Anatomy of female power.. By Chinweizu

This is a controversial and provocative work; it is also a scholarly and intellectual contribution. The author apparently believes that women run the gauntlet of controlling and manipulating men. A plethora of eclectic references and allusions and comments are cleverly served up to convince us of the overt and covert powers of the fairer sex. Reality, sleight of hand, or 'bunkum' so to speak? Perhaps it depends on the reader, the race, society, class etc. As an African, I'd be reluctant to believe women are as powerful as this - the facts show that even in modern times most women are not only suppressed or oppressed in the continent but are actually cruelly treated, viciously raped, kidnapped, abused, especially in war-torn areas and in many rural communities. Polygamy is fairly common in Africa too, with many educated women finding themselves part of the harem of rich, powerful, and or even average men. Would one describe such women as having unbridled powers over their men; or that they are enjoying the situation they find themselves in? Or perhaps the author has western women and their ilk in mind; liberated women wearing the trousers at home? If only it were that simple - we tend to forget that even in the "civilized" world women were certainly at least second class citizens until comparatively very recently in world history. Africans perhaps who might doubt this can examine the themes of just two classics of literature in the western world. In The Mayor of Casterbridge (Thomas Hardy) a western man actually sells his own wife! Also consider The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte) where what seems simple now – a western woman "closing the door" on, and leaving a most debased, shocking husband was regarded as a revolutionary deed at the time! So yes, it has not been all roses for women, even if one concedes in our modern world that ladies are (in theory at least) every inch "equal" to men. The author here takes intellectual pains in explaining, delineating types of men and women, and how some women even gloat about their power over men! One suspects that all this is exaggerated and despite the physical attractions and allure of women, men cannot be such suckers...at least on a permanent level. But this is not to deny that women can be very powerful in their own way too; many men have fallen by the wayside because of the opposite sex, but it runs both ways. These days brazen, shameless female prostitution is multiplying in our societies, and can this by any stretch of the imagination be depicted as women manipulating or using men? Or are women victims; to a large extent hapless? On the whole, this work is intellectually intriguing and satisfying, a brilliant extended essay. But one has doubts about the conclusions the author apparently draws…
- Malome

KAGISO LESEGO MOLOPE

Kagiso Lesego Molope belongs to the genre of outstanding younger South African black female writers - a bit like Futhi Ntshingila. Kagiso is a very good writer and has established herself over the years, publishing at least three works of fiction. Her prose and dialogue are convincing and accessible, and the perspective of young female protagonists in her work is moving. Her themes range from development of particular characters, to mayhem, prejudices against lesbians (or even racial prejudice), to vicissitudes of apartheid in general. All Kagiso's work showcase her vibrant, convincing imagination, and a cerebral approach apparently pared down for maximum effect

KASI NERD. By Tebogo Ditshego

A bestselling work by one of South Africa's most outstanding youths.

EZE GOES TO SCHOOL By Onuora Nzekwu

 

This book, written and published decades ago by a revered Nigerian academic, was a bestseller and a must-read for children for many years. Whilst the western world can boast thousands of important works published for children, the same is not the case in Africa. Or even general works. The author of Eze goes to School, Mr Nzekwu might even seem like an unlikely "candidate" to have written such a fine work for kids, as he is a superb author of adult novels; some pundits even claim that in some ways he was "better" than Chinua Achebe as a novelist. Those who might find this incredulous would do well to read Nzekwu's novels like Wand of Noble Wood, and Blade among the Boys. Interestingly, Achebe said he was not happy with the way Eurocentric writers portrayed Africa and its denizens hence he decided to write his own novel(s); and Nzekwu has also pointed out that he wrote this famous book for children when he found out that there were no such books written for kids by Nigerians who knew the society well. And hence this legendary work was conceived and born. For decades thousands and thousands of children in west Africa would identify with the protagonist, Eze and his travails whilst trying to garner the rudiments of western education. There are many difficulties in his path, and heart-breaking tragedy too, especially when he loses his father! The angst here lives on in the mind of many readers. But our Eze is not a quitter and plods on, ever resilient...and somewhat succeeds. The importance of education is highlighted in this book, which essentially is a long-standing triumph
- Malome

CELIBACY AND OTHER CUTE LITTLE THINGS

By Mpho Matsitle

- SHORT STORIES -

BLACK MAN S DILEMMA By Areoye Oyebola

As one would expect, this book has been controversial since it was
first published decades ago. The author, Areoye Oyebola, is a
formidable long-standing Nigerian journalist, editor and intellectual.
He is generally perceived as a man of candour; a quality adumbrated in
this work as he earnestly, passionately and intellectually inveigles
the black race to avoid complacency, face some (painful) home truths,
and learn from the course of history, and hopefully somewhat forge
ahead. He goes down world history to argue that the black man has
always been backward, retrogressive, and there is no point in denying
this, or living in a fool's paradise. Yes (as he points out) some
scholars and historians wrote about some sort of greatness in old
African cities, but where are the (physical) vestiges of the same? Why
was Africa prey to such disastrous things like the trans-atlantic
slavery, colonisation, and under-development? Is it a fact that many
of our cultural practices further pull us backwards, and exacerbate
things like complacency and corruption? This is a well researched
book, almost scholarly...one gets the impression that the author has
made up his mind that the black (African) race can hardly move
forward, despite the hypothetical dilemma. The author marshals his
facts (including history, sociology, antecedents et al) well, and
despondency might well creep in for the reader. Now, considering the
passage of time over the decades, can the author be perceived to be
right or wrong? For example, who would have imagined a man with
African origins like Barack Obama holding sway over the most powerful
nation in the world? Do we not have tens of thousands of outstanding
Black professionals, scientists, intellectuals dotted around the
world? But the bottom line, the author might well state even now, is
that Africa still remains relatively generally under-developed, poor,
rudderless, with tawdry, suspect leadership across the board. And
quality of life for most individuals is plummeting. So do we ever
learn? New generations will certainly glean lots of knowledge and
truth from this work...

Malome

KOSSOH TOWN BOY. By Robert Wellesley Cole

It is always heartening when distinguished Africans put pen to paper, and as in this case, reminisce on their childhood, their lives in general. Es'kia Mphahlele (South Africa) did the same in his classic, Down Second Avenue. Cole (Sierra Leone) also obliges here. More of the same please! Yes, in this narrative the somewhat sickly youth brilliantly looks back on his childhood, his early close shaves with death, his relatively privileged background. Education is very important in this family, with the author's father having undertaken important studies in England - a time his stoic mother had to hold the fort back at home in Kossoh Town, and sometimes emotionally administer terrific beatings on poor Cole! (the author). Not that his father held back the rod too whilst at home, especially anytime he thought the boy was slacking in his studies. The boy tries to live a fairly normal life in his society, attending some social occasions, and partaking in sports generally. There is a particular account of a football match interspersed with facetious comments uttered in the flexible "Krio" patois. A privileged childhood in an upper middle class family...nowadays it might seem farcical what constituted "middle class/privileged" some decades ago, at a time when there was no television, no telephone (never mind mobile ones), no computers, no internet etc. But such are the vagaries and nuances of shifting life. The author recalls a serenity of sorts, with plenty of discipline, shades of bustling culture, growing up et al. His early life in school, his relentless studies; reading, reading...knowing he was destined for much better and bigger things (he would later on travel overseas too, en route to becoming the first African surgeon). Yes, that would be later on; here in this book he just looks back creatively and perhaps even nostalgically on his youth. And after all, this is the story - a very fine story - of a boy... Kossoh Town Boy...