Ernest Emenyonu: The Igbo novel dates back to 1857
Professor Ernest Emenyonu, a notable critic, theorist and writer is chair, Africana Studies of The University of Michigan, Flint in the United States of America. As a critic, Professor Emenyonu has written very constructive works that have added meaning and depth to the Igbo, Nigerian and African literature. His very important landmark critical work, The Rise of The Igbo Novel, is no doubt one of the most important studies not only in Igbo indigenous literature, but has also helped in igniting interest in the entire ourve of works done in the other emerging literary productions in the continent. Beyond that ground-breaking work, he also authored Cyprain Ekwensi, The Rise of African Literature for Schools and Colleges, Studies on The Nigerian Novel, Goatskin Bags and Wisdom: New Critical Perspectives. He also wrote Adventures of Ebeleako, Uzo Remembers His Father and recently, a collection of short stories.
He has also edited a number of critical essays and as well, wrote the brilliant biography of Most Reverend Benjamin Nwankiti. Beyond all this, Professor Emenyonu has served in almost all the highest echelons of educational administration in Nigeria and abroad, having served as head of departments of English of various universities and colleges across the globe, chairman, Committee of Deans, deputy vice- chancellor of the University of Calabar and many years provost of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri and currently, the editor of the highly respected journal, African Literature Today. In this chance meeting that took place at the prestigious Palm Royal Beach Hotel, venue of the just concluded African Literature Association Conference in Accra, Ghana, the erudite scholar took, Vanguard Arts round his familiar turf of literary production and criticism even as he took a swipe on the unperforming leaders of the continent who have continued to drag their people into an all-time cataclysmic journey.
Excerpts:
I DON'T think that another person will tell some other person what to write. Just like you framed that question that "does it mean that the younger generation’s works are not engaging enough as to deserve critical attention?” What’s the point of reference you may want to ask? The young generation is not supposed to write like Chinua Achebe, the young generation is not supposed to write like Soyinka, the writer is a product of his time. It is true that we can reach back into time and recreate through our consciousness what represents the reality of the time. You cannot tell a writer what to write about, but you can teach a writer how to write. I listened to one of my friends' arguments that Nigerian writers are not meeting their expectations. Whose expectations? I can teach creative writing in my class where I can tell students that this is how to structure a paragraph or this is how to develop a theme. But I cannot teach or tell him that this is how to write a novel about tomorrow or about the Christian faith.
No. I can only mould him in the mechanics of writing but not to force him to write about what I have in mind nor is anybody likely to do that....
Read entire article at Vanguard
He has also edited a number of critical essays and as well, wrote the brilliant biography of Most Reverend Benjamin Nwankiti. Beyond all this, Professor Emenyonu has served in almost all the highest echelons of educational administration in Nigeria and abroad, having served as head of departments of English of various universities and colleges across the globe, chairman, Committee of Deans, deputy vice- chancellor of the University of Calabar and many years provost of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri and currently, the editor of the highly respected journal, African Literature Today. In this chance meeting that took place at the prestigious Palm Royal Beach Hotel, venue of the just concluded African Literature Association Conference in Accra, Ghana, the erudite scholar took, Vanguard Arts round his familiar turf of literary production and criticism even as he took a swipe on the unperforming leaders of the continent who have continued to drag their people into an all-time cataclysmic journey.
Excerpts:
I DON'T think that another person will tell some other person what to write. Just like you framed that question that "does it mean that the younger generation’s works are not engaging enough as to deserve critical attention?” What’s the point of reference you may want to ask? The young generation is not supposed to write like Chinua Achebe, the young generation is not supposed to write like Soyinka, the writer is a product of his time. It is true that we can reach back into time and recreate through our consciousness what represents the reality of the time. You cannot tell a writer what to write about, but you can teach a writer how to write. I listened to one of my friends' arguments that Nigerian writers are not meeting their expectations. Whose expectations? I can teach creative writing in my class where I can tell students that this is how to structure a paragraph or this is how to develop a theme. But I cannot teach or tell him that this is how to write a novel about tomorrow or about the Christian faith.
No. I can only mould him in the mechanics of writing but not to force him to write about what I have in mind nor is anybody likely to do that....