The Heinemann Book of African Women's Poetry - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0435906801 ISBN 13: 9780435906801

Publisher: Heinemann, 1995

Synopsis

This first major anthology of African women's poetry offers an extensive selection of poetry by women all over the African continent. The poems address wide-ranging human concerns such as love, motherhood, death, colonial domination, and human dignity. They employ a variety of styles from the conversational to the didactic. Contributors include Ama Ata Aidoo, Noemia de Sousa, Queen Hatshepsut, Micere Githae Mugo, and Zindzi Mandela.

Originally from Malawi, Stella and Frank Chipasula now live in the United States.

About this title

About the Author:

African dissident poet, Frank Chipasula, has been living in self imposed exile in the USA since 1978.

From Booklist:

The editors of this haunting anthology of poetry, both African-born poets themselves, have selected work by women poets from 18 African countries, from Algeria to Senegal, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe. This broad geographical and cultural spectrum highlights Africa's considerable diversity while, simultaneously, affirming the shared experiences and perspectives of African women writers. A historical note is struck by the anthology's oldest poem, an obelisk inscription composed by Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt, while a modern Egyptian poet, Andre Chedid, epitomizes the dignity of the collection with her powerfully spare and provocative mediations. Unlike Queen Hatshepsut, most African women suffer tyranny, sexism, and poverty and toil in silence and anonymity. Chedid writes, "Often from a point without place / I stifle my story / From past to future / I conjugate the horizon." For many of these poets, the world is unrelentingly cruel, and they belie their vulnerability with stoicism. Donna Seaman

About this edition

• Publisher: Heinemann
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0435906801
• ISBN 13: 9780435906801
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 230
• Editor: Frank Chipasula, Stella Chipasula