ENG871 - STUDIES IN WRITTEN AFRICAN POETRY Course Developer/Writer Dr. Auwal Ibrahim Amba Department of English, Bauchi State University Gadau, Bauchi State [email protected] Course Editor Dr. Chris Egharevba Department of English University of Uyo Akwa Ibom State [email protected] Course Coordinator Dr. Bridget A. Yakubu Department of Languages National Open University of Nigeria Jabi, Abuja [email protected] 1 2 CONTENTS PAGE Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… What You will Learn in this Course ………………………………………………… Course Aims …………………………………………………………………………… Course Objectives …………………………………………………………………… Working through the Course ………………………………………………………… Course Materials………………………………………………………………………… Study Units…………….………………………………………………………………… Textbooks and References……………………………………………………………… Assignment File………………………………………………………………………… Presentation Schedule ……………………………………………………………… Assessment……………………………………………………………………………… Tutor-Marked Assignment……………………………………………………………… Final Examination and Grading………………………………………………………… Course Marking Scheme………………………………………………………………… Course Overview………………………………………………………………………… How to Get the Most from this Course………………………………………………… Facilitators/Tutors and Tutorials………………………………………………………… Summary…………………………………………………………………………… 3 INTRODUCTION ENG871 – STUDIES IN WRITTEN AFRICAN POETRY ENG871 is a one-semester course of three credit units. It is developed and written to cater for the study needs of postgraduate students of English departments in Nigeria. The course has twenty three units which include a general overview on poetry, the oral background of African poetry, the background and scope of written African poetry, aesthetics in African poetry, the pioneer African poets, poetry and African experience, colonial rule and African poetic response, the shortcomings of African independence, the Africa‘s cultural crisis/cultural rediscovery, the poets in exile, new protest voices and the woman‘s voice in African poetry. Others units examine the style and themes in the poems of some selected African poets that include Leopold Senghor, Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, Okot p‘Bitek, Kofi Awonoonor, Lenrie Peters, Kofi Ayindoho, Niyi Osundare, Sipho Semphala, Funso Aiyejina and Tenure Ojaide. The materials and examples used for this course are suitable for Nigerian post graduate students of English. The examples are drawn variously from selected popular African poetic renditions to further make the African poetry attractive to the learners. We have designed ENG871 to improve upon students‘ already acquired knowledge of African poetry in previous similar courses taught at the undergraduate class. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS COURSE The overall aim of ENG871: Studies in Written African Poetry is to familiarise the students with the general knowledge of written African poetry. Your understanding of this course will provide you adequate knowledge of written African poetry. COURSE AIMS This course is designed to take you through a critical study of African poetry from a detailed thematic and stylistic perspective. It is meant to: Acquaint you with the general of background of written African poetry including its historical development and the concept of African aesthetics. Draw your attention to certain issues in African poetry such as the relationship between African poetry and colonialism and the shortcomings of African independence. Rekindle your interest in some new issues in African poetry including of feminism, exile poetry and protest poetry To provide you with deep knowledge of the themes and style in the poetry of some selected African poets To introduce you to the themes and style in the poetry of some selected contemporary African poets. 4 COURSE OBJECTIVES To achieve the aims set out above, there are overall objectives. In addition, each unit has specific objectives. The unit objectives are always included at the beginning of the unit. You should read them before going through the units. You should always look at the unit objectives on completing the unit to assure yourself that you have done what the unit required and acquired the competencies it aimed to inculcate. Stated below are the wider objectives of this course. By meeting these objectives, you should have achieved the entire aims of this course. On successful completion of this course, you should be able to: Provide a general overview on poetry Outline the oral background of African poetry Discuss the background and scope of written African poetry Examine the concept of aesthetics in African poetry Discuss the poetry of some pioneer African writers Examine the idea of poetry and African experience Discuss the relationship between colonial rule and African poetic response Discuss the shortcomings of African independence in African poetry Examine