Gabriel Okara

Gabriel Imomotimi Okara (born 24 April 1921) is a Nigerian poet[1] and novelist who was born in Bumoundi in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The first Modernist poet of Anglophone Africa, he is best known for his early experimental novel, The Voice (1964), and the award-winning The Fisherman's Invocation (1978) and The Dreamer, His Vision (2005).

Biography

Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara, the son of an Ijọ chief,[2] was born in Bomoundi in the Niger delta in 1921. He was educated at Government College, Umuahia, and later at Yaba Higher College. He studied journalism at Northwestern University in 1949, and before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War worked as Information Officer for the Eastern Nigerian Government Service.[2]

Writing

His most famous poem is "Piano and Drums." Another popular poem, "You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed," is a frequent feature of anthologies. Okara is very concerned with what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is faced with modern Western culture, as in his poem "Once Upon a Time." He pursues that theme in his novel The Voice (Africana Publishing: ISBN 0-8419-0015-9) Its protagonist Okolo, like countless post-colonial Africans, is hunted by society and haunted by his own ideals.

In addition to his poetry and fiction, Okara has also written plays and features for broadcasting.[2]

Many of his manuscripts were destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Laurence, Margaret; Stovel, Nora Foster (2001). Long Drums & Cannons: Nigerian dramatists and novelists, 1952-1966. University of Alberta. pp. 171–. ISBN 978-0-88864-332-2. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Gabriel Okara," in Hans M. Zell, Carol Bundy, Virginia Coulon, A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, Heinemann Educational Books, 1983; pp. 445-447.

Further reading

External links


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