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A chilling collection of tales set in a country once ravaged by civil war and now torn apart by sudden wealth. In this brutal world of bars, brothels and small-town hotels are havens, the sad and lonely, escaping from the hustlers on the streets outside. But the short-lived comforts of a cold embrace or the oblivion of drunkenness are no more than brief respites in the larger struggle for survival.
This anthology represents some of the best African poetry written in English in the last 30 years. The poets include Wole Soyinka, Dennis Brutus, Kojo Laing, Chenjerai Hove and Gabriel Gbadamosi.
A novel.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE 2022 ‘Superb’ The Times ‘Engrossing and revelatory' Observer ‘Powerful, compelling and meticulously researched’ New Statesman
A Prospect Best Book of 2021 ‘A fascinating and timely book.’ William Boyd ‘Gripping…a must read.’ FT ‘Compelling…humane, reasonable, and ultimately optimistic.’ Evening Standard ‘[A] valuable guide to a complex narrative.’ The Times In 1897, Britain sent a punitive expedition to the Kingdom of Benin, in what is today Nigeria, in retaliation for the killing of seven British officials and traders. British soldiers and sailors captured Benin, exiled its king and annexed the territory. They also made off with some of Africa’s greatest works of art. The ‘Benin Bronzes’ are now amongst the most admired and valuable artworks in the world. But seeing them in the British Museum today is, in the words of one Benin City artist, like ‘visiting relatives behind bars’. In a time of huge controversy about the legacy of empire, racial justice and the future of museums, what does the future hold for the Bronzes?
A collection of 20 stories written between 1980-1991 which deal with themes relevant to various regions of Africa.
A Brutal State of Affairs analyses the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe and challenges Rhodesian mythology. The story of the BSAP, where white and black officers were forced into a situation not of their own making, is critically examined. The liberation war in Rhodesia might never have happened but for the ascendency of the Rhodesian Front, prevailing racist attitudes, and the rise of white nationalists who thought their cause just. Blinded by nationalist fervour and the reassuring words of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and army commanders, the Smith government disregarded the advice of its intelligence services to reach a settlement before it was too late. By 1979, the Rhodesians were staring into the abyss, and the war was drawing to a close. Salisbury was virtually encircled, and guerrilla numbers continued to grow. A Brutal State of Affairs examines the Rhodesian legacy, the remarkable parallels of history, and suggests that Smiths Rhodesian template for rule has, in many instances, been assiduously applied by Mugabe and his successors.
"A BRILLIANT, PROVOCATIVE, OPINIONATED WORK..RECOMMENDED."--CHOICE. Festus Iyayi, Ben Okri & Kole Omotoso represent what has come to be known as the second "generation" of Nigerian novelists. Emerging from the shadow of the 68-70 civil war, they were greatly influenced by the ensuing shifts in public & social life, especially the obscene levels of corruption which coincided with the country's second experiment in democracy under President Shagari. In the first examination of this group of writers, Adewale Maja-Pearce presents a detailed critique of the major figures-- Omotoso, Iyayi & Okri--while also touching upon lesser-known novelists such as Ifeoma Okoye, Lekan Oyegoke & Tony Marinho. Other forms of literary activity to blossom during the same period (poetry & drama) are discussed, along with background material on the modern Nigerian novel & an update of the current literary scene. (NEW PERSPECTIVES ON AFRICAN LITERATURE, 3)
Adewale Maja-Pearce analyzes contemporary African politics and society with absolute candor in these essays. Drawing on first-hand observations, and on conversations with journalists, intellectuals, students, artists, taxi drivers, and businessmen, he exposes the abuse of human rights by African governments, and celebrates the courage of those individuals who stand up to tyranny.