Created by
Robinson, Brooks B. Ph.D., American
Interview of
Brutus, Dennis, South African, 1924 - 2009
Subject of
Okigbo, Christopher, Nigerian, 1932 - 1967
bin Robert, Shaaban, Tanzanian, 1909 - 1962
Directed by
Cham, Robert
Date
1978
Medium
plastic and tape
Dimensions
H x W (audiocassette): 2 3/4 × 4 1/4 × 5/8 in. (7 × 10.8 × 1.6 cm)
Duration (side a): 00:14:48
Duration (side b): 00:14:51
Description
A white plastic cassette tape with recordings of two episodes of the radio program The Literary Corner. The cassette has a beige label on which typewritten text on one side reads [THE LITERARY CORNER / Intro to African English Poetry]. The typewritten text on the other side reads [THE LITERARY CORNER / Dennis Brutus].
Side A: “Introduction to African English Poetry with Brooks Robinson”
Episode 18 of the Literary Corner radio program. The episode is entitled “Introduction to African English Poetry with Brooks Robinson,” and begins with host Brooks Robinson providing an overview of the episode. Some of the main subjects covered in this episode include the three major themes in African oral poetry; non-English, 19th-century, written poetry (French, German, Arabic); African poetry in the 1930s and 1940s; Anglophone African poets/poetry such as Wole Soyinka, John Pepper Clark, Gabriel Okara and Christopher Okigbo; differences between the negritude poets of the 1930s-40s and the anglophone African poets; East African poets/poetry such as John Mbiti and Shabaan Robert; comparisons between East and West African anglophone poetry; anglophone poets/poetry from southern Africa such as L.D. Raditladi, B.W. Vilakazi, Vernon February, Daniel Kunene and Dennis Brutus. The episode concludes with Robinson thanking technical director Bob Cham.
Side B: “Dennis Brutus’ Life and Works”
Episode 19 of the Literary Corner radio program. It begins with host Brooks Robinson introducing his guest, South African poet, Dennis Brutus. Some of the topics discussed in the episode include how and when Brutus began writing poetry; Brutus’ first poetry piece; Brutus’ attempts to challenge South Africa’s apartheid structure; his participation in the sporting boycott of South Africa during apartheid that led to the country being banned from the Olympics; retribution Brutus faced because of his anti-apartheid activities, including his imprisonment; Brutus’ published works, including Letters to Martha, a collection of poetry he penned while in Britain, exiled from South Africa. Brutus also reads some of his poetry, including “one for the children who died in the 1976 Soweto massacre.” The episode concludes with Brutus reading his poem “A Sequence for Beatriz Allende.”
Transcription Center Status
Transcription Available
Place made
United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
West Africa, Africa
East Africa, Africa
Portfolio/Series
The Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World
Classification
Media Arts-Audio Recordings
Movement
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Anti-apartheid movements
Negritude
Type
audio cassettes
Topic
Colonialism
Literature
Poetry
Radio
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Contributed in memory of Professor Sarah Webster Fabio (1928-1979), poet, educator, Black Arts Movement icon, and one of the Literary Corner's analysts.
Object number
2010.17.1.10a
Restrictions & Rights
© Brooks B. Robinson
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52adccc37-e9b0-4e21-8949-7b5ba6c7381f

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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