African & Caribbean Kofi Awoonor (13 March 1935 21 September 2013) was a Ghanaian poet and author

r whose work combined the poetic traditions of his nati e !wepeop"e and contemporar# and re"i$ious s#mbo"ism to depict %frica durin$ deco"oni&ation' (e started writin$ under the name George Awoonor-Williams')1* +rofessor %woonor was amon$ those who were ki""ed in the September 2013 attack at ,est$ate shoppin$ ma"" in -airobi. /en#a'

Rediscovery and Other Poems (1901) Night of My Blood (1921) poems that e3p"ore %woonor4s roots. and the impact of forei$n ru"e in %frica)0* The House By the Sea (1925)

Novels

This Earth, My Brother (1921) a cross between a no e" and a poem)0* Comes the oyager at !ast (1992)

Non-fiction

The Breast of the Earth" # Survey of the History, Culture, and !iterature of #frica South of the Sahara (1925) %nchor +ress. 6S7- 0835580205385 $hana" # Political History from Pre%Euro&ean to Modern Times (1990) 9he %frican +redicament: ;o""ection of !ssa#s (2000)

Chinua Achebe (<tnw tb<.)1* born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe= 10 -o ember 1930 21 March 2013))2* was a -i$erian)3* no e"ist.poet. professor. and critic' (e was best known for his first no e" and ma$num opus.)1* Things 'all #&art (1955). which is the most wide"# read book in modern %frican "iterature')5* >aised b# his parents in the 6$bo town of ?$idi in southeastern -i$eria. %chebe e3ce""ed at schoo" and won a scho"arship for under$raduate studies' (e became fascinated with wor"d re"i$ions and traditiona" %frican cu"tures. and be$an writin$ stories as a uni ersit# student' %fter $raduation. he worked for the -i$erian 7roadcastin$ Ser ice (-7S) and soon mo ed to the metropo"is of @a$os' (e $ained wor"dwide attention forThings 'all #&art in the "ate 1950s= his "ater no e"s inc"ude No !onger at Ease (1900). #rro( of $od (1901). # Man of the Peo&le (1900). and#nthills of the Savannah (1952)' %chebe wrote his no e"s in !n$"ish and defended the use of !n$"ish. a A"an$ua$e of co"onisersA. in %frican "iterature' 6n 1925. his "ecture #n )mage of #frica" Racism in Conrad*s +Heart of ,ar-ness+ featured a famous criticism of Boseph ;onrad as Aa thorou$h$oin$ racistA= it was "ater pub"ished in The Massachusetts Revie( amid some contro ers#' ,hen the re$ion of 7iafra broke awa# from -i$eria in 1902. %chebe became a supporter of 7iafran independence and acted as ambassador for the peop"e of the new nation' %chebe4s no e"s focus on the traditions of 6$bo societ#. the effect of ;hristian

inf"uences. and the c"ash of ,estern and traditiona" %frican a"ues durin$ and after the co"onia" era' (is st#"e re"ies hea i"# on the 6$bo ora" tradition. and combines strai$htforward narration with representations of fo"k stories. pro erbs. and orator#' (e a"so pub"ished a number of short stories. chi"dren4s books. and essa# co""ections' Crom 2009 unti" his death. he ser ed as a professor at 7rown Dni ersit# in the Dnited States' Things Fall Apart is an !n$"ish8"an$ua$e no e" b# -i$erian author ;hinua %chebe pub"ished in 1955 b# ,i""iam (einemann @td in the D/' 6t is seen as the archet#pa" modern %frican no e" in !n$"ish. one of the first to recei e $"oba" critica" acc"aim' 6t is a stap"e book in schoo"s throu$hout %frica and is wide"# read and studied in !n$"ish8speakin$ countries around the wor"d' 9he tit"e of the no e" comes from ,i""iam 7ut"er Eeats4 poem A9he Second ;omin$A')1* 9he no e" shows the "ife of ?konkwo. a "eader and "oca" wrest"in$ champion in DmuofiaFone of a fictiona" $roup of nine i""a$es in -i$eria. inhabited b# the 6$bo peop"e (in the no e". A6boA)' 6t describes his fami"# and persona" histor#. the customs and societ# of the 6$bo. and the inf"uence of 7ritish co"onia"ism and ;hristian missionaries on the 6$bo communit# durin$ the "ate nineteenth centur#' Things 'all #&art was fo""owed b# a seGue". No !onger at Ease (1900). ori$ina""# written as the second part of a "ar$er work a"on$ with #rro( of $od(1901)' %chebe states that his two "ater no e"s. # Man of the Peo&le (1900) and #nthills of the Savannah (1952). whi"e not featurin$ ?konkwo4s descendants. are spiritua" successors to the pre ious no e"s in chronic"in$ %frican histor#' No Longer at Ease is a 1900 no e" b# -i$erian author ;hinua %chebe' 6t is the stor# of an 6$bo (a"so spe""ed 6bo) man. ?bi ?konkwo. who "ea es his i""a$e for a 7ritish education and a Hob in the -i$erian co"onia" ci i" ser ice. but who stru$$"es to adapt to a ,estern "ifest#"e and ends up takin$ abribe' 9he no e" is the seGue" to %chebe4s Things 'all #&art. which concerned the stru$$"e of ?bi ?konkwo4s $randfather ?konkwo a$ainst the chan$es brou$ht b# the !n$"ish' 9he book4s tit"e comes from the c"osin$ "ines of 9' S' !"iot4s poem. The .ourney of the Magi: /e returned to our &laces, these 0ingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dis&ensation, /ith an alien &eo&le clutching their gods1 ) should 2e glad of another death1 Arrow of God is a 1901 no e" b# ;hinua %chebe. his third no e" after Things 'all #&art and No !onger at Ease' 9hese three books are sometimes ca""ed The #frican Trilogy. as the# share simi"ar settin$s and themes' 9he no e" centers on !&eu"u. the chief priest of se era" 6$bo i""a$es in ;o"onia" -i$eria. who confronts co"onia" powers and ;hristian missionaries in the 1920s')1* 9he phrase A%rrow of GodA is drawn from an 6$bo pro erb in which a person. or sometimes an e ent. is said to represent the wi"" of God')2* #rro( of $od won the first e er Bock ;ampbe""<-ew Statesman +ri&e for %frican writin$ 9he no e" is set amon$st the i""a$es of the 6$bo peop"e in 7ritish -i$eria of the 1920s' !&eu"u is the chief priest of the $od 3lu. worshipped b# the si3 i""a$es of Dmuaro' 9he book be$ins with !&eu"u and Dmuaro $ettin$ in a batt"e with a nearb# i""a$e. ?kperi' 9he conf"ict is abrupt"# reso" ed when 9'/' ,interbottom. the 7ritish co"onia" o erseer. inter enes'

