Landlines in African literary studies / edited by Gordon Collier.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Collier, Gordon, editor.

Series:

Matatu ; 0932-9714 no. 47.

Matatu, 0932-9714 ; volume 47

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African literature--History and criticism.

African literature.

Nigerian drama (English)--History and criticism.

Nigerian drama (English).

Nigerian fiction (English)--History and criticism.

Nigerian fiction (English).

African drama--History and criticism.

African drama.

African fiction--History and criticism.

African fiction.

African poetry--History and criticism.

African poetry.

Proverbs, Yoruba.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

x, 362 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden : Brill Rodopi, [2015]

Summary:

The notion of 'landlines' intimates communication, and is a fairly safe bet as far as most of the writing offered here, critical and creative, is concerned. In a way, of course, the metaphor is a rearguard action, and blows up in one's face, as it were, suggesting as it does a system of telephonic communication that is no longer typical of Africa, which is at the forefront of cellphone culture. On the more positive side, it is hoped that 'landlines' evoke traditional values, permitting the endorsement of communicative standards that are higher than those fostered by the 'etherial' chaos of cyberspace. The essays included are overwhelmingly concerned with Nigeria (productive powerhouse of the continent), covering such writers as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Vincent Egbuson, Buchi Emecheta, D.O. Fágúnwà, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Femi Osofisan (two articles), Wole Soyinka, and Ahmed Yerima. The Nigerian novel (four articles) is roughly matched by studies of Nigerian dramatists (five articles). Also offered are three essays on fiction from outside Nigeria, by Alexander McCall Smith (Botswana), J.M. Coetzee (South Africa), and Marie NDiaye (France), and a treatment of the poetry of Jack Mapanje (Malawi). A further, wide-ranging essay, on cityscapes, discusses novels from Cameroon. Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Kenya, as well as paintings from Equatorial Guinea and public placarding in Accra. Social awareness, a firm sense of history and traditional culture, the contemporary challenges of gender and identity-politics, and the perennial theme of endemic corruption are themes that underpin all of the contributions to Matatu 47. Matatu has traditionally fostered the publication of creative writing, and the present issue is no exception, featuring as it does poetry from Trinidad, a play from Nigeria, and short stories from Burundi, Ghana, and Nigeria. The volume closes with in-depth reviews of books on Yoruba proverbs, Chinua Achebe, and transnational literature. Book jacket.

Contents:

Essays

Emecheta, Culture, and The Bride Price / Jane Duran Duran, Jane 3

Neologism and Dual Gender Status: The Socio-Political Implications of Tess Onwueme's The Reign of Wazobia / H. Oby Okolocha Okolocha, H. Oby, Lendzemo Constantine Yuka Yuka, Lendzemo Constantine 15

In Place / Out of Place: Crossings and Cross-Cultural Connections in Sarah Ladipo Manyika's In Dependence / Wumi Raji Raji, Wumi 37

Bourgeois Politics and Ideology in Vincent Egbuson's Womandela / Dele Bamidele Bamidele, Dele, Sunday Victor Akwu Akwu, Sunday Victor 57

The Transition from a Mythopoeic to a Populist Aesthetic in Selected Political Flays of Wole Soyinka / Adebayo Mosobalaje Mosobalaje, Adebayo 71

Myths, Legends, and Contemporary Nigerian Theatre: The Example of Femi Osofisan / Tony E. Afejuku Afejuku, Tony E., E.B. Adeleke Adeleke, E.B. 97

Incorporating the Audience into Performance Femi Osofisan's Once Upon Four Robbers / Pelumi Folajimi Folajimi, Pelumi 113

Resident Aliens: Identity-Politics in the Drama of Ahmed Yerima / Harry Olufunwa Olufunwa, Harry 127

Fictional and Street Narratives: The Textual Scaffolding of Contemporary African Cities / Dorothy Odartey-Wellington Odartey-Wellington, Dorothy 153

Naturalism and Health in Fágúnwa's Novels / Fausat M. Ibrahim Ibrahim, Fausat M., Ayodele S. Jegede Jegede, Ayodele S. 175

Memory and Poetry: Imagining the Present to Reconnect the Past in The Chattering Wagtails of Mikuyu Prison by Jack Mapanje / Owojecho Omoha Omoha, Owojecho 205

Childless Mothers and Motherless Children Fantasies of Postcolonial Reproduction in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency / Clare Counihan Counihan, Clare 221

Motherhood and the Measure of Truth in J.M. Coetiee's Age of Iron / Mahrukh Khan Khan, Mahrukh 247

La Question de difference dans l'æuvre de Marie NDiaye / Adele King King, Adele 275

Creative Writing

Five Poems / Summer Edward Edward, Summer 285

The Voice of Pigmies / Marie-Thérèse Toyi Toyi, Marie-Thérèse 291

A Night Longer: A Short Play / Isaiah U. Ilo Ilo, Isaiah U. 301

Medicine for Joy / Sophia Akhuemokhan Akhuemokhan, Sophia 313

Oversized Coat / Flora A. Trebi-Ollennu Trebi-Ollennu, Flora A. 329

Reviews

Covering the Proverbial Distance Faster and Safer / Félix Ayoh'Omidire Ayoh'Omidire, Félix 341

Chinua Achebe, a Mountain of the African Savannah / Gilbert Braspenning Braspenning, Gilbert 346

Sign-Posting the Transnational / Kenneth Usongo Usongo, Kenneth 350.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9789004312692

9004312692

OCLC:

948736134