almost everything about that brilliant book, its prose, sensibilities, originality, its painting of painting, its notion of what a life on the margins has to do with the inexplicably sublime.
beat that one
another to remember: Purple Hibiscus; my students favorite, hands down.
i would not appreciate an all-male list; and although it gets me down, i recognize the impact Joys of Motherhood has had
i loved Sozaboy, more and more as i taught it; especially especially for that broken thing he calls rotten english. is there better than that? i doubt it
ken
At 05:22 PM 8/18/2010, you wrote:
Folks,
I am curious: What three books would you choose to capture Nigeria's 50 years of existence? Helon Habila, speaking to the BBC chose Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, The Man Died by Wole Soyinka, and The Famished Road by Ben Okri. Very Interesting choices there. Would you have made the same choices? What would your choices have been? Please share.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/08/100803_strand_read_my_country.shtml
- Ikhide
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Distinguished Professor of English
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