%fter the conf"ict. a ;hristian missionar#. Bohn Goodcountr#. arri es in Dmuaro' Goodcountr# be$an to te"" the i""a$es ta"es of -i$erians in the -i$er Ie"ta who abandoned (and batt"ed) their traditiona" Abad customs.A in fa or of ;hristianit#' !&eu"u is ca""ed awa# from his i""a$e b# ,interbottom. and he is in ited to become a part of the co"onia" administration. a po"ic# known as indirect ru"e' !&eu"u refuses to be a Awhite man4s chiefA and is thrown in prison' 6n Dmuaro. the peop"e cannot har est the #ams unti" !&eu"u has ca""ed the -ew Eam Ceast to $i e thanks to D"u' ,hen !&eu"u returns from prison. he refuses to ca"" the feast despite bein$ imp"ored b# other important men in the i""a$e to make a compromise' !&eu"u reasons to the peop"e and to himse"f that it is not his wi"" but D"u4s= !&eu"u be"ie es himse"f to be ha"f spirit and ha"f man' 9he #ams be$in to rot in the fie"d. and a famine ensues for which the i""a$e b"ames !&eu"u' Seein$ this as an opportunit#. Bohn Goodcountr# proposes that the i""a$e offer thanks to the ;hristian God instead so that the# ma# har est what remains of their crops with Aimmunit#A' Man# of the i""a$ers ha e a"read# "ost their faith in !&eu"u' ?ne of !&eu"u4s sons dies durin$ a traditiona" ceremon#. and the i""a$e interprets this as a si$n that D"u has abandoned their priest' >ather than face another famine. the i""a$e con erts to ;hristianit#' 9he tit"e A%rrow of GodA refers to !&eu"u4s ima$e of himse"f as an arrow in the bow of his $od' A Man of the People is a 1900 satirica" no e" b# ;hinua %chebe' 6t is %chebe4s fourth no e"' 9he no e" te""s the stor# of the #oun$ and educated ?di"i. the narrator. and his conf"ict with ;hief -an$a. his former teacher who enters a career in po"itics in an unnamed modern %frican countr#' ?di"i represents the chan$in$ #oun$er $eneration= -an$a represents the traditiona" customs of -i$eria' 9he book ends with a mi"itar# coup. simi"ar to the rea"8"ife coups of Bohnson %$ui#i86ronsi. ;hukwuma /aduna -&eo$wu and Eakubu Gowon' # Man of the Peo&le is a first8person account of ?di"i. a schoo" teacher in a fictiona" countr# c"ose"# resemb"in$ post8co"onia" -i$eria' ?di"i recei es an in itation from a former teacher of his. ;hief -an$a. who is now the powerfu" but corrupt Minister of ;u"ture' %s Minister. -an$a4s Hob is to protect the traditions of his countr#. and thou$h he is known as A% Man of the +eop"e.A he instead uses his position to increase his persona" wea"th' 9he Minister4s riches and power pro e particu"ar"# impressi e to ?di"i4s $ir"friend. who cheats on him with the minister' Seekin$ re en$e. ?di"i be$ins to pursue the minister4s fiancee' ?di"i a$rees to "ead an opposition part# in the face of both bribes and io"ent threats' %thou$h his part# fai"s. in some sense ?di"i triumphs o er the Minister when a mi"itar# coup forces his o"d teacher from office

Ngg wa Thiong'o (Giku#u pronunciation: )Joe wa KiJ*= born 5 Banuar# 1935))1* is a /en#an writer. former"# workin$ in !n$"ish and now workin$ inGiku#u' (is work inc"udes no e"s. p"a#s. short stories. and essa#s. ran$in$ from "iterar# and socia" criticism to chi"dren4s "iterature' (e is the founder and editor of the Giku#u8"an$ua$e Hourna" M4t5iri' 6n 1922. -$L$M embarked upon a no e" form of theatre in his nati e /en#a that sou$ht to "iberate the theatrica" process from what he he"d to be Athe $enera" bour$eois education s#stemA. b# encoura$in$ spontaneit# and audience participation in the performances')2* (is proHect sou$ht to

