RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Two Africanist Giants Join Their Ancestors . . .

Sad and painful news indeed! While I only know of Prof Ilesanmi (now gone far too soon)! Dan and I have a long collegial and personal history (since 1974) as co-authors, ardent believers in and practitioners of the translation of mother tongue African Literatures (he was the voice and champion of African literatures when I first met him in 1974), and as friends (who, together, trudged through the sudden and long illness and eventual death of his beloved wife and long-time companion, Celina). Dan's was the "lone voice in the wilderness," championing the cause of the "traditional" in African literature when the word was an anathema in every discussion of the so-called "literary canon" of Modern African Literature, as though the two existed and functioned in separable orbits. The arguments were hard and long and divisive, but 'Prophet Dan' soldiered on, especially through those infamous Denis Brutus-Daniel Kunene debates on the significant role and place of African Oral tradition in the criticism of modern African literature. Gone but certainly will not be forgotten for the legacy, example, friendship, and love that undergird the memories he left behind.

 

May the ancestors receive their souls with joy!

 

Pamela J. Smith

 

From: 'Michael Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2016 8:37 AM
To: Yoruba Affairs <yorubaaffairs@googlegroups.com>; Yorubaaffairs+owners <yorubaaffairs+owners@googlegroups.com>; USAAfricaDialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; nigerianID@yahoogroups.com; nigerianworldforum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Two Africanist Giants Join Their Ancestors . . .

 

Daniel P. Kunene (1923-2016): Retired Professor, African Languages and Literature (University of Wisconsin-Madison) - pioneer scholar, famous for Heroic Poetry of the Basotho, poet, linguist, anti-apartheid activist . . .

 

Rev. Fr. T. M. Ilesanmi (1940-2016): Retired Professor, African Languages and Literatures (Lgs & Linguistics), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria - literary critic, musician, liturgist, clergy, fun to be around . . .

 

Two weeks; two losses; too much . . . way too much!

 

May those who know them be comforted.

 

Michael O. Afolayan

 

 

 

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