AFRICA CONNECT
African Literature
African literature has been a little slow to
penetrate bookshelves around the world.
Not too surprising when considering the
first African born laureate to be awarded a
Nobel Peace Prize for literature was Wole
Sonyika in 1986. Prize motivation: “who in
a wide cultural perspective and with poetic
overtones, fashions the drama of existence.”
– Nobel Peace Prize committee.
After studying in the UK, Wole worked
at the Royal Court Threatre in London
where his title as a playwright was earned.
His powerful teachings on the African
experience were highly influential, whilst
never romanticising his home land of
Nigeria. Later on, he added novelist and
poet to his artistic expedition; telling the
true African story through his faculty. His
most popular books include ‘Ake: The
Years of Childhood’ and ‘Ogun Abibiman.’
African Literary Globalisation
The African diaspora plays an
even greater role in modern
culture today. Looking at author,
Chimananda Ngozi Adichie, you’ll
see what I mean. To know of her
is to acknowledge her homeland,
Nigeria. Secondly, Adichie’s work
has been translated into thirty
languages! The success of her
literature ‘Half of a yellow Sun’ and
‘Purple Hibiscus’ (fuelled by the
black feminist experience) has led
to her TED Talks, receiving acclaim
from the world over.
IMBO/ ISSUE 32/ '14
Platforms such as Amazon.com,
social media and music (with an
audio clip of her TED talk being
featured on Beyonce’s controversial
hit song ‘flawless’) - have made her
a dominating authority within her
industry. Adichie’s unquestionable
popularity and American residency
have not diluted her rich African
accent, attire or hair. This all
graciously communicates “I am
African and proud”.
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