Wole Soyinka: Politics, Poetics, and Postcolonialism (Cambridge Studies in African and Caribbean Literature, Series Number 9)

Biodun Jeyifo examines the connections between the innovative and influential writings of Wole Soyinka and his radical political activism. Jeyifo carries out detailed analyses of Soyinka's most ambitious works, relating them to the controversies generated by Soyinka's use of literature and theatre for radical political purposes. He gives a fascinating account of the profound but paradoxical affinities and misgivings Soyinka has felt about the significance of the avant-garde movements of the twentieth century. Jeyifo also explores Soyinka's works with regard to the impact on his artistic sensibilities of the pervasiveness of representational ambiguity and linguistic exuberance in Yoruba culture. The analyses and evaluations of this study are presented in the context of Soyinka's sustained engagement with the violence of collective experience in post-independence, postcolonial Africa and the developing world. No existing study of Soyinka's works and career has attempted such a systematic investigation of their complex relationship to politics. Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Preface......Page 13 Chronology......Page 27 Abbreviations......Page 35 CHAPTER 1 ‘Representative’ and unrepresentable modalities of the self: the gnostic, worldly and radical humanism of Wole.........Page 37 CHAPTER 2 Tragic mythopoesis as radical postcolonial discourse: critical and theoretical writings......Page 77 CHAPTER 3 The "drama of existence": sources and scope......Page 119 CHAPTER 4 Ritual, anti-ritual and the festival complex in Soyinka's dramatic parables......Page 156 CHAPTER 5 The ambiguous freight of visionary mythopoesis: fictional and nonfictional prose works......Page 203 CHAPTER 6 Poetry, versification and the fractured burdens of commitment......Page 256 CHAPTER 7 "Things fall together": Wole Soyinka in his Own Write......Page 312 1. 'REPRESENTATIVE' AND UNREPRESENTABLE MODALITIES OF THE SELF: THE GNOSTIC, WORLDLY AND RADICAL HUMANISM OF WOLE SOYINKA......Page 325 2. TRAGIC MYTHOPOESIS AS POSTCOLONIAL DISCOURSE – CRITICAL AND THEORETICAL WRITINGS......Page 330 3. THE 'DRAMA OF EXISTENCE': SOURCES AND SCOPE......Page 333 4. RITUAL, ANTI-RITUAL AND THE FESTIVAL COMPLEX IN SOYINKA'S DRAMATIC PARABLES......Page 335 5. THE AMBIGUOUS FREIGHT OF VISIONARY MYTHOPOESIS: FICTIONAL AND NONFICTIONAL PROSE WORKS......Page 337 6. POETRY, VERSIFICATION AND THE FRACTURED BURDENS OF COMMITMENT......Page 339 7 "THINGS FALL TOGETHER": WOLE SOYINKA IN HIS OWN WRITE......Page 341 PUBLISHED WORKS BT WHOLE SOYINKA......Page 343 WORKS CITED......Page 344 Index......Page 353 Jeyifo Examines The Connections Between The Innovative And Influential Writings Of Wole Soyinka And His Radical Political Activism. Jeyifo Carries Out Detailed Analyses Of Soyinka's Most Ambitious Works, Relating Them To The Controversies Generated By Soyinka's Use Of Literature And Theatre For Radical Political Purposes. The Evaluations Of This Study Are Presented In The Context Of Soyinka's Sustained Engagement With The Violence Of Collective Experience In Post-independence, Postcolonial Africa. No Existing Study Of Soyinka's Works And Career Has Attempted Such A Systematic Investigation Of Their Complex Relationship To Politics.--jacket. 'representative' And Unrepresentable Modalities Of The Self: The Gnostic, Worldly And Radical Humanism Of Wole Soyinka -- Tragic Mythopoesis As Postcolonial Discourse -- Critical And Theoretical Writings -- The Drama Of Existence: Sources And Scope -- Ritual, Anti-ritual And The Festival Complex In Soyinka's Dramatic Parables -- The Ambiguous Freight Of Visionary Mythopoesis: Fictional And Nonfictional Prose Works -- Poetry, Versification And The Fractured Burdens Of Commitment -- Things Fall Together: Wole Soyinka In His Own Write. Biodun Jeyifo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 289-316) And Index. "Biodun Jeyifo examines the relationship between the innovative and influential writings of Wole Soyinka and his radical political activism. Jeyifo analyzes Soyinka's most ambitious works, relating them to the controversies generated by his appropriation of literature and theater for radical political objectives. The evaluations of this study are presented in the context of Soyinka's sustained engagement with the collective experience of violence in post-independence, post-colonial Africa."--Abebooks.com viewed Jan. 20, 2023 In one sense then (there is) a traveling away from its old self towards a cosmopolitan, modern identity while in another sense (there is) a journeying back to regain a threatened past and selfhood.