African Authors Opening Up Cultural Doors to the Continent

Huge misconception exists about Africa and her people before the arrival of European colonists. According to this misconception, Africans were nothing more than savages at that point of time. The savages were gradually converted into civilized creatures by the inhuman effort of those colonists. However, these misconceptions could not have been more distorted from the truth. The history and the culture of ancient Africa are as interesting as sophisticated. Ages before the advent of European traders, kingdoms had come into existence in the continent.

Oral literature flourished and existed for several centuries. It has taken various forms including folk tales, myths, heroic exploits of the past, funeral dirges and many more. However, there are some serious obstacles for popularity of written or printed literature across the country. More than 50 per cent of African population is still illiterate. There is scarcity of publishing houses as well as scarcity of books across the continent. At top of these impediments, costing of books is high and thus, those are affordable only to a handful of people. In spite of these challenges, a number of West African authors have gained insurmountable prominence these days.

The fraternity of authors has gifted some timeless classics in African languages as well as in English. The majority of these literary geniuses are now based in the US and engaged with different renowned North American universities. However, what a foreigner will recognize as an African novel in English may be totally different from the popular novels written in indigenous languages by local authors based in Africa.

The fraternity of authors from West Africa writes extensively on socio-political conditions of the continent. As human individuals, these gifted geniuses seem to be sensitive as well as dedicated. Their works are proving helpful to represent Africa before the global community under a different light. The literary geniuses are dedicated to introduce the rich culture and the history of their land and people to the larger world outside the continent.

Dr. Tanure Ojaide & Modern African Literature Steadily Gaining Global Prominence

African literature has gained global popularity only in the recent times. Prominence of the genre of literature has obviously been possible because of some ideal classics that have been penned. Actually, the tradition of written literature is comparatively new to the continent. However, the art of oral account of literature has been well preserved in this society across the ages. It was only in 1986 that the continent received its first Noble Prize for Literature.

In the recent times, a number of talented as well as dedicated poets and authors have emerged across the continent. Thanks to their spirited effort, the genre of modern African literature seems to be more impressive than ever. In this context, it is indeed relevant to mention about Dr. Tanure Ojaide – one of the most prominent and powerful literary geniuses that the continent has produced.

Dr. Ojaide is a Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa who travels wide and far almost round the year to deliver the inherent message of Africa along with the enrich culture and tradition of her society and people. He has a humble upbringing in an Urhobo household across the typical marshy landscape of the Niger Delta. After finishing the local school, he attended the Federal Government College in Warri and thereafter, he moved to the University of Ibadan, to receive his bachelor's degree in English. Finally, Dr. Ojaide got his master’s in creative writing and Ph.D. in English from the Syracuse University.

The Nigerian poet in Dr. Ojaide has penned a number of poetry books till this date. Some of his most famous works in the context include Labyrinths of the Delta, The Fate of Vultures, The Blood of Peace, The Tale of the Harmattan, Waiting for the Hatching of a Cockerel, The Beauty I Have Seen, and Love Gifts, etc.

Apart from a gifted poet, Dr. Ojaide is a powerful writer, a captivating author and a talented creative genius. In spite of all these facets, his identity as a sharp and sensitive socio-economic observer cannot be underestimated anyhow.

Dr. Tanure Ojaide’s Books Revealing Political Dimensions of Nigeria & Its Government like Nothing Else

An increasing number of scholars and students across the world, who are interested about Africa, and Nigeria in particular, are categorically opting for the works of Dr. Tanure Ojaide. As such, Dr. Ojaide’s works are being considered as the most relevant on Africa, her people and their unique culture, in the contemporary times. Dr. Ojaide is the most prominent poet, author and a socio-political observer that the continent has produced in the recent times. Some of his best known books include Delta Blues & Home Songs, I Want to Dance and Other Poems, Labyrinths of the Delta, The Urhobo Language Today, God’s Medicine Men and Other Stories, The Tale of Harmattan and others.

Dr. Ojaide’s books on Nigerian politics andgovernment are indeed revelations for many seasoned foreign office mandarins, dealing with the region. This prolific poet and literary genius was born and grew up in a humble environment on the background of the Niger Delta. Therefore, his sharp and intellectual mind had the privilege to coming across unadulterated reality about the African way of life. Moreover, he has travelled extensively, mingling with innumerable foreign cultures and societies. These opportunities have helped him to extend his horizon.

As such, Dr. Ojaide is the most powerful poet and author who represents Africa to his ever expanding readers in a complete different way. His unique style of writing is both captivating and enthralling to his readers. As it seems from his dedication to his work, his life is devoted to reveal the enriched heritage and culture of Africa to the global community.

This hugely talented African writer is the most notable Urhobo literary genius. He keeps touring almost the whole world throughout the year to attend various literary meets and award ceremonies. Considering the packed travel schedule that Dr. Ojaide has to maintain all round the year, it is obvious that he is one of the most widely travelled literary geniuses in the world today. Dr. Tanure Ojaide is the most dependable window today for people across the globe to provide access to an unknown and unexplored Africa.

Changing Trends of African Literature & Some Famous Nigerian Poets

The continent of Africa consists of 55 countries, each of which possesses a vast wealth of culture along with literary history. As such, each of the 55 nations has indigenous languages and history. Therefore, the aspect of African poetry covers an extensive and complex topic. In addition to these factors, colonization of the continent has resulted in heavy popularity of French, English and Portuguese languages at certain regions of this landmass.

As such, it is justified by a section of scholars and academicians that modern African literature – poetry in particular – has a dual heritage, pre-colonial and Western or European. The list of famous Nigerian poets is certainly going to go on and on until an eternity. The fraternity of creative talents is dedicated enough about its work; their combined works have touched scores of lives through their sheer creativity. Their works reflect truly reflect the contemporary society in more ways than what one can imagine.

These people have certainly contributed heavily in making Africa along with its enriched culture and heritage more familiar to the outside world. Prior to the era of these outstanding poets and literary geniuses, the world knew Africa only as home to unbelievable wilderness. In fact, the larger world was, in a way, ignorant about to perennial stream of human feelings and emotions that existed in the continent across the ages. The works of these geniuses have certainly helped to upgrade the global society with realistic knowledge about the great continent.

Dr. Tanure Ojaide is one of the most distinguished names among the geniuses of post-colonial African literature. This creative genius is an exceptionally gifted author in one hand and a prolific poet in the other. Some of his more popular works include titles like New African Poetry: an Anthology, Stars of the Long Night, The Eagle's Vision, Poetic Imagination in Black Africa, I Want to Dance and Other Poems, etc. Apart from these, he has authored several stories, novels and fictions revolving around the continent’s history, heritage and contemporary society.
Dr. Ojaide has extensive exposure to foreign lands and cultures. He travels a lot around the world to keep his engagements of attending various literary festivals round the year.