SPEAKING FOR THE GENERATIONS

SPEAKING FOR THE GENERATIONS

Review by Raselebeli Khotseng

Book: SPEAKING FOR THE GENERATIONS (2010)
Editor: Dike Okoro
Publisher: Africa World Press, Inc
Number of pages: 218
Reviewer: Raselebeli Khotseng


Anthologies of “contemporary African short stories” have been churned out over the decades. In the early period of African writing, illustrious names like Chinua Achebe,Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Dambudzo Marechera,Okot p’bitek etc were also renowned for their short stories (as distinct from their novels)

Indeed Chinua Achebe was the protagonist of at least two excellent such anthologies himself over the years. No matter what some cynics/detractors might claim, short story writing will always be dynamic and bubbling, straddling the whole African continent.

Talented short story writers will always emerge on a regular basis. For example in Lesotho, there is a remarkable short story writer called Leseli Mokhele. In the nearby Free State (South Africa) the very young Teboho Masakala is already making a name for himself in this genre.

This particular anthology titled “Speaking for the Generations” has been put together by Dike Okoro, with some 48 contributors. Okoro is a well known poet, short story writer, editor, essayist and critic. He is Assistant Professor of English and World Literature at Olive-Harvey College, Chicago (USA)

Contributors to this book include Benjamin Kwakye, Freddy Macha, Tijan M Sallah, Jackee Batanda, Aryan Kaganof, Mohammed Said Raihani, Tanure Ojaide, Lola Shoneyin, Kondwani Kamiyala, Dan Wanyama Innocent, Noun Gana, Omar A Alkakli, Emmanuel Sigauke, Prince Mensah, Ayobami Adebayo, Joyce Ashuntantang, Sitawa Namwalie, Eresina Hwede, Kobus Moolman.

Other contributors are Temitayo Olofinlua, Dipita Kwa, Akoli Penoukou, Moustapha Laghiri, Ilonga Ngale, A Igoni Barret, Ozioma Izuora, Yangange Wose, Niran Okewole, Tembo Magarimbo, Yewande Omotoso, Becky Apteker, Folake Idowu, Adekunle Afolabi, Beatrice Lamwaka, Mohammed Ferri, Emmanuel Iduma, Arja Salanfranca, Hicham Harrak, Ken Efeh, Said Ahoubate, Dipo Kalejaiye, Roland Marke, Zehra Ramij, F Odun Balogun, Onyi Udegbe, Khadija El Younoussi, Joseph Obi, and Habib D Rabbi.

The editor (Dike Okoro) writes in his Introduction to the book, inter alia: “This book represents fresh insights by some of the very best established and emerging voices of contemporary African fiction...many of these writers grapple with themes that are diverse and universal...(e.g) Aryan Kaganof’s story tackles contemporary South African reality using the politics of living in the post-apartheid era as a yardstick for understanding some of the struggles that a citizen (in South Africa) experiences...stylistically, the stories featured in this book are strong indicators of the oral tradition...it is my hope that readers will be able to identify with the Africa reflected here...”

From a personal point of view, I fairly enjoyed reading most of the short stories in this anthology. I will not say I found the stories particularly earth-shattering, but the thing about short stories is that one can read them individually at one’s pace; and even the most tedious of them come to an end soon! I commend the editor of this work for going out of his way to include writers from virtually every nook and cranny of the continent.