Echoes of the Sunbird — (1993)

An Anthology of Contemporary African Poetry

Edited by Donald Burness

This volume presents a broad overview of the work of seven of Africa’s leading poets. Five of them have received international recognition: Niyi Osundare and Chinua Achebe, the Commonwealth Poetry Prize; Osundare and Antonio Jacinto, the Noma Prize; and Jose Craveirinha, the Camoes Prize. The poems concern political, personal, and social themes and are written with aesthetic simplicity and lyricism. The contributors believe that poets, rather than being exiles from their communities, are prophets, seers, and singers and have a place in everyday life.

Most of the poems have been published previously. Several, however, are new, and their appearance in this volume along with an introductory essay written by each poet, makes this anthology important, original, and fresh.