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Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 17:18 GMT 18:18 UK

Africa literatures efforts should not be value through bks written in Eng.Lang alone. Some others books written in Africa languages can be translated to Eng. lang eg "Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmole"-wrtten by D.O Fagunwa translated to "The Forest of One Thousand Demons" by Prof. Wole Soyinka. Despite this great efforts, the translation does conote the full meaning of the Yoruba title of the book.If Africa litrature is to be encouraged, it must be in its language translated to any languages later

Abdulwaheed Badmus, Gent, Belgium

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 16:49 GMT 17:49 UK

I love African Literature as an African its the only way I connect with our history and the plays of Wole Soyinka, Peter Abrahams Mine Boy Nadine Gordimer July's People and a host of others have enriched my life. I am a writer but haven't been published.
I recently watched Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horse Men at the National Theatre and it filled me with so much warmth just the thought of it makes my heart skip a beat.

dela, london

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 16:33 GMT 17:33 UK

Yes i read African Literature, and i absolutely enjoy it. The claim that African writes only write about their culture may be true, but which writer doesn't? Events that influences a writer's stories are multi - faceted, and dependent on what they are writing about. I don't thing the fact African writers are influenced by their culture should be taken against them, as long as they are writing entertainingly.

[Kayboy-2], Kent, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 16:25 GMT 17:25 UK

In reality, there is no need for this award in order to know much about Africa! What happens to the reports of CMS, Wesley, Methodist, ECWA missionaries who "invaded" africa after slave trade & during colonization of Africa? If there are no details in their memoirs, a lot about Africa of today & past can be got from books written in Africa languages (eg Yoruba). Other secondary sources are musics, art work, home videos (Nollywood) etc. Books written in English by Africans are not the best bet.

Abdulwaheed Badmus, Gent, Belgium

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 16:24 GMT 17:24 UK

I recently bought a book titled "Growing up in Darfur" by a Sudanese writer ( I can't remember the name of writer; I already gave the book to my friend), on a visit to Khartoum. With childlike simplicity I was taken into the problem in Darfur. There is no better way of putting the problem to the world than the simple and humble way the writer did; no sophisticated details. To me he wanted the world to know that Darfur is like an innocent child ravaged by a giant monster.

Nancy Sesay, Freetown

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 15:34 GMT 16:34 UK

There are people with kindness

With good manners


So, tell me now

Why other children find it possible

Without diploma

Without certificate

Without any license

Tell me why it’s hard for you





There are wicked people very wicked

Who even hate those they don’t know

There are people with gossips

There are people with jealousy hearts

There are people who tell lies


Let me ask:

You are a learned person

With much money

Arnaud Ntirenganya Emmanuel, Vancouver, Canada

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 14:48 GMT 15:48 UK

After reading the literal genious, "The Famished Road" by Ben Okri, I have been "hooked" on African literature. I am also fond of the work of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Where English is still regarded a "secondary language" in Africa - we sure know how to produce beautiful literature.

Vic Edwards, London, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 14:25 GMT 15:25 UK

I have recently completed a Bacherlors in Modern Languages (French), and as part of the curriculum I had the choice to take a class on African and Caribbean literature. Some of the most interesting and moving literature I have ever had the pleasure of reading has come from the Northern African territories, and it is great news that writers - such as Assia Djebar who has recently been appointed to the prestigious 'Academie Francaise' - are becoming recognised in the English speaking community.

Jonathan, Canterbury

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 14:12 GMT 15:12 UK

I do read African literature, obtained from the few bookshops here in Accra, or from the library of the institution where I work. I also try to reads blogs, poems and stories that some African writers post online. Some of what I read is good, some not so good, but then I could say the same for the books written by non-African authors. I think I would be dishonest to myself as a resident of Ghana not to read something from Africa at least once a month, and I do read quite a bit.

Adjoa Ofoe, Accra, Ghana

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 14:03 GMT 15:03 UK

Talk nicely is very simple

To respect the elders is very simple

Humbling yourself and hard work

To be heroic and honest

Assist others and be satisfied

Being others’ keeper

Protect others’ interests

Talk little and keep secret


Trust in God and be wise

Strive to be a model

Your pride is your works

Good manners and good ways

Always be fair in everything


There is a lot that demands schooling

There is a lot that demands money

Arnaud Ntirenganya Emmanuel, Vancouver, Canada

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 14:01 GMT 15:01 UK

Why it’s hard?


To have mercy and have sorry heart

Help the needy ones

Understand the poor

Humbling yourself wherever you are

With good manners and respect


Let me ask:

It doesn’t require schooling

It doesn’t require money

It doesn’t dishonor the practitioner

Let me ask why it’s hard?


To love others despite their colors, tribes, and ethnics

All that without any interest

To respect all even those small ones

Receiving those coming your way

Arnaud Ntirenganya Emmanuel, Vancouver, Canada

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 13:39 GMT 14:39 UK

yes i love african literature,because it is not fiction like the western literature.the african literature is enjoyable and exposes to the world what realy means to be african.

mohamed abdirahman, khartoum, Sudan

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 12:42 GMT 13:42 UK

When the coveted Nobel Prize for literature was won for the first time in 1986 the Nigerian poet and playwright,Wole Soyinka,Africa appeared to be on its way to outshining literature from places like Europe.It was an achievement yet to be equalled,but many African writers are also worth the laurel.I have on my list Ngugi Wa Thiong'o,who is by far the most illustrious writer from eastern Africa and Chinua Achebe whose famous book Things Fall Apart has been reworded into more than 50 languages.

Kolawole Ajao, Lagos, Nigeria

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 12:37 GMT 13:37 UK

Yes I do read African Literature and enjoy them a lot they tell us who we are how we've been and the realities of life. african literature is an eye opener to any one who is interested in the substance of life and how life can be made meaningful to an individual, it tells us about our culture, what we are as africans & our way of life, books like the gods are not to blame, the marriage of anansewa, the dilema of a ghost just to name a few are very life teaching stories & I love reading them.

Ayisibea, Accra

Added: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 12:31 GMT 13:31 UK

Another richness of Africa is her writers. Africa has millions of writers but means to publish their books only the problem! BBC can bear the witness. We read mostly fiction and people’s stories in western literature but we read wisdom in African literature. I have writen stories, songs, dramas but never had means to publish them.

Arnaud Ntirenganya Emmanuel, Vancouver, Canada