"It is interesting and frustrating to me that when we talk about literature, it is always in the context of books, alone. It is perhaps now inappropriate to use books as the sole determinant of cultural norms in today's world. I would go further and say, in the 21st century, the book is a wretched barometer of African writing. You will need to go to the two most important African novels – Twitter and Facebook, in addition to blogs and websites to get a really good read on these issues, including notions of sexuality and sensuality. In Africa, much of what passes for "serious literature," represented by books tends to alternate between self-absorbed navel-gazing and poverty porn for Western consumption. All that is changing, young writers are taking back control of the narrative. Try reading Dame Cherie Coco's luscious blog (here) and tell me why folks are still measuring our sexuality by Okonkwo's quickie."
"Thanks to the Internet, this generation of writing is the most vulnerable to criticism because, unlike in the past when you simply went away upon receiving a rejection slip, today's writers are defiantly writing and publishing themselves. We have more to criticize and ridicule than ever before. Again, If Weate is looking at books alone as a marker of the state of our stories, then he is right. But books are dying a long slow death and the single stories that he and Adichie bemoan are dying with those wretched books. I call this generation the brave generation because they are telling our stories, the best way they know how. They have triumphed over broken schools, inchoate publishers and a largely anti-intellectual society to produce stories that transcend the stereotypes that made Wainaina and me to erupt in rage. If I was brave like Dambudzo Marechera, I would call them the Fuck You! Generation. They have taken one look at thieving generations of intellectuals and politicians who did little or nothing for them and given them the middle finger. Good for them. Let's be honest, the West has been intervening to save our writers from Day One. Where would Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, etc, be without the West? This generation does not have anyone but themselves and the Internet. I cannot in good conscience write them off. In fact, I sometimes wish that someone like Elnathan John or Richard Ali is thrown into solitary by some military goon so they can pen the next big one on toilet paper. That would be awesome."
"Whenever I remember the brouhaha that trailed Achebe's new book, I chuckle and just shake my head. There is very little in that book that Achebe had not said before in his previous books. People just don't read as much as they should, including, sadly, many African intellectuals of stature. I salute Achebe's courage. He told it as he saw it. Well, I learnt two things. One, many Nigerian intellectuals are adept at reviewing a book without reading it. Two, if you really want your book to sell among Nigerians, make sure to criticize one of their deities, in Achebe's case, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Your book will sell in the thousands. Achebe is whistling all the way to the bank. For the rest of my thoughts on Achebe's new book, please click here. I should probably start criticizing our elders on my blog. I need the money."
Are you reading anything interesting at the moment?
"Yes. Twitter and Facebook. I am reading Chubundo Onuzo's The Spider King's Daughter and enjoying every sentence. I am also reading Nasir el-Rufai's memoir, The Accidental Public Servant. It is a great work of fiction. el-Rufai has quite an imagination."
Ikhide had a lot more to say in this interview with the blogger, Ainehi Edoro of Brittle Paper. I like the interview. *cycles away slowly.*
- Ikhide
Stalk my blog at http://www.xokigbo.com/
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