Saturday, November 6, 2010

OMOSEYE BOLAJI


A new book by Hector Kunene (2010)
The latest and most comprehensive study on writer Omoseye Bolaji!
Pages: 117
Published by New Voices (Cape Town)

This book description is taken from Open Library:

“This is the latest, and most comprehensive study, of Omoseye Bolaji, the black African writer. The author (or editor) Hector Kunene, furnishes us with an excellent Introduction, and ends this work with a superb, cosmopolitan interview with Bolaji himself. This work contains almost 30 articles, essays, write-ups, critiques etc on various aspects of Omoseye Bolaji's literary works. A must read for anybody interested in African writing.”

Poem by Hector Kunene dedicated to Omoseye Bolaji

I shall not praise you!
For effortlessly taking your own time
Why should you be thanked for your own free will working for your own black skin?
For your own toils that led to your own achievements and your own blood that you sweated for your own glory
The very mystery still persists for explanation as to why you wrote your well known pieces yet nothing much is known about you
I shall not praise you!
Who cares about your ability to transfer thoughts into paper?
When anybody can speak their minds even if they are improper?
This world is but a stage for expressions
Where individuals walk as they please to satisfy their feet for journeys
I shall not praise you!
I shall not take off my hat for you
I shall neither salute thee nor permit thee to be saluted for honour!
For honour is meant for giants who step into the ring and be felt of their being!
Those who march and sweat blood whilst we sting them with their bees
They flee and get rewarded with fruitful crowns that end up rusting of their fingerprints!
I shall not praise thee! ...
(from page 23 of the book, OMOSEYE BOLAJI, by Hector Kunene)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

i will get a copy,hoping to read about the history of a great man, a true celebrated legend in our times, congrats Hp from the ground we rise keep on moving soldier i'm right behind you.