INTERVIEWS WITH EFFERVESCENT WRITERS. Edited by Christine Mautjana

Some years ago I read a fascinating book of interviews involving some early Nigerian writers. Such works enable one to understand authors more on a personal basis.  This book is the same, though it focuses mainly on writers based in southern Africa. And women writers are represented here - like JahRose, Petro and NMM Duman. Duman in her interview comes across as the embodiment of very decent values her fiction depicts; she praises others here, and is self deprecating despite her immense talent.  JahRose has an intellectual bent and mien - she is an important poet.  Petro is a librarian per se - and critic - and this is reflected in her interview. Aryan Kaganof, also a movie guru, can have one in stitches, though his work shows he has a grim side. Omoseye Bolaji and Pule Lechesa as one might expect showcase their love for books and writers in their own interviews- with a plethora of allusions.  Lechesa for example points out refreshing ideas e.g the importance of and subtleties of translations. Reading the novelist George Rampai, one gets the feeling that his work, From where I stand deserves even more acclaim; the same applies to the short story writer, Maxwell Kanemanyanga of Zimbabwe who at least has lots of samples of his work on the internet. What I like most about this work though, is that it is actually orchestrated in Africa here, all the interviews compiled and published locally (in southern Africa, and Lesotho).  And despite this, the book has impressive presence on the internet and beyond. One would like to see more of this.

Henry Ozogula

ANGST IN THIBA'S POETRY

Angst in Thiba’s poetry

Book: Let's Take a Walk, Mama
Author: T. M. Thiba

There can be no doubt that this is a talented writer, poet. The poetry here must have been written over a period of time, as a lot is embraced here. It might sound perhaps old fashioned, but this is a true wordsmith at work here, with the flair for words and imagery. 

The poet has an eye for detail, and the topics here range almost like a kaleidoscope. Why, we even have the botanical, and the technical. Apart from the general, technical talented brilliance here, it is clear that the poet has a humane, sympathetic vision and vista. We deduce that he wants the world to be a better place.

A poem like To Dudu, can move one to tears, as we take in lines like:

"When I juggled around the pain of sorrowfulness ...
We are all fallible humans, not perfectionists...
You are someone who owns my heart, and brought to my heart...
I will adore you until the end of time..."

And appreciate the angst here (from the poem, Fallen Tear);  

"But the light at the end of the tunnel is blurry

The ones in my age, things are blazing

And sometimes life is a living hell!

Burden of sorrow is massive on my shoulders.

I am suffocating through my air pipe.

And those on my side seems they will be left

If the dark cloud over my head (persists)

I have to be a soldier

 And fight till victory beckons..."

-        - Amos Osondu

LESELI MOKHELE: Purveyor of short stories

I remember when I was in my mid-teens, an uncle gave me Chinua Achebe's short stories to read. This was his book, Girls At War...I already knew at the time that Achebe was a great African novelist, but I still found it easier and more exciting to read his book of short stories. 

The introduction to the book made it clear that Achebe wrote many of these stories when he was still a young student in the university...real talent! Decades later I now experience more or less the same sensation as I read this author's book, book, Home grown short stories. 

I initially thought that Mr Mokhele, the author was a black South African, but he is actually from Lesotho (a small country geographically placed within SA - try not to be confused!) I was very lucky to get this book to read...actually none of the bibliophiles in my west Africa even know his name (Leseli Mokhele). Which is a modern tragedy really in respect of book publishing. 

African readers nowadays hardly know about writers, books from other countries; why, we hardly even know about local writers based in OUR own countries now! Note: books these days our side are not only expensive, but they are also rare to find (where are proper bookshops?)...a dual hurdle, so to speak.

Let it be on record that Leseli Mokhele is a very good writer, certainly among the best in our Africa. Very well written short stories here. Well done.

-         -Olu Bakare