PETER ABRAHAMS - What an inspiration!

By O Bolaji

Not far from becoming a centenarian now, the South African writer, Peter Abrahams in his pomp brilliantly inspired a generation of disparate African writers. 

On his own part, world class Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o would exhilaratingly point out that Abrahams' works fired his imagination as a young student, and made him feel that he could write too. It was the same for many other Africans all over the continent, including yours truly. 

I count myself very lucky to have been introduced to Peter Abrahams' early novel, Mine Boy, when I was still a kid at school in west Africa. The simplicity of the work was haunting, complemented by the very fine writing skills of the author.

It was only natural that as an impressionable youngster one would be prodded to try and get as many books of this particular author as possible - Tell Freedom, which was autobiographical, was easily available then, and another good read.

In respect of Mine Boy, the story of the metamorphosis of Xuma, the pertinent mine boy, from "strong simpleton" to a thinking gentleman and possible catalyst of change during apartheid is an unforgettable one.

One was forced to ponder dolefully: why couldn't all men be free and equal in this society? Why so many unfair crackdowns on the blacks by the powers that-be? Even Xuma's love affairs were frustrated and truncated by the state. His lovely "Eliza was gone..." - what pain for poor Xuma!

The impression one kept on getting from his works was that here was (Abrahams) a very decent man who just wanted to be treated as a human being and intermingle with others with facility.

Certainly in Tell Freedom, even in those days many decades ago in SA he was able to forge some friendships with some decent people across the colour bar; yet because of apartheid these people (say whites) could not even greet him in broad daylight in public! 

This broke the author's – and even such friends' - hearts - and further convinced Abrahams that he just had to get out of the country; which he managed to do...he wanted to be free!

Incidentally, this reminds one of Sindiwe Magona, the distinguished SA female black writer whose early life was made a misery too because of apartheid. As her works show, she wished she could be free too and mix with other races...it is with choked glee that she happily recalls hosting white friends and acquaintances when she later lived in America... "This is what apartheid denied us..."

Unlike Magona who began writing creatively around her 40s, Peter Abrahams started to do so as a youngster. He always wanted to write and he did so competently and convincingly. He drew the attention of countless people around the world to the despicable situation in South Africa, even as he has retired in Jamaica for decades now. But what an inspiration!!   

Works published by Peter Abrahams

Dark Testament (1942)

Song of the City (1945)

Mine Boy (1946)

The Path of Thunder (1948)

Wild Conquest (1950)

Return to Goli (1953)

Tell Freedom (1954)

A Wreath for Udomo (1956)

A Night of Their Own (1965)

This Island Now (1966)

The View from Coyaba (1985)

The Black Experience in the 20th Century: An Autobiography and Meditation (2000)

Ayi Kwei Armah's THE RESOLUTIONARIES (2013)

"As a professional interpreter, Nefert works at conferences where Africa's rulers meet not to solve the continent's problems, but to resolve to beg for solutions from past and present masters. ... [She] gets drawn into a circle of highly skilled friends looking, like her, for a key to an African future. Her spirit lifts as the group's research uncovers an ancient way of knowledge and creative work, long suppressed during the centuries of foreign oppression ..."

ALI MAZRUI (1933 - 2014)

South African Minister Mthethwa on the passing of World Renowned African Scholar, Ali Mazrui:

“It is with sadness that we have learned of the passing on world renowned and
leading African academic, scholar, writer, intellectual and, above all, critical thinker Ali Mazrui who died at 81 following illness.

Professor Mazrui was one of the most authentic, brilliant, wise and analytical voice to emerge from the African continent in the post-colonial period. The debate and discourse on the African condition and its fate following independence and freedom would be incomplete without him.

As scholar, intellectual, critical thinker and intellectual Ali Mazrui has, over half-a-century, build a solid reputation as one of the most insightful and eloquent voices in the African continent and global scene on the meaning of independence and freedom.

But it was his special attention to the power of culture that Professor Mazrui challenged and transformed the domination of politico-military perspective in world affairs to turn to culture.

He first ignited the South African nation to think about the complex issue of national identity and fusion of Western and African heritage in the continent through his television series, The Africans in the late 1980s that provoked a lot of discussion and debate in the country.

The subject matter of his writings ranged from politics, sociology, philosophy, languages, literature, history, heritage, religion, spirituality and demanded that people from all walks of life participate and contribute to discourse and dialogue.

He never hesitated to promote Pan-Africanist insight and perspective to
inspire self-worth and pride among indigenous people of the continent. He
was bold in his articulation of the thought and view that Africans must draw
inspiration from their own indigenous knowledge systems, languages, history
and culture to reclaim and assert their role and position in global affairs.

