Monday, August 1, 2011

Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obi Nwakanma: New Nigerian Writing is in Need of Spirit

Ikhide,

Thanks for the link to the Nwankanma article.

I enjoyed his sense of language, the way he uses words and ideas.

On Nigerian and even African writing, I know little about it and am trying to learn. Rather than ask anyone  to help with a survey of Nigerian writing, I would like guidance to any source that can guide one on the post Achebe, Soyinka and Ngugi generation of African writers: book/s, websites? I had earlier pinned my hopes on Pius Adesanmi's Project on New African Literatures, if I have the name right,  but the last I checked it seemed to be offline.

I am interested in exploring but my particular interest is in non-realist literature. The kind of literary work I enjoy reading most is one that involves transforming reality,  hence Western magical fantasy is my favourite fictional genre. I also like science fiction that explores alternative possibilities of consciousness.

Beyond these groups, I like works that are powerfully philosophical or mythic or both, thats why I love Soyinka and Okri. i also enjoy works that even though not clearly fantasy or magical, look at the world in ways that imply living in the world from a perspective different from the conventional and experiencing it differently. Thats why I love Okri and Jorge Luis Borges and why I am beginning to enjoy Katsuo Ishiguro.

As for works beyond strictly literary material, I am interested in any kind of poetic writing in any  religion. Philosophical writing that is highly imaginative and possibly poetic also interests me.

I mentioned my interests in case you or anyone else can suggest any African writers who could help satisfy those tastes. 

Thanks

toyin


On 1 August 2011 16:04, Ikhide <xokigbo@yahoo.com> wrote:
Our good friend Obi Nwakanma has a lot to say about the state of Nigerian Literature today. Not sure I agree with him, he seems to be doing the same thing over and over, romanticisizing the past. I don't know, Nigerians are writing A LOT, it is just that a few people imagine themselves to be authorities on the subject of Nigerian writing and they seem to want to talk about it obsessively, me being one of the a few people, lol!  I get the sense that Obi Nwakanma has not been reading much of contemporary Nigerian writing lately. He sure is reading some fairly ancient books. A couple of years is a long time in the life of Nigerian literature
 
It is interesting that even as Obi Nwakanma examined historical Nigerian literature, he ignored the works of the female writers of the era - Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, nee Nwakuche, etc.. The more I read his piece, the more inchoate it comes across. He takes himself too seriously. Literature does not belong on the shelves of libraries. Libraries are dying anyway ;-)
 
Your thoughts? Read him here...
 
- Ikhide

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

No comments:

Post a Comment

 
Vida de bombeiro Recipes Informatica Humor Jokes Mensagens Curiosity Saude Video Games Car Blog Animals Diario das Mensagens Eletronica Rei Jesus News Noticias da TV Artesanato Esportes Noticias Atuais Games Pets Career Religion Recreation Business Education Autos Academics Style Television Programming Motosport Humor News The Games Home Downs World News Internet Car Design Entertaimment Celebrities 1001 Games Doctor Pets Net Downs World Enter Jesus Variedade Mensagensr Android Rub Letras Dialogue cosmetics Genexus Car net Só Humor Curiosity Gifs Medical Female American Health Madeira Designer PPS Divertidas Estate Travel Estate Writing Computer Matilde Ocultos Matilde futebolcomnoticias girassol lettheworldturn topdigitalnet Bem amado enjohnny produceideas foodasticos cronicasdoimaginario downloadsdegraca compactandoletras newcuriosidades blogdoarmario arrozinhoii sonasol halfbakedtaters make-it-plain amatha