Adem#stif#A the theatrica" process. and to a oid the Aprocess of a"ienation )that* produces a $a""er# of acti e stars and an undifferentiated mass of $ratefu" admirersA which. accordin$ to -$L$M. encoura$es passi it# in Aordinar# peop"eA')2* %"thou$h Ngaahi-a Ndeenda was a commercia" success. it was shut down b# the authoritarian /en#an re$ime si3 weeks after its openin$')2* -$L$M was subseGuent"# imprisoned for o er a #ear' %dopted as an %mnest# 6nternationa" prisoner of conscience. the artist was re"eased from prison. and f"ed /en#a' 6n the Dnited States. he tau$ht atEa"e Dni ersit# for some #ears. and has since a"so tau$ht at -ew Eork Dni ersit#. with a dua" professorship in ;omparati e @iterature and+erformance Studies. and the Dni ersit# of ;a"ifornia. 6r ine' -$L$M has freGuent"# been re$arded as a "ike"# candidate for the -obe" +ri&e in @iterature')3*)1*)5* (is son is the author MLkoma wa -$L$M' Ngaahika Ndeenda. a p"a# trans"ated "ater into !n$"ish as I Will Marry When I Want. was written b# -$L$M wa 9hion$4o and first performed in /en#a in 1922 in the p"a#wri$ht4s home i""a$e of/amiriithu' 9he resu"tant furore o er the po"itics hinted at in the p"a# is be"ie ed to ha e been the direct cause of the writer4s detention without tria" in 1922')1* A Grain of Wheat is a no e" b# /en#an no e"ist -$L$M wa 9hion$4o' 9he no e" wea es se era" stories to$ether durin$ the state of emer$enc# in /en#a4s stru$$"e for independence (1952 1959). focusin$ on the Guiet Mu$o. whose "ife is ru"ed b# a dark secret' 9he p"ot re o" es around his home i""a$e4s preparations for /en#a4s independence da# ce"ebration (Dhuru da#)' Cormer resistance fi$hters Genera" > and /oinandu p"an on pub"ic"# e3ecutin$ the traitor who betra#ed /ihika (a heroic resistance fi$hter hai"in$ from the i""a$e) on that da#'

A inwan!e "luwole #Wole# $o%in a (Eoruba: oyin-a. pronounced ASho#inkaA) (born 13 Bu"# 1931) is a -i$erian writer. notab"e especia""# as a p"a#wri$ht and poet= he was awarded the 1950 -obe" +ri&e in @iterature.)1* the first person in %frica to be so honoured' So#inka was born into a Eoruba fami"# in %beokuta' %fter stud# in -i$eria and the D/. he worked with the >o#a" ;ourt 9heatre in @ondon' (e went on to write p"a#s that were produced in both countries. in theatres and on radio' (e took an acti e ro"e in -i$eria4s po"itica" histor# and its stru$$"e for independence from Great 7ritain' 6n 1905. he sei&ed the ,estern -i$eria 7roadcastin$ Ser ice studio and broadcast a demand for the cance""ation of the ,estern -i$eria >e$iona" !"ections' 6n 1902 durin$ the -i$erian ;i i" ,ar. he was arrested b# the federa" $o ernment of Genera" Eakubu Gowonand put in so"itar# confinement for two #ears')2* So#inka has stron$"# criticised man# -i$erian mi"itar# dictators. especia""# "ate Genera" Sanni %bacha. as we"" as other po"itica" t#rannies. inc"udin$ the Mu$abe re$ime in Nimbabwe' Much of his writin$ has been concerned with Athe oppressi e boot and the irre"e ance of the co"our of the foot that wears itA')citation needed* Iurin$ the re$ime of Genera" Sani %bacha (199395). So#inka escaped from -i$eria ia the A-adeco >outeA on a motorc#c"e' @i in$ abroad. main"# in the Dnited States. he was a professor first at ;orne"" Dni ersit# and then at !mor# Dni ersit# in %t"anta. where in 1990 he was appointed >obert ,' ,oodruff +rofessor of the %rts' %bacha proc"aimed a death sentence a$ainst him Ain absentiaA' ,ith ci i"ian ru"e restored to -i$eria in 1999. So#inka returned to his nation' (e has a"so tau$ht at the uni ersities of ?3ford. (ar ard and Ea"e')3*)1*