Significantly, in his illuminating and compelling writings of over 20 books - including Cultural Forces in World Politics - and countless speaking engagements he remained an African scholar and intellectual who chose sides to be among his people in the battle against the legacy of colonialism.

Indeed, Ali Mazrui was a unique scholar and intellectual in post-colonial African politics, more in the mold of revolutionary modernizer of globalization than embracing developments without critical thoughts.

He was unwavering in his commitment to use his scholarship, knowledge and
insights for the development of Africa and her people.

Indeed, we offer our condolences to his family, the academic fraternity and all critical thinkers who derive their inspiration from towering African thinker and philosopher.

His spirit will live among us as we move forward with the African Agenda
2063…”

Publications:

• 2008: Islam in Africa's Experience [editor: Ali Mazrui, Patrick Dikirr, Robert Ostergard Jr., Michael Toler and Paul Macharia] (New Delhi: Sterling Paperbacks).
• 2008: Euro-Jews and Afro-Arabs: The Great Semitic Divergence in History [editor: Seifudein Adem], (Washington DC: University of America Press).
• 2008: The Politics of War and Culture of Violence [editor: Seifudein Adem and Abdul Bemath], (New Jersey: Africa world Press).
• 2008: Globalization and Civilization: Are they Forces in Conflict? [editor: Ali Mazrui, Patrick Dikirr, Shalahudin Kafrawi], (New York: Global Academic Publications).
• 2006: A Tale of two Africas: Nigeria and South Africa as contrasting Visions [editor: James N. Karioki] (London: Adonis & Abbey).
• 2006: Islam: Between Globalization & Counter-Terrorism [editors: Shalahudin Kafrawi, Alamin M. Mazrui and Ruzima Sebuharara] (Trenton, NJ and Asmara, Eritrea: Africa World Press).
• 2004: The African Predicament and the American Experience: a Tale of two Edens (Westport, CT and London: Praeger).
• 2004: Almin M. Mazrui and Willy M. Mutunga (eds). Race, Gender, and Culture Conflict: Mazrui and His Critics (Trenton, New Jersey: African World Press).
• 2003: Almin M. Mazrui and Willy M. Mutunga (eds). Governance and Leadership:Debating the African Condition (Trenton, New Jersey: African World Press).
• 2002: Black Reparations in the era of Globalization [with Alamin Mazrui] (Binghamton: The Institute of Global Cultural Studies).
• 2002: The Titan of Tanzania: Julius K. Nyerere's Legacy (Binghamton: The Institute of Global Cultural Studies).
• 2002: Africa and other Civilizations: Conquest and Counter-Conquest, The Collected Essays of Ali A. Mazrui, Vol. 2 [series editor: Toyin Falola; editors: Ricardo Rene Laremont & Fouad Kalouche] (Trenton, NJ and Asmara, Eritrea: Africa World Press)
• 2002: Africanity Redefined, The Collected Essays of Ali A. Mazrui, Vol. 1 [Series Editor: Toyin Falola; Editors: Ricardo Rene Laremont & Tracia Leacock Seghatolislami] (Trenton, NJ, and Asmara,Eritrea: Africa World Press).
• 1999: Political Culture of Language: Swahili, Society and the State [with Alamin M. Mazrui] (Binghamton: The Institute of Global Cultural Studies).
• 1999: The African Diaspora: African Origins and New World Identities [co-editors Isidore Okpewho and Carole Boyce Davies] 
• 1998: The Power of Babel: Language and Governance in the African Experience [with Alamin M. Mazrui] 
• 1995: Swahili, State and Society: The Political Economy of an African Language [with Alamin M. Mazrui] (Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers).
• 1993: Africa since 1935: VOL. VIII of  UNESCO General History of Africa [editor; asst. ed. C. Wondji] 1993).
• 1990: Cultural Forces in World Politics (London and Portsmouth, N.H: James Currey and Heinemann).
• 1986: The Africans: A Triple Heritage (New York: Little Brown and Co., and London: BBC).
• 1986: The Africans: A Reader Senior Editor [with T.K. Levine] (New York: Praeger).
• 1984: Nationalism and New States in Africa: From about 1935 to the Present [with Michael Tidy] (Heinemann Educational Books, London).
• 1980: The African Condition: A Political Diagnosis [The Reith Lectures] (London, Heinemann Educational Books and New York, Cambridge University Press).
• 1978: The Warrior Tradition in Modern Africa [editor] 
• 1978: Political Values and the Educated Class in Africa (London: Heinemann Educational Books and Berkeley, CA: University of California Press).
• 1977: State of the Globe Report, 1977 (edited and co-authored for World Order Models Project)
• 1977: Africa's International Relations: The Diplomacy of Dependency and Change (London: Heinemann Educational Books and Boulder: Westview Press).
• 1976: A World Federation of Cultures: An African Perspective (New York: Free Press).
• 1975: Soldiers and Kinsmen in Uganda: The Making of a Military Ethnocracy (Beverly Hills: Sage Publication and London).
• 1975: The Political Sociology of the English Language: An African Perspective: (The Hague: Mouton Co.).
• 1973: World Culture and the Black Experience (Seattle).
• 1973: Africa in World Affairs: The Next Thirty Years [co-edited with Hasu Patel] (New York and London: The Third Press).
• 1971: The Trial of Christopher Okigbo [novel] (London: Heinemann Educational Books and New York: The Third Press).
• 1971: Cultural Engineering and Nation-Building in East Africa (Evanston, Illinois).
• 1970: Protest and Power in Black Africa [co-edited with Robert I. Rotberg] 
• 1969: Violence and Thought: Essays on Social Tentions in Africa (London and Harlow: Longman).
• 1967: Towards a Pax Africana: A Study of Ideology and Ambition (London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, and University of Chicago Press).
• 1967: On Heroes and Uhuru-Worship: Essays on Independent Africa (London: Longman).
• 1967: The Anglo-African Commonwealth: Political Friction and Cultural Fusion (Oxford: Pergamon Press).

