By Alfred Matumamboh (First Published in West Africa (London), 1997
A correspondent profiles the work of Cameroonian playwright Bate Besong and explores his sense of responsibility as an artist to his society.
NGUGI WAS THIONG'O the East African Marxist author, argues that every writer is a writer in politics, but what distinguishes one writer from another is whose side of the political game he belongs to – the oppressor or the oppressed. Bate Besong is a writer who unabashedly identifies with the underprivileged of society against the exploiting ruling class. He holds the big wigs in society responsible for the miserable condition of the masses of the people. He writes to sharpen the public’s consciousness of its socio-politico-economic reality.
Professor Femi Ojo-Ade vigorously asserts that in Africa, literature is still an instrument of liberation and a weapon of war; as such, it must describe, criticise, project, teach et cetera. This literature, which is variously referred to as committed, militant, protest literature, is an epitome of the existence, experience and ethos of a people yet to be free.
Click here to print or download complete article in PDF format
Comments