PETER ABRAHAMS

Peter Abrahams occupies a special position in African literature, as arguably the first black writer - hailing from South Africa – to publish imaginative works which were internationally recognised.  Indeed, over the decades his work has been studied in many schools and tertiary institutions around the world. Many of the early outstanding African writers were inspired by his body of work.

 His published works over the many decades include - Dark Testament (1942), Song of the City (1945), Mine Boy (1946), The Path of Thunder (1948), Wild Conquest (1950), Return to Goli (1953), Tell Freedom (1954), A Wreath for Udomo (1956), A Night of Their Own (1965), This Island Now (1966), The View from Coyaba (1985), The Black Experience in the 20th Century: An  Autobiography and Meditation (2000)


Studies:

The writing of Peter Abrahams. By Kolawole Ogungbesan

Peter Abrahams. By Michael Wade

The novels of Peter Abrahams and the rise of nationalism in Africa. By Robert Ensor

Art and politics in the novels of Peter Abrahams: a study of his three political novels. By Clive Philip Leeman

The death of African kings: the novels of Peter Abrahams. By Ngwarsungu Chiwengo

CHENJERAI HOVE

Chenjerai Hove (born 1956) is another great Zimbabwean and African writer. He was the 1989 Winner, Noma Award for Publishing In Africa, for his work, Bones. He has led a somewhat peripatetic life over the years, strutting his literary stuff in Europe and America; in tertiary institutions.

A novelist, poet, essayist, he has been quite prolific as a published author. His works over the years include - And Now the Poets Speak (co-editor; poetry), 1981, Up In Arms (poetry), Harare: Zimbabwe Publishing House, 1982, Red Hills of Home (poetry), 1984; Gweru: Mambo Press, 1985, Bones (novel), Harare: Baobab Books, 1988; Heineman, Shadows (novel), Harare: Baobab Books, 1991, Shebeen Tales: Messages from Harare (journalistic essays), Rainbows in the Dust (poetry), 1997, Guardians of the Soil (cultural reflections by Zimbabwe's elders), 1997, Ancestors (novel), 1997, Desperately Seeking Europe (co-author; essays on European identity), 2003, Palaver Finish, essays on politics and life in Zimbabwe, 2003, Blind Moon (poetry), 2004; and The Keys of Ramb (children's story), 2004

Studies:

In search of psychological worlds : on Yvonne Vera's and Chenjerai Hove's portrayal of women by Carita Backström

Dances with bones : Hove's romanticized Africa by Flora Veit-Wild

Thinking about nativism in Chenjerai Hove's work by Matthew Engelke 

NKEM NWANKWO

Another early, highly rated Nigerian writer (1936 – 2001) . He was a brilliant novelist, poet, and academic. He attended University College in Ibadan and later on taught at Michigan State University and Tennessee State University overseas. His first novel Danda was highly celebrated.

Mwankwo published other books in his lifetime; like My Mercedes is Bigger than Yours, Tales out of School, The Scapegoat, More tales out of school

GABRIEL OKARA

The Nigerian writer, Gabriel Okara, emerged as one of Africa's top poets many decades ago. His collection of poems, The fisherman's invocation, won the Commonwealth poetry prize in 1979. Okara's unique tone and evocations ensured universal respect for him.

His well known novel, The voice, added cubits to his literary reputation. The plight of Okolo, the naive, yet engaging protagonist of this work, added a haunting hue to African literature. Okara, born in 1921, published other books like - An adventure to Juju island,and  Little Snake and Little Frog.

Studies:

Nigeria's first novelists / By Bernth Lindfors 

A study of five Gabriel Okara's poems by Romanus N Egudu 

Okara na bumadi : for Gabriel Okara at 70 by Obiora Udechukwu

FLORA NWAPA

Flora Nwapa was the Nigerian equivalent of South Africa's Miriam Tlali in that she was the first Nigerian female writer to publish a novel; novels actually.

Her first novel was Efuru, followed by other works like – Idu, Never Again (1975), One is Enough (1981) Women are Different (1986), This is Lagos and Other Stories (1971), Cassava Song and Rice Song (1986), Wives at War and Other Stories (1980), Mammywater (1979), Journey to Space (1980) and The Adventures of Deke (1980). Flora Nwapa died in 1993.


Studies:

Emerging perspectives on Flora Nwapa : Critical and theoretical essays by Marie Umeh

Love, motherhood and the African heritage : the legacy of Flora Nwapa by Femi Nzegwu

Flora Nwapa : critical perspectives

SEFI ATTA

Sefi Atta, born in Lagos, Nigeria, is one of Africa's top female writers. Whilst known by most for her award-winning novel, Everything good will come, she has actually published a great deal, including drama.

Works churned out by Atta include - A Bit of Difference, Swallow, News from Home,  An Ordinary Legacy, The Naming Ceremony, The Cost of Living, Lagos Heritage Festival, and The Engagement,

REBEKA NJAU

Rebeka Njau began to write creatively from her schooldays. A revered Kenyan writer for decades, she wrote her play, The scar whilst in university in east Africa. Her works would focus on the strength, durability and mystical powers of women. African myths are also imaginatively explored in her writing.

Njau's novel, Ripples in the pool, is her best known work, though a later novel, The sacred seed, reinforces her literary reputation. Other published works are – The hypocrite and other stories, Kenyan women heroes and their mystical powers.

Studies:

Between Rites and Rights: Excision in Women's Experiential Texts and
Human Contexts by Chantal J. Zabus (Stanford University Press; Literary Criticism)