Crom 1925 to 1999. he was a +rofessor of ;omparati e @iterature at the ?bafemi %wo"owo Dni ersit#. then ca""ed the Dni ersit# of 6fe' ,ith ci i"ian ru"e restored in 1999. he was made professor emeritus')2* So#inka has been a +rofessor of ;reati e ,ritin$ at the Dni ersit# of -e ada. @as Oe$as' 6n the fa"" of 2002 he was appointed +rofessor in >esidence at @o#o"a Mar#mount Dni ersit# in @os %n$e"es. ;a"ifornia. DS The Lion and the Jewel is a p"a# b# ,o"e So#inka first performed in 1959' 6t chronic"es how 7aroka. the "ion. fi$hts with the modern @akun"e o er the ri$ht to marr# Sidi. the titu"ar Bewe"' @akun"e is portra#ed as the ci i"i&ed antithesis of 7aroka and uni"atera""# attempts to moderni&e his communit# and chan$e its socia" con entions for no reason other than the fact that he can' 9he transcript of the p"a# was first pub"ished in 1902 b# ?3ford Dni ersit# +ress' So#inka emphasises the theme of the corrupted %frican cu"ture throu$h the p"a# as we"" as how the #outh shou"d embrace the ori$ina" %frican cu"ture' A Dan e of the Forests is one of the most reco$ni&ed of ,o"e So#inka4s p"a#s' 9he# p"a# Awas presented at the -i$erian 6ndependence ce"ebrations in 1900. it ' ' ' deni$rated the $"orious %frican past and warned -i$erians and a"" %fricans that their ener$ies henceforth shou"d be spent tr#in$ to a oid repeatin$ the mistakes that ha e a"read# been made'A)1* %t the time of its re"ease. it was an iconoc"astic work that an$ered man# of the e"ites in So#inka4s nati e -i$eria' +o"iticians were particu"ar"# incensed at So#inka4s prescient portra#a" of post8co"onia" -i$erian po"itics as aim"ess and corrupt' Iespite the de"u$e of criticism. the p"a# remains an inf"uentia" work' 6n it. he espouses a uniGue ision for a new %frica. one that is ab"e to for$e a new identit# free from the inf"uence of !uropean imperia"ism' # ,ance of the 'orests is re$arded as So#inka4s theatrica" debut and has been considered the most comp"e3 and difficu"t to understand of his p"a#s')2* 6n it. So#inka un ei"s the rotten aspects of the societ# and demonstrates that the past is no better than the present when it comes to the seam# side of "ife' (e "a#s bare the fabric of the -i$erian societ# and warns peop"e as the# are on the brink of a new sta$e in their histor#= independence' 9he p"a# was pub"ished in @ondon and -ew Eork in 1903 b# ?3ford Dni ersit# +ress (9hree ;rowns 7ooks)' Death and the !ing"s #orse$an is a p"a# b# ,o"e So#inka based on a rea" incident that took p"ace in -i$eria durin$ 7ritish co"onia" ru"e: the ritua" suicide of the horseman of an important chief was pre ented b# the inter ention of the co"onia" authorities')1* 6n addition to the 7ritish inter ention. So#inka ca""s the horseman4s own con iction toward suicide into Guestion. posin$ a prob"em that throws off the communit#4s ba"ance' &ohn 'e((er Clar -)e e!eremo (born 0 %pri" 1935) is a -i$erian poet and p"a#wri$ht. who has a"so pub"ished as &* '* Clar and &ohn 'e((er Clar ' ;"ark is most noted for his poetr#. inc"udin$:

Poems (Mbari. 1901). a $roup of fort# "#rics that treat hetero$eneous themes= # Reed in the Tide (@on$mans. 1905). occasiona" poems that focus on the ;"ark4s indi$enous %frican back$round and his tra e" e3perience in %merica and other p"aces=

Casualties" Poems 6788%89 (DS%: %fricana +ub"ishin$ ;orporation. 1920). which i""ustrate the horrendous e ents of the -i$eria87iafra war= # ,ecade of Tongues (@on$mans. Irumbeat series. 1951). a co""ection of se ent#8four poems. a"" of which apart from A!pi"o$ue to ;asua"tiesA (dedicated to Michae" !cheruo) were pre ious"# pub"ished in ear"ier o"umes= State of the 3nion (1951). which hi$h"i$hts his apprehension concernin$ the sociopo"itica" e ents in -i$eria as a de e"opin$ nation= Mandela and Other Poems (1955). which dea"s with the perennia" prob"em of a$in$ and death'

;ritics ha e noted three main sta$es in ;"ark4s poetic career: the apprenticeship sta$e of tria" and e3perimentation. e3emp"ified b# such Hu eni"ia as AIarkness and @i$htA and A6ddo 7rid$eA= theimitati e sta$e. in which he appropriates such ,estern poetic con entions as the coup"et measure and the sonnet seGuence. e3emp"ified in such "#rics as A9o a Ca""en So"dierA and A?f CaithA= and the indi idua"i&ed sta$e. in which he attains the maturit# and ori$ina"it# of form of such poems as A-i$ht >ainA. A?ut of the 9owerA. and ASon$A' 9hrou$hout his work. certain themes recur:

Oio"ence and protest. as in Casualties= 6nstitutiona" corruption. as in State of the 3nion= 9he beaut# of nature and the "andscape. as in # Reed in the Tide= !uropean co"onia"ism as in. for e3amp"e. A6 bieA in the Poems co""ection= 9he inhumanit# of the human race as in Mandela and Other Poems'

;"ark freGuent"# dea"t with these themes throu$h a comp"e3 interwea in$ of indi$enous %frican ima$er# and that of the ,estern "iterar# tradition' ;"ark4s dramatic work inc"udes Song of a $oat (1901). a tra$ed# cast in the Greek c"assica" mode in which the impotence of Nifa. the prota$onist. causes his wife !biere and his brother 9on#e to indu"$e in an i""icit "o e re"ationship that resu"ts in suicide' 9his was fo""owed b# a seGue". The Mas:uerade (1901). in which Iibiri4s ra$e cu"minates in the death of his suitor 9ufa' ?ther works inc"ude:

