In Memory Of Obi Wali

[Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM]

"Wali is known for his assertion that African literature should only be written in African languages. He emphasized the importance that works deemed "African" be written in the languages of the African peasantry and working classes rather than in English or other foreign languages. Through an alliance of these classes within the many nationalities of Africa, he predicted an "inevitable revolutionary break with neo-colonialism." He expressed these views in his controversial essay "The Dead End of African Literature", which is considered a landmark in the field of African literary modernity"(Wikipedia).

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Chidi Anthony Opara is a "Life Time Achievement" Awardee, Registered Freight Forwarder, Professional Fellow Of Institute Of Information Managerment, Africa, Poet and Publisher of PublicInformationProjects

[Harrow, Kenneth]

i actually oppose these ngugi type arguments about authenticity and indigineity. they are racist, not really culturist, which is the claim. i hate the notion that africans have not appropriated and made their own the cultures and languages of outsiders, which is the pattern for all places on earth over time, and the model for our growth as humans.

we do not grow in isolation, but by learning and taking what works for us from others, and vice versa.

ken

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

har...@msu.edu

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From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM <chidi...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2020 12:35 PM
To: USA African Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - In Memory Of Obi Wali

 

"Wali is known for his assertion that African literature should only be written in African languages. He emphasized the importance that works deemed "African" be written in the languages of the African peasantry and working classes rather than in English or other foreign languages. Through an alliance of these classes within the many nationalities of Africa, he predicted an "inevitable revolutionary break with neo-colonialism." He expressed these views in his controversial essay "The Dead End of African Literature", which is considered a landmark in the field of African literary modernity"(Wikipedia).

--

Chidi Anthony Opara is a "Life Time Achievement" Awardee, Registered Freight Forwarder, Professional Fellow Of Institute Of Information Managerment, Africa, Poet and Publisher of PublicInformationProjects

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[Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM]

Ken,
I do too. I actually posted this as respect to other people's opinion.

I however, do not think that the argument is racist, I rather think that it is isolationist, in spite of the possibility of translation.

CAO.

[Harrow, Kenneth]

my example is nigerian english, or cameroonian pidgin, or even swahili itself; every language on earth grew and changed w contact, as did culture and scientific knowledge

ken

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

har...@msu.edu

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From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Harrow, Kenneth <har...@msu.edu>
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2020 1:12 PM
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - In Memory Of Obi Wali

 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/DM5PR12MB24561EC7AA06A3BC2FDE807FDAAE0%40DM5PR12MB2456.namprd12.prod.outlook.com.