Mphahlele (Ezekiel L.) The Living and Dead
£375
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’.
In stock
Some light staining to top margin of some leaves; later sticker on lower wrapper, but overall a good example.
Illustrations by Peter Clarke.
Related products
African literature
London, Hutchinson, 1961.
First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.
The first novel by Nigerian author Onoura Nzekwu, later republished by Heinemann as part of the important African Writers Series. The novel has been compared to Achebe's No Longer at Ease.
African literature
A Journal of African and Afro-American Literature. No.14
Ibadan, Nigeria, For Mbari Club by Longmans of Nigeria, February 1964.
Small folio. Original pictorial wrappers.
An attractive issue of this seminal West African literary journal, with cover design by Susanne Wenger.
"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
Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture FESTAC’77
Lagos, , 1977.
Oblong 4to; original cloth; dust-jacket.
The souvenir book of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture.