06-22-2016 | #1 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
Quotes:
|
African Weird Fiction
Though I've been making a conscious effort to read weird authors from all over the world, I've been starved of weird from African writers. The only works remotely "weird" I've been exposed to being Dambudzo Marechera's Black Sunlight (brilliant) and Nnedi Okorafor's Who Fears Death which I never finished.
Any recommendations? |
8 Thanks From: | bendk (06-23-2016), ChildofOldLeech (06-22-2016), Michael (06-22-2016), miguel1984 (06-22-2016), Piranesi (06-22-2016), Robert Adam Gilmour (06-23-2016), singing flame (06-22-2016), xylokopos (06-23-2016) |
06-22-2016 | #2 | |||||||||||
Grimscribe
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 792
Quotes: 0
|
Re: African Weird Fiction
My introduction to the African Weird tradition began with Amos Tutuola's two fantastic, horrific novels, "The Palm Wine Drinkard" (1952) and "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts." Both have stood the test of time and are highly recommended.
| |||||||||||
8 Thanks From: | bendk (06-23-2016), ChildofOldLeech (06-22-2016), ether (06-23-2016), marioneta (06-22-2016), miguel1984 (06-22-2016), Nirvana In Karma (06-22-2016), Piranesi (06-22-2016), xylokopos (06-23-2016) |
06-22-2016 | #3 | |||||||||||
Mystic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 138
Quotes: 0
|
Re: African Weird Fiction
Two good and very weird short stories from Vandermeer & Vandermeer's The Weird: "The Complete Gentleman" by Tutuola and "Worlds That Flourish" by Ben Okri. The latter's novel In Arcadia - although not weird - might appeal for its dark worldview and fine language.
| |||||||||||
5 Thanks From: | bendk (06-23-2016), ChildofOldLeech (06-22-2016), miguel1984 (06-22-2016), MOSTLYMETA (06-23-2016), Nirvana In Karma (06-22-2016) |
06-22-2016 | #4 | |||||||||||
Grimscribe
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,037
Quotes: 0
|
Re: African Weird Fiction
Tutuola is amazing.
| |||||||||||
4 Thanks From: | bendk (06-23-2016), ChildofOldLeech (06-22-2016), miguel1984 (06-23-2016), Nirvana In Karma (06-22-2016) |
06-23-2016 | #5 | |||||||||||
Grimscribe
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 792
Quotes: 0
|
Re: African Weird Fiction
I hope to see a continued discussion listing more great African authors of the Weird, horrific and surreal such as Tutuola, Ben Okri and many others. I very much enjoyed Ngugl wa Thiong’o's Wizard of the Crow.
There are also wonderful Diaspora writers setting their tales in Africa, such as Nnedi Okorafor in Who Fears Death? and The Shadow Speaker and Octavia Butler in the first portion of her Wild Seed. I also enjoyed Helen Olajumoke Oyeyemi's controversial work, Boy, Snow, Bird. Lastly, while the vast majority of authors will be natives of the continent, the literature of Africa includes some writers of European descent. Despite any controversy it may raise, I feel impelled to note that Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is an incredible work that could justly be listed here under the Literature of Africa. | |||||||||||
4 Thanks From: | bendk (06-23-2016), ChildofOldLeech (06-23-2016), miguel1984 (06-23-2016), Nirvana In Karma (06-23-2016) |
06-23-2016 | #6 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
Quotes:
|
Re: African Weird Fiction
Thank you all for the recommendations thus far.
Marechera's Black Sunlight, which I've mentioned, is a vastly underrated novel. It's written in a gorgeous Beat style and includes some truly unsettling scenes. The book reads like "European Son" by The Velvet Underground, in that it begins quirky and comprehensible enough but all of a sudden breaks down into a beautiful cacophony. I have yet to pick up the remainder of his work but I really aught to. |
3 Thanks From: |
Bookmarks |
Tags |
african, fiction, weird |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Ruinenlust and Weird Fiction | yellowish haze | Off Topic | 35 | 11-27-2022 12:15 PM |
Your First Experience with Weird Fiction? | Nirvana In Karma | General Discussion | 30 | 04-01-2016 10:09 PM |
Year's Best Weird Fiction | Mad Madison | Other Authors | 8 | 02-26-2016 11:08 AM |
A Degree in Weird Fiction | Nemonymous | General Discussion | 20 | 07-31-2009 09:42 AM |
Weird Fiction, New & High Weird, Psycho-fantasy... | yellowish haze | General Discussion | 11 | 01-19-2009 03:29 PM |