Though a powerful and celebrated critic and by now a good and fine creative writer, Shadrach A. Ambanasom has a characteristic tendency of inviting his critics to the dialogue table to tell them that he knows where the weakness in his work is and is therefore ready to
accommodate whatever criticism this may attract. In the preface to Homage and Courtship, he comes out apologetically to give reason for his choice of subject matter and his consciousness of the criticism that is likely to follow: Of course I am well aware that the poems may not find favour with some critics because they do not carry a ready perceptible ‘political punch’, the criterion fashionable these days in some Anglophone quarters for the confinement of the seal of relevance to literature. (v-vi) Then, he goes on to self defence by expressing his “humble opinion”: Important and central as politics is in our corporate existence, it should not be the one and only subjected matter of our literature. In any case, it is not given to just any writer to produce genuinely good political literature. May those capable of pursuing more vigorous committed writing do so; may our our radical visionaries bloom. But let there be room for liberal humanist too. (vi)
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Preface
- Part 1: Homage
- Poems dedicated to friends, loved ones, and other subjects (Elegies)
- Poems addressing death and the poet's response
- Poems exploring societal change, the natural environment, and artistic objects
- Part 2: Courtship
- Poems celebrating love and romance featuring Lady Zee
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The primary objective of Shadrach A. Ambanasom's Homage and Courtship is to explore themes of love, loss, and societal reflection through poetry, challenging the prevailing focus on political themes in Anglophone Cameroonian literature. The collection aims to demonstrate that romantic and humanist perspectives are equally valid and important artistic expressions.
- Exploration of love and romance
- Contemplation on death and mortality
- Observations on societal change and the natural world
- Homage to significant individuals and artistic heritage
- A challenge to the dominant political focus in contemporary Cameroonian poetry
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Part 1, "Homage," comprises elegies honoring deceased friends, artists, and family members, notably including "my son," Bernard. These poems utilize euphemisms for death ("candle is out," "exit, final bow") and reflect on the values of the departed. Beyond death, the section also tackles themes of societal change and tributes to artistic objects and heritage sites. Part 2, "Courtship," shifts focus to romantic love, featuring Lady Zee as the central figure. These poems celebrate beauty and romantic ideals within a framework of philosophical eloquence.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key themes and concepts in Homage and Courtship include: love, death, homage, elegies, romance, societal change, artistic heritage, Lady Zee, Anglophone Cameroonian poetry, political vs. humanist perspectives, and the exploration of romanticism within a specific socio-political context.
- Quote paper
- Oscar Chenyi Labang (Author), 2008, Against The Current: A Review of Shadrach Ambanasom´s "Homage and Courtship", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/119879