CHRIS VAN WYK (1957 - 2014)

  

 By Raphael Mokoena

"An amiable, warm man passionately in love with the world of writing"  This was the impression I got of Chris van Wyk at a workshop on literature we both attended some years ago.     

Chris van Wyk was a much more versatile writer than he was perhaps given credit for. His early publications like It is time to go home (poetry, 1979) and A message in the wind (fiction 1982) underlined his talent. And of course he went on to publish many other works primarily aimed at youngsters.

But The year of the Tapeworm (1996) is very much an adult novel. Autobiographical works like Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, and, Eggs to lay and Chickens to Hatch have been quite acclaimed.

One of the outstanding highlights of van Wyk's writing career was the publication of an abridged version of Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom for children - a work adults can easily read and learn
a lot from too.       

For many others, van Wyk's magnum opus might well be his long list of books - biographies of famous
Southern African people - for teenagers. They include:

* Oliver Tambo.      * Helen Joseph.      * Chris Hani.        * Steve

Biko.        * Walter Sisulu.     * Yusuf Dadoo.       * Lilian Ngoyi.
     * Nelson Mandela.    * Bram Fischer.      * Desmond Tutu.      *
Mohandas Gandhi.   * Cissie Gool.       * Albert Luthuli.    * Robert
Sobukwe.    * Thabo Mbeki.       * Sol Plaatje.       * John Dube.
    * Joe Slovo.         * Winnie Mandela.    * Ruth First.

Chris van Wyk won many awards for his extensive writing, including the Olive Schreiner Prize, Masker Miller Longman Literature Award, and the Sanlam Literary Award.

Other works by van Wyk.

My cousin Thabo.

Take a chance

My name is Selina

April in the Cape of Storms

Sergeant Dlamini falls in love

DAMBUDZO MARECHERA: (Black Sunlight)

 
Overview by Paul Lothane

Although the outstanding Zimbabwean writer, Dambudzo Marechera, died so young (at only 35) he had already cemented himself as one of Africa's all-time distinguished writers. Marechera was a novelist, short story writer, poet, and playwright. He was also a polished reviewer of diverse books during his lifetime.  

     

His novel, Black Sunlight was published in his lifetime. His publishers pointed out that he "used language without inhibitions", and so it is in Black Sunlight. The following excerpts/quotations come from the work: 

"fiery bush of cloud, fierce rays, vermillion in vivid colours" (i.e the sun) "the wrinkled curl of the lip around the rim of squalor" "the falcon beat its wings of cymbals". 

 "You are dragged over hot coals of vision by the third leg. It's all things to all men, but basically we are it. We are the great cunt. Whatever you
do, think, feel, aspire to, it's dictated by the great cunt".

"Prometheus hurling defiance at Zeus even as he watches vultures
engorge themselves on his chained body".   

 (Prometheus, one of the early deities, The Titans, having created man from clay, gave him fire - stealing from Olympus - against Zeus' wishes. Zeus chained Prometheus on Mount Caucasus where his entrails were continually fed upon by a vulture). 

"I am astonished by the audience's ignorance" (said Nick, a lecturer) "I did not expect such a low cultural level among you. Those who do not understand my work are simply illiterate..."

Other works by Marechera

House of Hunger 

Black Insider

Mindblast    

Cemetery of mind

Scrapiron Blues