the themes of Africa‘s cultural crisis/cultural rediscovery in written African poetry Explain the themes in the poetry of African poets in exile Examine the new protest voices in written African poetry Discuss the women‘s voices in African poetry Discuss the themes and style in the poems of each the following early African poets: Leopold Senghor, Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, Okot p‘Bitek, Kofi Awonoonor and Lenrie Peters Examine the themes and style in the poems of each the following contemporary African poets: Kofi Ayindoho, Niyi Osundare, Sipho Semphala, Funso Aiyejina and Tenure Ojaide WORKING THROUGH THIS COURSE To complete this course, you are required to read the study units, read recommended books and other related materials you can lay your hands on. Each unit contains self-assessment exercises, which you are expected to use in assessing your understanding of the course. At the end of this course is a final examination. COURSE MATERIALS Major component of this course are: Course Guide Study Units Textbooks 5 Assignment File Presentation Schedule STUDY UNITS There are twenty three study units in this course. They are as follows: Module 1: BACKGROUND OF WRITTEN AFRICAN POETRY Unit 1 An Overview on Poetry Unit 2 Oral Background of African Poetry Unit 3 Background and Scope of Written African Poetry Unit 4 Aesthetics in African Poetry Unit 5 Written African Poetry: The Pioneers Module 2: ISSUES IN WRITTEN AFRICAN POETRY Unit 1 Poetry and African Experience Unit 2 Colonial Rule and African Poetic Response Unit 3 Shortcomings of African Independence Unit 4 Africa‘s Cultural Crisis/Cultural Rediscovery Unit 5 Poets in Exile Unit 6 New Protest Voices Unit 7 The Woman‘s Voice Module 3: SELECTED AFRICAN POETRY: THE EARLIER POETS Unit 1 The Poems of Leopold Senghor Unit 2 The Poems of Wole Soyinka Unit 3 The Poems of Christopher Okigbo Unit 4 The Poems of Okot p‘Bitek Unit 5 The Poems of Kofi Awonoonor Unit 6 The Poems of Lenrie Peters Module 4: SELECTED AFRICAN POETRY: THE CONTEMPORARIES Unit 1 The Poems of Kofi Ayindoho Unit 2 The Poems of Niyi Osundare Unit 3 The Poems of Sipho Semphala Unit 4 The Poems of Funso Aiyejina Unit 5 The Poems of Tenure Ojaide The first five units in the Module 1 provided the background of written African poetry while the seven units in Module 2 discussed some issues in written African poetry. The remaining six units in Module 4 and five units in Module 4 discussed the themes and style employed by some selected African poets. 6 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING Acholonu C. (1999). The way. In T. Ojaide & T. Sallah (Eds). The new African poetry: an anthology. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc. Adey, A.D. 1976. Themes in South African English Poetry since the second World War. MA thesis. UNISA. Alvarez-Pereyre, J. 1984 The Poetry of Commitment in South Africa. London: Heinemann. Amuta, C. (1989). The Theory of African Literature: Implications for Practical Criticism. London: Zed Books. Asante, K. W. (1994). African Aesthetics. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press. Awoonor, K. ―Songs of Sorrow.‖ Poems of Black Africa. Ed. Wole Soyinka. Oxford: Heinemann, 1975. Beier, U. (ed.) 1967. Introduction to African Literature London: Longman. Chapman, M. (ed.) 1982 Soweto Poetry. Johannesburg: McGraw-Hill. Cook, D. (1977). African literature: A critical view. London: Longman. Dathorne, O.R (1975) African Literature in the Twentieth Century. London: Heinemann. Dennis, B. (1988). Simple Lust. Heinemann. Ibadan Findly, A. (1985). Root and Branch: An Anthology of Southern African Literature. London: McMillan. Finnegan, R. (1977). Oral Poetry: Its Nature, Significance and Social Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fraser, R. (1986) West African Poetry, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Gibbs, J. (ed.) (1980) Critical Perspectives on Wole Soyinka, Washington, DC: Three Continents Press. Gikandi, S. (2003) (Eds.). Encyclopaedia of African Literature. London: Routledge. Goodwin, K. (1982), Understanding African Poetry: A Study of Ten Poets, London: Heinemann. Heron., (1984). Song of Lawino and song of Ocol. London: Heinemann. Heywood, C. (ed) (!989) Perspectives on African Literature. London: Heinemann Educational Books. Jones, O. Eldredand Narjorie, Imbo, S. O. (2002). Oral Traditions as Philosophy: Okot p‟Bitek‟s Legacy for African Philosophy. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Jemie, C. and Madubuike, I. (1980). Toward the decolonization of African literature. Jones, E. D. and Jones‘s, M. (2000). Exile and African Literature: African Literature Today Kilam, G.D. (ed) (1973). African Writers on African Writing. London: Heinemann. Killam, G. D. (2008). Student Encyclopedia of African literature London: Greenwood Press Lilyan, K. (1964). Black