Art and Political Thought in Bole Butake

Rezensionen / Stimmen

Art and Political Thought in Bole Butake is studded with innovative insights into the plays of one of the most celebrated of Cameroon's creative artists. It profiles a playwright and theatre practitioner whose works have created tremendous impact particularly on the Cameroonian society. The authors source deep into the texts' history, politics, ontology, anthropology and sociology, more than any study on a single author in Cameroon has done, to reveal among other ills, the extremes of corruption, power abuse and marginalization that have characterised Cameroon's political scene since independence. Bole Butake's ingenuity in crafting his plays with cultural symbols, oral tradition and other techniques of dramaturgy, which apart from critiquing the political ills, displays the cultural wealth of Cameroon, is skilfully brought out by the authors. One is struck by the depth of the details in the presentation of the playwright and his art, details that must be seen as indispensable for understanding the socio-cultural and political complexities of Cameroon in the postcolonial context. Dealing with a literature that is relatively new on the international scene, the book highlights the complex artistic peculiarities of Anglophone Cameroon Literature viewed from the perspective of a single author. It is thoughtfully written and will be of interest, especially, to the postcolonial students and researchers. -- John Nkemngong Nkengasong, University of Yaounde I This book is a testament to the rich literary tradition that exists in the Cameroon Anglophone literary landscape, a landscape that has not enjoyed visibility in Africa due in part to the marginalization of Anglophones in modern Cameroon over the years. The editors have done a good job of exploring the various perspectives discernible in the plays of one of Africa's foremost playwrights, Bole Butake. The book will make for an insightful read to speakers of English in general and scholars of African literature/studies in particular. -- Victor N. Gomia, Delaware State University By focusing on the works of the famed Cameroonian playwright, Bole Butake, Art and Political Thought in Bole Butake exposes the corruption, tyranny, nepotism, and abuse of power that pervades all levels of society, including traditional institutions and various levels of government and its complex bureaucracy. The only solution to this societal decay is a revolution, which, ironically is led by women whose political contributions to society have historically been marginalized and dismissed in Cameroon and throughout the continent. However, according to the authors, Butake is conflicted on whether a revolution is the solution to the country's ills, given the fact that similar actions on the continent only led to more authoritarian and corrupt regimes. This book is a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in understanding the post-colonial state in Cameroon and Africa. -- Joseph Takougang, University of Cincinnati