PRODIGALS, COME HOME: BY CHINWEIZU

PRODIGALS, COME HOME: BY CHINWEIZU

(CHAPTER 32 in the Anthology of African Literature)

A SUMMARY: BY NWANI UCHENNA WILLIAMS

           Many African writers have lost sight of their traditional sensibility in their works of art. Chinweizu emphasized the discrepancy between ‘African modernity’ and ‘modernity in Africa'; ‘modern poetry in Africa’ and ‘modern African poetry.’ Many African writers have deviated from the forms, values, and attitudes of their nativity in their writings. They rather bring to the fore, the value, forms, sensibilities, and attitudes of the Europeans even though they are African writers. These ones who are seen as ‘prodigals’ are exhorted to employ modern African poetry.

            Modern African poetry is seen as a poetry written by Africans and dominated by a sensibility derived from the African tradition. Examples of modern African poetry includes ‘song of Lawino’ by P’Biteks, and  ‘path of thunder’ by Okigbo. These poems are seen as prototypes of modern African poetry.

            Furthermore, Echeulo a Nigerian poet and critic presented a paper at the University of Nigeria, in 1966 in which he remarked the problem facing Nigerian writers today; “transferring from indigenous to modern poetry instead of transferring from modern poetry to enhance the quality of indigenous poetry.”

          Moreover, our African writers are encouraged to avoid obscuring explicitness of our forms in their writing; they should rather speak accents which the less educated ones can understand. Wole Soyinka is a writer who chose to wallow in dense obscurities in the name of modernity. He is not worthy to emulate in this sense. Obscurity is attached to modernism, whereas, explicitness is attached to African poetry. This is our hallmark.

          Conclusively, let them learn from Nassir, P’bitek and Okigbo’s work. Let them stop disguising themselves, assuming the appearance of something they are not. They should declare themselves for what they are - modernist of the west or African modernists. Given all exhortation, let them return home, let them come expend what they’re endowed with in enriching and enhancing African modernity. For if they do, they shall gladly be welcome home and celebrated.