Celebrating African literary critics

By Christine Mautjana

Becoming a writer or rather a published writer seems fraught with fears and difficulty especially for us women. Most of the time we seem to want and change and chop a lot, revise and revise till we more or less get sick of what we are trying to put together! We are mainly afraid of how the public will react to what we have written; especially the critics.

This attitude could be seen – though politely and mildly done – in part of Jah Rose’s intelligent response in the book of interviews I edited, Interviews with effervescent writers (2012). Here Nthabiseng Jah Rose Jafta confesses that she used to wonder whether critics were there just to sort of pull works down. Interestingly, Teboho Letshaba refers to critics “slashing” works in his own interview

To a large extent critics make or break works; but it is also true that if a work (book) is quite good most critics or reviewers will have positive things to say about it. I saw the study book put together by Siphokazi celebrating South African female writer Sindiwe Magona’s literary work, and most parts of the different essays were positive.

I am sure writers do not want to publish books nobody notices or talks about, at a serious level. On my own part, I would have been very very disappointed indeed if critics had ignored “my” book, Interviews with effervescent writers. I am reasonably happy that most of the “critics” were kind (hopefully not patronising) though of course there is always scope for improvement.

We learn a lot along the line and the great thing is to be guided by those who know their onions in this business. I think I have benefitted so much from reading reviews written by Pule Lechesa in particular, the essays (not really the fiction) of Bolaji, and other pieces put together by the likes of Qoopane, Raphael Mokoena, Deon-Simphiwe Skade and Mathene Mahanke. It is extraordinary how much we can read from these gentlemen from the internet.

I think we must commend, salute such literary wordsmiths (critics). How else can we learn about African literature if not for the efforts of these people? In their essays they often refer to other literary works, many allusions to African writers and their books; and to those overseas. I myself used to think African literature was undeveloped, compared to others – but thanks to “critics” I now realize there are many dozens of distinguished African writers and hundreds of books published over the decades!

In his study on ntate Bolaji, Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga postulates: whoever would think that Wole Soyinka can be criticised? (Soyinka is the first black man to be awarded the Nobel award for Literature) If he can be criticized – and sometimes very powerfully too – why should any budding writer think they should not be criticized?

Hence as 2013 moves on, we must thank those African literary personnel who continue to put us on the map, over the decades, including some creative writers who are fine critics too. From the likes of Eustace Palmer, Es’kia Mphahlele, Lewis Nkosi, to the younger ones like Simphiwe Skade, Lechesa and Mokoena. Long may it continue!

• Mautjana is editor of the book, Interviews with Effervescent Writers