The Raft (1901). in which four men drift he"p"ess"# down the -i$er aboard a "o$ raft= O;idi (1900). an epic drama rooted in 6Haw sa$a= The Boat (1951). a prose drama that documents -$bi"ebiri histor#'

&ohn +a,well #&* +*# Coet-ee (<ktsi<. -uut%%EE=)1* born 9 Cebruar# 1910) is a South %frican no e"ist. essa#ist. "in$uist. trans"ator and recipient of the 2003 -obe" +ri&e in @iterature' (e re"ocated to %ustra"ia in 2002 and "i es in %de"aide )2* (e became an %ustra"ian citi&en in 2000')3* 6n 2013. >ichard +op"ak of the ,aily Maveric- described ;oet&ee as Ainar$uab"# the most ce"ebrated and decorated "i in$ !n$"ish8"an$ua$e authorA')1*7efore recei in$ the 2003 -obe" +ri&e in @iterature. ;oet&ee was awarded the ;-% +ri&e (thrice). the +ri3 Cemina Ptran$er. The )rish Times6nternationa" Ciction +ri&e and the 7ooker +ri&e (twice). amon$ other acco"ades' Life & Ti$es of Mi hael ! is a 1953 no e" b# South %frican8born writer B' M' ;oet&ee. winner of the -obe" +ri&e in @iterature for the #ear 2003' 9he book itse"f won the 7ooker +ri&e for 1953' 9he no e" is a stor# of a man named Michae" /. who makes an arduous Hourne# from ;ape 9own to his mother4s rura" birthp"ace. durin$ an ima$inar# ci i" war durin$ the apartheid era. in the 1920850s' Michae"4s race is ne er re ea"ed. and he ne er faces an# racia" discrimination' Foe is a 1950 no e" b# South %frican8born -obe" "aureate B' M' ;oet&ee' ,o en around the e3istin$ p"ot of Ro2inson Crusoe. 'oe is written from the perspecti e of Susan 7arton. a castawa# who "anded on the same is"and inhabited b# A;rusoA and Crida# as their ad entures were a"read# underwa#' @ike Ro2inson Crusoe. it is a frame stor#. unfo"ded as 7arton4s narrati e whi"e in !n$"and attemptin$ to con ince the writer Ianie" Coe to he"p transform her ta"e into popu"ar fiction' Cocused primari"# on themes of "an$ua$e and power. the no e" was the subHect of criticism in South %frica. where it was re$arded as po"itica""# irre"e ant on its re"ease' ;oet&ee re isited the composition of Ro2inson Crusoe in 2003 in his -obe" +ri&eacceptance speech' Susan 7arton is on a Guest to find her kidnapped dau$hter whom she knows has been taken to the -ew ,or"d' She is set adrift durin$ a mutin# on a ship to @isbon' ,hen she comes ashore. she finds Crida# and ;ruso who has $rown comp"acent. content to for$et his past and "i e his "ife on the is"and with Crida#Fton$ue"ess b# what ;ruso c"aims to ha e been the act of former s"a e ownersFin attendance' %rri in$ near the end of their residence. 7arton is on"# on the is"and for a #ear before the trio is rescued. but the homesick ;ruso does not sur i e the o#a$e to !n$"and' 6n !n$"and with Crida#. 7arton attempts to set her ad entures on the is"and to paper. but she fee"s her efforts "ack popu"ar appea"' She tries to con ince no e"ist Ianie" Coe to he"p with her manuscript. but he does not a$ree on which of her ad entures is interestin$' Coe wou"d prefer to write about her time in 7ahia "ookin$ for her dau$hter. and when he does write on the stor# she wishes. fabu"ates about ;ruso4s ad entures rather than re"atin$ her facts' Crustratin$ 7arton4s efforts further. Coe. who becomes her "o er. is preoccupied with debt and has "itt"e time or ener$# to write about an#thin$' 7arton4s stor# takes a twist with the return of someone c"aimin$ to be her missin$ dau$hter' Disgra e is a no e" b# B' M' ;oet&ee. pub"ished in 1999' 6t won the 7ooker +ri&e' 9he writer was a"so awarded the -obe" +ri&e in @iterature four #ears after its pub"ication' Ia id @urie is a South %frican professor of !n$"ish who "oses e er#thin$: his reputation. his Hob. his peace of mind. his $ood "ooks. his dreams of artistic success. and fina""# e en his abi"it# to protect his own dau$hter' (e is twice8di orced and dissatisfied with his Hob as a 4communications4 "ecturer. teachin$ one c"ass in romantic "iterature at a technica" uni ersit# in ;ape 9own in post8 apartheid South %frica' (is Adis$raceA comes when he a"most forcib"# seduces one of his more u"nerab"e students. a $ir" named Me"anie 6saacs' 9his affair is thereafter re ea"ed to the schoo"

