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