Greed, frustrated love, traffic jams, infertility, politics, polygamy. These--together with depictions of traditional village life and the impact of colonialism made familiar to Western readers throug
"Belcher’s volume contains a much needed and extremely well-integrated overview and discussion of a vast inter-related West African culture complex that deserves and requires the kind of original
This interpretation of the work of Ngugi Wa Thiong'o discusses his philosophy, writing style, social and political focus, and ultimate vision and aspirations. Each work of fiction is examined in depth
"The editors... must be congratulated... Long live the African storytellers!" —Africa Today"It is difficult to imagine a more practical introduction to contemporary African epic than th
This is a collection of essays by the exiled Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o. Topics include: language, culture and politics in Kenya; freedom of expression; images in Afro-American thought; and the i
Askia Mohammed is the most famous leader in the history of the Songhay Empire, which reached its apogee during his reign in 1493-1528. Songhay, approximately halfway between the present-day cities of
Do small wars in Africa manifest a 'new barbarism'? What appears as random, anarchic violence is no such thing. The terrifying military methods of of Sierra Leone's soldiers may not fir conventional w
This work provides a collective biography of Thompson Samkange and of two of his sons, Sketchley and Stanlake. Thompson Samkange was born in 1893 at the time that his land was being overwhelmed from t
A collection of 11 chapters by Nigerian professors, this book covers such issues as the dignity of intellectual labor; how colonial writings on Africa helped Africans decide to become the interpreters
Originally published in a small edition in 1954, A Tree for Poverty was Margaret Laurence's first published book. In this new edition, Laurence's collection of Somali poems and stories is accompanied
"... a major addition to the literature on oral traditions." —Journal of Religion in AfricaThis 750-year-old epic celebrates the exploits of the legendary founder of the Empire of Old Mali. It constit
This book provides a detailed examination of the writings of Chinua Achebe, Africa's best-known and most widely-read author, shortlisted for the 1987 Booker Prize. Dr Innes studies his writings, lectu
On October 30, 1987, fourteen South African writers and critics came to Northwestern University and engaged in a day of discussion and debate on South African culture, literature, and politics. Such a