and a committee is con ened to pass Hud$ement on his actions' Ia id refuses to apo"o$i&e in an# sincere form and so is forced to resi$n from his post' @urie is workin$ on a p"a# concernin$ @ord 7#ron4s fina" phase of "ife in 6ta"# which mirrors his own "ife in that 7#ron is "i in$ a "ife of hedonism and e3cess and is ha in$ an affair with a married woman. and Athe iron# is that he comes to $rief from an escapade that 7#ron wou"d ha e thou$ht distinct"# timid'A)1* (e is dismissed from his teachin$ position. after which he takes refu$e on his dau$hter4s farm in the !astern ;ape' Cor a time. his dau$hter4s inf"uence and natura" rh#thms of the farm promise to harmonise his discordant "ife' 7ut the ba"ance of power in the countr# is shiftin$' Short"# after becomin$ comfortab"e with rura" "ife. he is forced to come to terms with the aftermath of an attack on the farm in which his dau$hter is raped and impre$nated and he is io"ent"# assau"ted' 9he no e" a"so concerns Ia id4s interaction with a few other characters8 7e . an anima" we"fare and hea"er of sorts. and @uc#4s former farmhand +etrus. the se"f8described Ado$8manA who "i es on the nei$hbourin$ propert#. who took care of his dau$hter4s do$s' Ia id remains on the farm far past his we"come in order to tr# to keep his dau$hter safe. but instead finds himse"f apathetic and demora"i&ed #et on a Hourne# towards redemption' Eli'a(eth )ostello is a 2003 no e" b# South %frican8born -obe" @aureate B' M' ;oet&ee' 6n this no e". !"i&abeth ;oste""o. an a$in$ %ustra"ian writer. tra e"s around the wor"d and $i es "ectures on topics inc"udin$ the "i es of anima"s and "iterar# censorship' 6n her #outh. ;oste""o wrote The House on Eccles Street, a no e" that re8te""s Bames Bo#ce4s 3lysses from the perspecti e of the prota$onist4s wife. Mo""# 7"oom' ;oste""o. becomin$ wear# from o"d a$e. confronts her fame. which seems further and further remo ed from who she has become. and stru$$"es with issues of be"ief. e$etarianism. se3ua"it#. "an$ua$e and e i"' Man# of the "ectures ;oste""o $i es are edited pieces that ;oet&ee pre ious"# pub"ished' !"i&abeth ;oste""o is the main character in ;oet&ee4s academic no e". The !ives of #nimals (1999)' % character named !"i&abeth ;oste""o a"so appears in ;oet&ee4s 2005 no e" Slo( Man'

.avi!son $%lvester /ector Willoughb% Nicol or #2ioseh -ico" (11 September 1921 20 September 1991) was a Sierra @eonean academic. dip"omat. ph#sician. writer and poet' (e has been considered as one of Sierra @eoneQs most educated citi&ens of recent times)citation needed*. as he was ab"e to secure de$rees in the arts. science and commercia" discip"ines' 7e$innin$ in 1905 with A9wo %frican 9a"esA. -ico" was a pub"ished author of short stories. poetr#. music. academic "iterature and a bio$raph# of %fricanus (orton. an ear"# Sierra @eonean author and one of the founders of %frican -ationa"ism' (is "ast piece of pub"ished work was A;reati e ,omenA in 1952 &ames .avi! 0uba!iri (born 19 Bu"# 1930 in @iu"i) is a Ma"awian dip"omat. academic and poet. p"a#wri$ht and no e"ist' >ubadiri is ranked as one of %frica4s most wide"# antho"o$i&ed and ce"ebrated poets to emer$e after independence' >ubadiri4s poetr# has been praised as bein$ amon$ Athe richest of contemporar# %fricaA')2* (is work was pub"ished in the 1903 antho"o$# Modern Poetry of #frica (!ast %frican +ub"ishers. 1990). and appeared in internationa" pub"ications inc"udin$ Transition. Blac- Or&heus and Pr<sence #fricaine'

