OBI EGBUNA (1938 - 2014)

By Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga

As a Pan-Africanist myself, I cannot but be enamoured with the life and times of the indomitable Obi B Egbuna.

For centuries, Europe dominated the African continent.  The white man arrogated to himself the right to rule and to be obeyed by the non-white; his mission, he claimed, was to “civilize” Africa.  Under this cloak, the Europeans robbed the continent of vast riches and inflicted unimaginable suffering on the African people. Kwame Nkrumah 1961:  I Speak of Freedom.

Dolefully, today is one of the most distressing times in many memories of the people who have an explicit understanding of the past racial oppression against black people by white people.  Apparently, this sombre feeling is obviously evoked by the sadden news of the demise of “Sir Egbuna”.  The sensational Egbuna was a sagacious, sophisticated black leader and enchanting black African writer. 

Fundamentally, he was deeply influenced by Marxist; he was very deft in interpreting Marxist in a unique black way.  While he was in Britain as the leader and the spokesperson for Universal Coloured People’s Association he used to argue:  “Nobody in his right mind disputes that the fact the white worker is a prey to capitalist exploitation, as well as the Black worker.  But equally indisputable is the fact that the white worker is exploited only because he is a worker, not because he is white, while in contrast, the Black Worker is oppressed, not only because he is a worker, but also because he is Black.” 

Although his anti-capitalist expostulation against white exploitation against black people was not rooted in African soil, however, he has significantly contributed in promoting black dignity and black recognition around the world.  “Sir Obi B Egbuna” will be remembered by his vigorous enthusiasm for the cause of social justice and political justice for black people worldwide. 

Courageously the black youth in the world must take into cognizance the immense selfless contribution that Egbuna has made for social justice and equality of black people in the world.  Both his political influence and literary greatness has added an enormous value for black race in the world today. 

As tears of mourning and sadness visited black people because of the death of Egbuna, black people must be proud to have a person of the stature and caliber of Egbuna.  His brilliant works need to be a guide for us and continue to inspire for future black generation.  At this moment of mourning it is vitally important for black people to relish the literary work of the son of Ozubulu, Anambra state (Nigeria).  Rest in peace Egbuna.

BOOKS PUBLISHED

Wind vs Polygamy (Elina)
 

The Anthill (a play)

Daughters of the sun:
and other stories.

Emperor of the Sea.

Diary of a Homeless Prodigal

Destroy this temple.

The Madness of Didi

The Minister's Daughter.      

The Murder of Nigeria.

The ABC of Black Power Thought.

The rape of Lysistrata.

Divinity (a radio play)

* Mr Soqaga is a South African Pan-Africanist, essayist, and author

MARIAMA BA (1929 - 1981).

By Henry Ozogula

Mariama Ba remains one of Africa's all-time great female writers. Her literary reputation
rests mainly on her two published novels.      

The award-winning So long a letter (English translation) alerted the world
to the way women were rather suppressed in Ba's home country, Senegal.
The female protagonist of the book who has had many children
nevertheless remains very much a woman as she writes:    

"...I said it teasingly, rolling my eyes round. Eternal woman, even in
mourning, you want to make a strike, you want to seduce...arouse
interest!".          

Ba also published Un chant ecarlate. "The tragedy of Ousmane Gueye and his French wife, Mireille whose slidetowards mutual destruction is narrated in this novel...she goes
completely mad, kills her baby and stabs Ousmane...after verifying the
existence of a secret Senegalese wife,".        

The Mariama Ba Boarding School - Maison d'Education Mariama Ba - a distinguished
school in Goree (Senegal) is named after this remarkable writer.

ESELBY JNR PUBLICATIONS

By O Bolaji

We were not particularly close when we were in the secondary school -
hence I was a bit surprised at his fulsome, effulgent greetings. He
more or less swept me into his arms beaming beatifically.    

"Seye Bolaji!" He screamed. "After over 20 years I am seeing you again
in the flesh!" He smiled. "I can see that even in your old age you are
still shy..." We reminisced about the old days which always seem
halcyon!

He went on: "I am so proud of you and your literary
exploits. To think an old boy from our school could have published 30
books and won so much praise across the board. But you know what
impresses me most - it was the tribute to your father...".    

At this stage somewhat to my embarrassment, he burst into tears! "Your
father, Eselby (Labanji) Bolaji was such a great good man," he said, wiping away
his tears. "It was good of you to immortalise his way in books -".

"But," I said, worried about his tears. "The book I published
on my father (The golden pen of Eselby) came out many many years
ago...".          

"I am not referring to that book," my old friend said. "I am referring to the publishing company you set up in
South Africa - Eselby JNR PUBLICATIONS. Named after your father. The
firm has published so many books over the years. I read all about it
on the internet..."

Ah, Eselby Jnr Publications! When I was much younger I used to
greatly admire the few black African publishers around - like
Aromolaran, Fourth Dimension and Fagbamigbe Publishers.  

Later in life I would indeed manage to orchestrate a small book
publishing firm, Eselby Jnr Publications. The firm over the years
would publish some of my own books.  

It would also publish other African writers - Maxwell Perkins Kanemanyanga from Zimbabwe, who has
released three works of fiction - all published by my firm. His latest
book is Chapindapasi (2013).  

 We were also very proud to publish the book, Promoting Quintessential African Writing written
by Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga the well known South African essayist and
Pan-Africanist.  

Not that the firm publishes only men! I found myself chuckling. I remembered publishing a book written by Julia Mooi, a charming intelligent literary activist.  

I must also admit that it pleases me no end that books published by Eselby Jnr Publications are stocked in many international universities - like Yale, Northwest University, the Library of Congress (America too),
University of the Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, Emory, University of the Free State, the British Library (England) etc.

I said to my old friend now: "Thank you. I suppose Eselby Jnr
Publications has tried a bit..."