Cameroonian Literature in Transition

 : As a writer from Africa, interested in the representation of particular African experiences, does the continuing relocation of African writing, including its criticism, through migration to Paris and other literary centres abroad, bother you?

George: No. A writer should be like a tortoise, always carrying along its home or protective shell wherever it goes. If the African Diaspora will accept reciprocal relations with the continent across the Atlantic, as in the example of Aime Cesaire, then there is no cause to fear this migratory export of our continent’s literature. The important issues for me are: How relevant are these movements to the realities of the masses on either side? Is the discourse still African in content and message? Have the egalitarian concerns of continental African writing become drowned by its close migratory proximity to the elitist perceptions of metropolitan literature? Indeed does the African writer still remain the conscience of his/her people even if he/she becomes an exile of sorts? These to me are the real challenges – the need to sustain the vibrant voices of our writings and remain connected to the aspirations of our people.   more

The Politics of Ink

 : As a member of the Nigerian legislature you are specially placed, it would seem, to lobby the case for increased government support to Nigerian writing. Does your partisan involvement in Nigerian politics and position in government actually help or hinder your effectiveness as the voice of Nigerian writers?

Wale: Not at all. In fact, my election as ANA President was well celebrated by my colleagues in the National Assembly. In his letter of congratulations to me, the Senate President, Senator Nnamani called my election a big honor for the Nigerian Parliament. He went ahead to sponsor an ANA prize for Igbo literature while the Speaker, Hon Aminu Masari hosted myself and the exco [ANA Executive Council] to a dinner to mark the occasion. All these demonstrations of support cut across party lines. The problem I had in pushing forward issues for writers actually came from the executive arm of government who by law are expected to execute decisions of the parliament. This difficulty came in view of the well-known hostility of our leaders to writers whom they don’t like to empower so that they will not expose their weaknesses and sometimes dishonesty. more