(is on"# no e". No Bride Price. was pub"ished in 1902' 6t critici&ed the 7anda re$ime and was. a"on$ with @e$son /a#ira4s The !ooming Shado(. amon$ the ear"iest pub"ished fiction b# Ma"awians' .ere Alton Walcott. ?7! ?;; (born 23 Banuar# 1930) is a Saint @ucian poet and p"a#wri$ht' (e recei ed the 1992 -obe" +ri&e in @iterature')1* (e is current"# +rofessor of poetr# at the Dni ersit# of !sse3' (is works inc"ude the (omeric epic poem. Omeros (1990). which man# critics iew Aas ,a"cott4s maHor achie ement'A)2*)3* 6n addition to ha in$ won the -obe". ,a"cott has won man# "iterar# awards o er the course of his career inc"udin$ an ?bie %ward in 1921 for his p"a# ,ream on Mon-ey Mountain. a Mac%rthur Coundation A$eniusA award. a >o#a" Societ# of @iterature %ward. the Rueen4s Meda" for +oetr#. and the 2011 9' S' !"iot +ri&e for his book of poetr#. /hite Egrets1 Methodism and spiritua"it# ha e p"a#ed a si$nificant ro"e from the be$innin$ in ,a"cott4s work' (e commented. A6 ha e ne er separated the writin$ of poetr# from pra#er' 6 ha e $rown up be"ie in$ it is a ocation. a re"i$ious ocation'A Iescribin$ his writin$ process. he wrote. Athe bod# fee"s it is me"tin$ into what it has seenS the 464 not bein$ important' 9hat is the ecstas#'''D"timate"#. itQs what Eeats sa#s: 4Such a sweetness f"ows into the breast that we "au$h at e er#thin$ and e er#thin$ we "ook upon is b"essed'4 9hatQs a"wa#s there' 6tQs a benediction. a transference' 6tQs $ratitude. rea""#' 9he more of that a poet keeps. the more $enuine his nature'A)5* (e a"so notes. Aif one thinks a poem is comin$ on'''#ou do make a retreat. a withdrawa" into some kind of si"ence that cuts out e er#thin$ around #ou' ,hat #ouQre takin$ on is rea""# not a renewa" of #our identit# but actua""# a renewa" of #our anon#mit#'A ,a"cott4s epic book8"en$th poem Omeros was pub"ished in 1990 to critica" acc"aim' 9he poem er# "oose"# echoes and references (omer and some of his maHor characters from 9he 6"iad' Some of the poem4s maHor characters inc"ude the is"and fishermen %chi""e and (ector. the retired !n$"ish officer MaHor +"unkett and his wife Maud. the housemaid (e"en. the b"ind man Se en Seas (who s#mbo"ica""# represents (omer). and the author himse"f' %"thou$h the main narrati e of the poem takes p"ace on the is"and of St' @ucia. where ,a"cott was born and raised. ,a"cott a"so inc"udes scenes from 7rook"ine. Massachusetts (where ,a"cott was "i in$ and teachin$ at the time of the poem4s composition) and the character %chi""e ima$ines a o#a$e from %frica onto a s"a e ship that4s headed for the %mericas= a"so. in 7ook Ci e of the poem. ,a"cott narrates some of his tra e" e3periences in a ariet# of cities around the wor"d. inc"udin$ @isbon. @ondon. Iub"in. >ome. and 9oronto' ;omposed in a ariation on ter;a rima. the work e3p"ores the themes that run throu$hout ,a"cott4s oeu re: the beaut# of the is"ands. the co"onia" burden. the fra$mentation of ;aribbean identit#. and the ro"e of the poet in a post8co"onia" wor"d

1992 -obe" +ri&e in @iterature

George 1amming (born 5 Bune 1922) is a no e"ist. essa#ist and poet. who is the most famous writer to emer$e from 7arbados)1* and one of the ;aribbean4s most important no e"ists')2* A!ach of his no e"s is both comp"ete in itse"f and part of a continua""# de e"opin$ ision "inked to the chan$in$ po"itica" scene in the ;aribbean. with its ur$ent prob"ems of po"itica" and ps#cho"o$ica"

deco"onisation. and to @ammin$4s e o" in$ understandin$ of the human condition'A)3* (e is a isitin$ professor in the %fricana Studies Iepartment of 7rown Dni ersit#'

)n the Castle of My S-in (@ondon: Michae" Boseph= -ew Eork: McGraw8(i"". 1953) The Emigrants (@ondon: Michae" Boseph= -ew Eork: McGraw (i"". 1951' @ondon: %""ison T 7usb#. 1950) Of #ge and )nnocence (@ondon: Michae" Boseph. 1955= @ondon: %""ison T 7usb#. 1951) Season of #dventure (@ondon: Michae" Boseph. 1900= %""ison T 7usb#. 1929= %nn %rbor: Dni ersit# of Michi$an +ress. 1999) The Pleasures of E=ile (@ondon: Michae" Boseph. 1900= %""ison T 7usb#. 1951= %nn %rbor: Dni ersit# of Michi$an +ress. 1992) /ater (ith Berries (@ondon: @on$man. 1921= -ew Eork: (o"t >inehart. 1922) Natives of my Person (@ondon: @on$man= -ew Eork: (o"t >inehart. 1922' @ondon: %""ison T 7usb#. 1950) Coming, Coming Home" Conversations )) % /estern Education and the Cari22ean )ntellectual (+hi"ipsbur$. St' Martin: (ouse of -ehesi. 1995. 2000) Sovereignty of the )magination" Conversations ))) % !anguage and the Politics of Ethnicity (2009)' !ditor. Cannon Shot and $lass Beads" Modern Blac- /riting (@ondon: +an. 1921)' !ditor. On the Canvas of the /orld (+ort of Spain: 9rinidad T 9oba$o 6nstitute of the ,est 6ndies. 1999' Cari22ean Reasonings % The $eorge !amming Reader" The #esthetics of ,ecolonisation.

Na!ine Gor!imer (born 20 -o ember 1923) is a South %frican writer. po"itica" acti ist and recipient of the 1991 -obe" +ri&e in @iterature' She was reco$ni&ed as a woman Awho throu$h her ma$nificent epic writin$ has in the words of %"fred -obe" been of er# $reat benefit to humanit#A')1* Gordimer4s writin$ has "on$ dea"t with mora" and racia" issues. particu"ar"# apartheid in South %frica' Dnder that re$ime. works such as .uly*s Peo&lewere banned' She was acti e in the anti8 apartheid mo ement. Hoinin$ the %frican -ationa" ;on$ress durin$ the da#s when the or$ani&ation was banned' She has recent"# been acti e in (6O<%6IS causes' Gordimer has achie ed "astin$ internationa" reco$nition for her works. most of which dea" with po"itica" issues. as we"" as the Amora" and ps#cho"o$ica" tensions of her racia""# di ided home

countr#'A)25* Oirtua""# a"" of Gordimer4s works dea" with themes of "o e and po"itics. particu"ar"# concernin$ race in South %frica' %"wa#s Guestionin$ power re"ations and truth. Gordimer te""s stories of ordinar# peop"e. re ea"in$ mora" ambi$uities and choices' (er characteri&ation is nuanced. re ea"ed more throu$h the choices her characters make than throu$h their c"aimed identities and be"iefs' She a"so wea es in subt"e detai"s within the characters4 names'

