About the Book
Ranging from ancient cultures to the present century, from Africa’s rich oral traditions to its contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama, this long-awaited comprehensive anthology reflects the enduring themes of African literature.
The selections, drawn from the length and breadth of the continent, reveal the richness of African creativity. Readers will find myths and epics; works by such well-known figures as Chinua Achebe, Mariama Ba; Bessie Head, Tayeb Salih, Woel Soyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong’o; and fiction and poetry by myriad new writers.
The pieces are organized chronologically within geographic region and enhanced by both introductory material and biographical notes on each writer. An author/title index and suggestions for further reading are also included. About the Author
Anthonia C. Kalu is professor of black studies at the University of Northern Colorado. Her numerous publications on African literature include Women, Literature and Development in Africa, and she is also author of a collection of short stories (Broken Lives and Other Stories) and a novel in progress.
Table of Contents:
Introduction • Part 1 The Oral Tradition • North Africa: The king climbs to the sky on a ladder •The king joins the sun god • The dead king hunts and eats the gods •The instruction of prince Hardjedef • The shipwrecked sailor • West Africa: Why the sun and the moon live in the sky • The origin of death • Contest at the baobab tree • Three fast men • Sun god brings iron to man • Anansi borrows money • Àjàpá and Àáyá onírù-méje (the seven-tailed colobus monkey) • The song of gimmile • D.T. Niane, The epic of Sundiata • Gasire’s lute • How twins came among the Yoruba • Iron is received from ogun • Central Africa: The running of ture and one-leg • Ngomba’s basket • Nchonozo Nkila’s dance drum • The woman who killed her co-wife • The mwindo epic • East Africa and the horn • Wanjiru, sacrificed by her people • The legend of Kintu • Adventures of Abunuwas, trickster hero • The brothers, sun and moon, and the pretty girl • How Makeda visited Jerusalem, and how Mmenelik became king • The story of Liongo: A tale of the Swahili people • A battle of Eghal Shillet: A Somali story • Love song • Fortitude • Southern Africa: Mantis creates an eland • Why the hippo has a stumpy tail • Nwashisisana, the hare • Untombinde, the tall maiden • Zimwa-mbanje the hemp smoker • Dingiswayo, son of Jobe of the Mthethwa clan • Nandi, daughter of Mbengi of the Langeni clan • Mnkabayi, daughter of Jama of the Zulu clan • Senzangakhona • Part 2 Early African Autobiographies: The Slave Trade: Olaudah Equiano, Equiano’s travels • Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, The African travels of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq • Ali Eisami Gazirmabe, narrative of the travels of Ali Eisami • Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the Narrative of Samuel Ajayi Crowther • Petro Kilekwa, Slave boy to priest • Part 3 The Colonial Period, 1885-1956 • West Africa: Andrew Amankwa Opoku, River Afram • Camara Laye, The dark child (chapter 2-3) • James Ene Henshaw, The jewels of the shrine: a play in one act • Amos Tutuola, The palm-wine drinkard • Central Africa: Patrice Emery Lumumba, Dawn in the heart of Africa • Southern Africa: Thomas Mofolo, Chaka (chapters 3-4) • St. J. Page Yako, The contraction and enclosure of the land • Sob. W. Nukuhlu, The land of the people once living • Peter Abrahams, Mine boy (chapter 4) • Es’kia Mphahlele, Exile in Nigeria • Part 4 The Postcolonial Period, 1957 to the Present • North Africa: Tayeb Salih, The doum tree of Wad Hamid • Yusuf Sibai, The country boy • Assia Djebar, My father writes to my mother • Driss chraibi, Mother comes of age (chapters 2-3) • Mustapha Tlili, Lion mountain (chapters 3-4) • Nawal el Saadawi, The fall of the Imam • Danièle Amrane, You called to me, prison windows • Rachida Madani, Here I am once more… • Andrée Chedid, who remains standing? • Stepping aside • Amina Saïd, And we were born • The Africa of the statue • Tawfiq Al-Hakim, Food for the millions (acts 1-3) • West Africa: Chinua Achebe, Things fall apart (chapters 3-4) • Flora Nwapa, Efuru (chapters 9-10) • Ferdinand Oyono, Houseboy • Mariama Bâ, So long a letter (chapters 1-8) • Buchi Emecheta, Kehinde (chapters 13-14) • Sembene Ousmane, Tribal scars or the voltaique • Zaynab Alkali, Saltless ash • T. Obinkaram Echewa, I saw the sky catch fire (chapter 11) • Benjamin Kwakye, The clothes of nakedness (chapters 8-9) • Makuchi, Market scene • Anthonia Kalu, Independence • Kofi Awoonor, Songs of sorrow • Kojo Gyinaye Kyei, African in Louisiana • Bernard Dadie, I thank you god • Kofi anyidoho, our birth-cord • Rush-hour in soul-city • Maria Manuela Margarido, You who occupy our land • Ifi Amadiume, Nok lady in terracotta • Ezenwa Ohaeto, It is easy to forget • Abena P.A. Busia, Achimota: from the story my mother taught me • L.S. Senghor, Letter to a poet (to aimé césaire) • Murders • Birago Diop, Breath • Lenrie Peters, Soweto, I know your anguish • , I am talking to you my sister • Wole Soyinka, Abiku, Telephone conversation • Christopher Okigbo, Heavensgate (I,V) • Niyi Osundare, goree • Our earth will not die • Tanure Ojaide, Launching our community Development fund, When tomorrow is too long • Nana Banyiwa Horne, Naana bosompo • Nananom (a tribute to those gone on) •Heritage • Otymeyin Agbajoh-Laoye, Motherhood cut short, Yanga woman • Wole Sonyinka, The trials of brother Jero (act 1, scenes 1-3) • Ama Ata Aidoo, Anowa (excerpt from phase 1) • Central Africa: Henri Lopes, The honourable gentleman • E.B. Dongala, The man • Henri Lopes, The advance • Tchicaya U Tam’si, Agony • East Africa and the horn: Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Mugumo • Awuor Ayoda, Workday •Violet Dias Lannoy, The story of jesus – according to mokuba, the beloved tribesman • Meja Mwangi, Striving for the wind (chapter 2) • Peter Anyang’-Nyong’O, Daughter of the low land • Walter Odame, By the long road, Dear child • Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, Home-coming son • Okotp’ Bitek, Song of lawino • Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi wa Mirii, I will marry when I want (act 1) • Southern Africa: Bessie Head, The deep river: A story of ancient tribal migration • Mbulelo Vizikhungo Mzamane, The children of Soweto • Nadine Gordimer, a city of the dead, A city of the living • Bernard Luis Honwana, We killed mangy-dog • Dambudzo Marechera, Black skin what mask • Milly Jafta, The home-coming • Gugu Ndlovu, The barrel of a pen • Gcina Mhlope, The toilet • Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous conditions (chapter 4) • Sindiwe Magona, A state of outrage • Dennis Brutus, Robben island sequence • Gcina Mhlope, Sometimes when it rains • Noémia de Sousa, Poem of a distant childhood, Let my people go • Jean-Joseph Rabéaribelo, Cactus, Zebu • Agostinho Neto, Kinaxixi, Hoisting the flag • Chenjerai Hove, Nursery rhyme after a war, To the wielders of flags • Mazisi kunene, A note to all surviving Africans • Njabulo S. Ndebele, The revolution of the aged • Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, An abandoned bundle, The face of hunger • Lewis Nkosi, The rhythm of violence (act 1, scenes 1-3)
