LITERARY FLASHES

Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga , South African born writer, literary critic, essayist, poet and Pan-Africanist, has clocked the age of 40. Many literary aficionados and enthusiasts have paid glittering tribute to Soqaga ( above) who has published extensively on African writers, male and female, their works, and vision. Here is a cross-section of some of the felicitations: Lupna Avery: Congratulations on your birthday, Mr Soqaga. I am sure lovers of books etc across Africa appreciate your contributions over the years. 40 years has such a nice ring. Leke Giwa: Hope you have a wonderful day. You have published extensively on African writers. I enjoy reading about you, and other prominent literary personnel on the internet. Madolyn Chukwu: 40 years!! That is  wonderful. Mr Soqaga (South African; eh...) loves literature so much. He writes long engaging essays and profiles on books and writers. I wish him a magnificent Birthday. Henry Ozogula: I am ...

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. E gbuna’s demise was 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 wa...

Cameroonian writer Mbella Sonne Dipoko (1936 - 2009) was mainly depicted as an erotic writer of sorts; whereas the simple truth is that he was a very good novelist and poet. His novels in particular disturbed a number of critics, reviewers and readers because of the rather explicit sexual content therein. That was way back in the 60s when some felt that a "serious, committed African writer" should not dwell too much on such things. As Paul Theroux suggested then decades ago, African writers were supposed to write "about solid tribal wisdom, ghoulish rituals and the inscrutable cruelty of colonialism - not to mention the inclusion of semi-profound proverbs and the utterances of very old men with dry skin and wizened faces." Yet, even way back in the 60s (and early seventies) other distinguished African writers wrote about sex in some detail in their works; for example Ayi Kwei Armah ( especially in Fragments), Chinua Achebe (A man of the People), ...

By   BAYO ADEBOWALE D.O. Fagunwa’s creative art, from inception, has been received with warmth and enthusiasm. His early-time audience consumed the themes and contents of his works eagerly and with gusto… Whoever among them can ever forget Fagunwa’s powerful character portrait of his major characters like Esu Kekereode, Anjonnu Iberu, Olowoaye, Ojola Ibinu, Kako, Akaraoogun, Imodoye, Olohun Iyo, Aramanda Okunrin, Egbin, Ibembe Olokunrun, Ifepade, Arogidigba, Baba Onirugbon Yeuke, Ajediran, Iragbeje, Ajantala, Ogongo Baba Eye, Edidare people and Omugodimeji their Royal Father, Ireke Onibudo, itanforiti, Ologbo Ijakadi, Iyunade and Ahondiwura! Fagunwa’s early-time critics, in the same token, evaluated the style and technique of his novels with utmost regard and respect. All of Fagunwa’s novels got incisive analysis and critical acclaim from eminent scholars, of the calibre of Ayo Bamgbose, Abiola Irele, Uli Beier, Bernth Lindfors, Omolara Ogundipe-Leslie, Akinwumi I...

Omoseye Bolaji is often referred to as a "prolific writer", along the lines of Africa's pantheon of such writers, like David Maillu, Naiwu Osahon, or Asare Konadu.  But this might even be deemed something of a pejorative rather than a compliment.  African writers like Ngugi and Soyinka have probably published more books anyway, and they are hardly described as prolific - mainly because over the years they have rightly been accepted as part of the very best writers in the entire world, not just African writers. Those familiar with his published works realise that Omoseye Bolaji is more than just a "prolific African writer", or just a "writer of fiction". I think his contributions to literature can be largely divided into three segments.  1. Bolaji's  fiction, mainly his creation of the Tebogo Mystery series of books. About ten volumes in the series have been published thus far. In the Tebogo books, the author explores his pet th...

The moment we realized we had actually written a book, we got a shock in our veins and we started to edit and write with purpose because we realized that what we have, was now bigger than us, we were talking about love but little did we know that God was talking about us before we were born. On this particular chapter, there is no his or hers but we are speaking as one, connected to the same source 'n breathing in the same space, This book came as a suggestion from a dear friend of ours Mosele Mokgoetsi, reawakening a desire to turn our story into more than just a tale for our friends, and unknown to them, our families who are still in the dark to this day about how our union actually transpired. Our love story is more than just about two hearts colliding into one, or the many heartbreaks we both endured before we finally fell right into each other's loving gaze. The book is inspired by the kinda love that goes beyond the ...