7ooker +ri&e for The Conservationist (1921) -obe" +ri&e for @iterature (1991)

The Conservationist (1921) Boint winner of the 7ooker pri&e in 1921 Burger*s ,aughter (1929) .uly*s Peo&le (1951) # S&ort of Nature (1952) The Pic-u& (2001) $et a !ife (2005)

)en " ri ?7! C>S@ (born 15 March 1959) is a -i$erian poet and no e"ist')1* ?kri is considered one of the foremost %frican authors in the post8modern and post8co"onia" traditions)2*)3* and has been considered better than authors such as Sa"man >ushdie and Gabrie" GarcUa MVrGue&')

1991 7ooker +ri&e 8 The 'amished Road

The Fa$ished *oad is the 7ooker +ri&e8winnin$ no e" written b# -i$erian author 7en ?kri' 9he no e". pub"ished in 1991. fo""ows %&aro. an a2i-u or spirit chi"d. "i in$ in an unnamed most "ike"# -i$erian cit#' 9he no e" emp"o#s a uniGue narrati e st#"e incorporatin$ the spirit wor"d with the Area"A wor"d in what some ha e c"assified as ma$ica" rea"ism' ?thers ha e "abe"ed it animist rea"ism' Sti"" others choose to simp"# ca"" the no e" fantas# "iterature' 9he book e3p"oits the be"ief in the coe3istence of the spiritua" and materia" wor"ds that is a definin$ aspect of traditiona" %frican @ife'

&amaica Kincai! (born Ma# 25. 1919))1* is an %nti$uan8%merican no e"ist. essa#ist. $ardener. and $ardenin$ writer' She was born in St' Bohn4s.%nti$ua. which is part of the twin8is"and nation of %nti$ua and 7arbuda' She "i es in -orth 7ennin$ton. Oermont. durin$ the summers and teaches at;"aremont Mc/enna ;o""e$e in ;"aremont. ;a"ifornia.)2* durin$ the academic #ear' )3* /incaid is an award8winnin$ writer whose work has been both commended and critici&ed for

its subHect matter and tone because her writin$ draws upon her "ife and is percei ed as an$r#')1* 6n response. /incaid counters that writers draw upon their "i es a"" the time and that to describe her writin$ as autobio$raphica" and an$r# are not a"id criticisms'

An!rea 1ev% (born 1950) is an !n$"ish author. born in @ondon to Bamaican parents who sai"ed to !n$"and on the Em&ire /indrush in 1915

&ean 0h%s <ris<. ;7! (21 %u$ust 1590 11 Ma# 1929). born 2lla Gwen!olen 0ees Williams. was a mid820th8centur# no e"ist from Iominica' !ducated from the a$e of 10 in Great 7ritain. she is best known for her no e" /ide Sargasso Sea (1900). written as a ApreGue"A to ;har"otte 7rontW4s.ane Eyre')1* Wide %argasso %ea is a 1900 postco"onia" para""e" no e" b# Iominica8born 7ritish author Bean >h#s. who had "i ed in obscurit# after her pre ious work. $ood Morning, Midnight. was pub"ished in 1939' /ide Sargasso Sea 4re8noticed4 >h#s. and became her most successfu" no e"' 9he no e" is preGue" to ;har"otte 7rontW4s famous 1512 no e" .ane Eyre' 6t is the stor# of %ntoinette ;oswa#. a white ;reo"e heiress. from the time of her #outh in the ;aribbean to her unhapp# marria$e to a certain !n$"ish $ent"emanFhe is ne er named b# the authorFwho soon renames her. dec"ares her mad and then reGuires her to re"ocate to !n$"and' ;au$ht in an oppressi e patriarcha" societ# in which she be"on$s neither to the white !uropeans nor the b"ack Bamaicans. >h#s4s no e" re8ima$ines 7rontW4s de i"ish madwoman in the attic' %s with man# postco"onia" works. the no e" dea"s "ar$e"# with the themes of racia" ineGua"it# and the harshness of disp"acement and assimi"ation' Good Morning+ Midnight is a 1939 modernist no e" b# the author Bean >h#s' ?ften considered a continuation of >h#s4 three other ear"# no e"s. >uartet (1925). #fter !eaving Mr Mac-en;ie(1930) and oyage in the ,ar- (1931). it is e3perimenta" in desi$n and dea"s with a woman4s fee"in$s of u"nerabi"it#. depression. "one"iness and desperation durin$ the #ears between the two ,or"d ,ars' 9he book initia""# so"d poor"#Fcritics thou$ht it we""8written. but too depressin$Fand after its pub"ication >h#s spent a decade "i in$ in obscurit#' 6t was not unti" it was adapted into a theatrica" production in 1919. and a$ain into a radio p"a# 1952 b# the 77;. that >h#s was once a$ain put into the spot"i$ht'