Beier (Ulli) and Ezekiel Mphahlele, editors. Black Orpheus.
£575
A Journal of African and Afro-American Literature. No.16
Ibadan, Nigeria, For Mbari Club by Longmans of Nigeria, October 1964..
Small folio. Original pictorial wrappers.
An attractive issue of this seminal West African literary journal. Includes ‘Four Poems’ by Paul Theroux.
“The steady development of Black Orpheus over the last seven years amounts to a remarkable achievement. It has succeeded in breaking the vicious circle that seems to inhibit the development of a proper reading public by its continued existence, by its very availability; more than that, it has also gone on to establish itself as one of the most important formative influences in modern African literature.…It can be said, without much exaggeration, that the founding of Black Orpheus, if it did not directly inspire new writing in English-speaking Africa, at least coincided with the first promptings of a new, modern, literary expression and re-inforced it by keeping before the potential writer the example of the achievements of the French-speaking and Negro American writers.” (Abiola Irele, editor, Journal of Modern African Studies). The magazine ceased publication in 1975.
In stock
A very good copy.
Illustrations.
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African literature
Beier (Ulli), Ezekiel Mphahlele and Wole Soyinka, editors. Black Orpheus.
A Journal of African and Afro-American Literature. No.11
Ibadan, Nigeria, General Publications Section, Ministry of Education, [1962].
Small folio. US distributor's label to copyright page. Original pictorial wrappers.
An attractive issue of this seminal West African literary journal.
"The steady development of Black Orpheus over the last seven years amounts to a remarkable achievement. It has succeeded in breaking the vicious circle that seems to inhibit the development of a proper reading public by its continued existence, by its very availability; more than that, it has also gone on to establish itself as one of the most important formative influences in modern African literature.…It can be said, without much exaggeration, that the founding of Black Orpheus, if it did not directly inspire new writing in English-speaking Africa, at least coincided with the first promptings of a new, modern, literary expression and re-inforced it by keeping before the potential writer the example of the achievements of the French-speaking and Negro American writers." (Abiola Irele, editor, Journal of Modern African Studies). The magazine ceased publication in 1975.
African literature
A Journal of African and Afro-American Literature. No.4
Ibadan, Nigeria, General Publications Section, Ministry of Education, October 1958.
Small folio. Original pictorial wrappers.
An early issue of this seminal West African literary journal, contributors include Paul Vesey, Gerald Moore, Ezekiel Mpahlele, Geormbeeyi Adali-Mortti and Randolph Rawlins.
"The steady development of Black Orpheus over the last seven years amounts to a remarkable achievement. It has succeeded in breaking the vicious circle that seems to inhibit the development of a proper reading public by its continued existence, by its very availability; more than that, it has also gone on to establish itself as one of the most important formative influences in modern African literature.…It can be said, without much exaggeration, that the founding of Black Orpheus, if it did not directly inspire new writing in English-speaking Africa, at least coincided with the first promptings of a new, modern, literary expression and re-inforced it by keeping before the potential writer the example of the achievements of the French-speaking and Negro American writers." (Abiola Irele, editor, Journal of Modern African Studies). The magazine ceased publication in 1975.
African literature
and other stories
[Nigeria], Western Region, Ibadan, Ministry of Education, [1961].
First edition. 8vo. Original pictorial wrappers.
The scarce second collection of stories by South African writer, educationalist, artist and activist Mphahlele, celebrated as the Father of African Humanism and considered one of the founding figures of modern African literature. The collection was printed in Nigeria, where Mphahlele had taken refuge in 1957, and features several of most important stories, including the title story and 'We'll Have Dinner at Eight'.