Dec 23, 2019 the eldest son of a primaryschool headmaster and a devout christian mother, wole soyinka lived a comfortable life in the ake parsonage in abeokuta. Film adaptation of wole soyinkas book ake on amazon. The years of childhood by wole soyinka september 5, 2010 by danny yee 2 comments. The years of childhood by wole soyinka pdf download.
Download file pdf ake the years of childhood wole soyinka recognizing the quirk ways to get this books ake the years of childhood wole soyinka is additionally useful. Ake the years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinka s boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria. The narrative moves effortlessly from very early recollections to the point at.
In 2006 he published another memoir, you must set forth at dawn. Ake, his account of his first decade, 1935 to 1945, is of another, higher order. He writes with his adult voice, but maintains the childs perspective and understanding throughout, the one exception a nostalgic contrasting of streetfronts then and now. I was transported to soyinkas childhood world by his writing. The film adaptation of wole soyinkas classic autobiographical novel, ake.
Scarification literally and metaphorically opens the person up. Ake the years of childhood gives us the story of soyinka s boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake. He was awarded the 1986 nobel prize in literature, the first african to be honoured in that category. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria. The years of childhood wole soyinka a dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian novelist, playwright, and poet wole soyinka.
Soyinkas rich and evocative prose tells the tales of his schooldays and adventures, recollecting fears and dangers, and always sensitive to the surprises of childhood. There is a wonderful chapter in wole soyinka s ake. Its goal was to work with local communities in analysing their problems and to express some of their grievances in dramatic sketches. Scarification among the yoruba is one of the rites of passage associated with personal development. Soyinka has already written one sort of autobiography, the man died, and it was fine. See all books authored by wole soyinka, including death and the kings horseman, and ake. The role of childhood in soyinkas ake elora lee raymond 99, english 27 1997 in wole soyinkas autobiography ake, childhood has at least three main functions. As the title indicates that the work is more about the town ake than about soyinka himself as a child, perhaps that shold have been expected. According to soyinka, this was a period of anticolonial fervor, so the entire anticolonial training was something i imbibed quite early, even before the womens movement. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. I have read it several times over the years, and will no doubt read it several more as each time i get more from it.
The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinka s boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake. Chris abani wole soyinka the new york public library. Soyinka founded another theatrical group called the guerrilla unit. The scarification in ake is invested with major significance apropos soyinkas ideas on african subjectivity. The years of childhood is a memoir by nigerian writer wole soyinka that was first published in 1981. The most profoundly symbolic moment in wole soyinkas childhood autobiography, ake, is the occasion when the young wole receives from his paternal grandfather the arcshaped slashes on his ankles and wrists which ritually and physically mark a stage in his development from childhood to adulthood. The years of childhood by wole soyinka, paperback barnes. Wole soyinka is a nigerian writer, poet and play writer. The years of childhood by wole soyinka africa book club. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
The years of childhood is author wole soyinkas autobiographical account about events in his childhood between about 1934 and 1945 in the town of ake in presentday nigeria. It is hard to put into word just how good this book is. The years of childhood has some interesting depictions of nigeria in the late 1930 and early 40s from which a westerner can learn. The years of childhood new edition by wole soyinda isbn. When he was 4 years old, spurred by insatiable curiosity and the beat of a marching drum, wole soyinka slipped silently through the gate of his parents yard and. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, life, achievements and timeline. A member of the yoruba people, soyinka attended government college and university college in ibadan before graduating in 1958 with a degree in english from the university of leeds in england. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called ake. The years of childhood which can be read as an extended metaphor for growing up or, more specifically, growing up in a small town in western nigeria and becoming a worldrecognized author and nobel prize winner. A dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian novelist, playwright, and poet wole soyinka. The years of childhood pages 2528 mr olagbajus bachelor house behind the school became a second lunchhour home. The years of childhood is author wole soyinkas autobiographical account about events. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage compound, raised by.
Soyinkas father is a school headmaster, and his mother is a devoted christian who comes from a prominent tribal family. This vivid, exuberant book is the authors account of his childhood in colonial nigeria. The significance of the incident is emphasized by the fact that it is referred to again in. The first volume of wole soyinkas acclaimed series of autobiographical works. Soyinka is a master wordsmith who draws you in to his books with his lyrical naratives and true to life. Wole soyinka books list of books by author wole soyinka. Chris abani is a novelist, poet, essayist, screenwriter and playwright born in nigeria. Publication date 1983 topics soyinka, wole, authors, nigerian. Ritual scarification and autobiographical forms in wole soyinkas ake. Avaliable format in pdf, epub, mobi, kindle, ebook and audiobook. In 1981 soyinka published his autobiographical work ake. The years of childhood, was published in 1981 and followed by the companion pieces isara.
Ake is an autobiography of wole soyinkas early life in nigeria. The first volume of wole soyinka s acclaimed series of autobiographical works. Sep 05, 2010 wole soyinka was a bright, curious child and his account of his early childhood in the town of abeokuta in western nigeria is enchanting. The years of childhood, is now available to viewers on.
Scarification among the yoruba is one of the rites of passage associated with personal. The years of childhood gives us the story of soyinkas boyhood before and during world war ii in a yoruba village in western nigeria called. A relentlessly curious child who loved books and getting into trouble, soyinka grew up on a parsonage compound. Achebe discusses africa 50 years after things fall apart. You have remained in right site to start getting this info. He writes with his adult voice, but maintains the childs perspective and understanding. He is a spiritual writer not in the sense of spiritual matters but in the sense of the level of magic he conjurs with his words. Wole soyinka was a bright, curious child and his account of his early childhood in the town of abeokuta in western nigeria is enchanting. I was transported to soyinka s childhood world by his writing. Wole soyinka born july th, 1934 wole soyinka, in full akinwande olu wole soyinka, was born on july, 1934, in abeokuta, nigeria. Wole soyinka biography childhood, life achievements.
A dazzling memoir of an african childhood from nobel prizewinning nigerian no. His favourite food appeared to be the pounded yam, iyan, at which i soon became his keen accomplice. The years of childhood by wole soyinka librarything. The years of childhood, which won a 1983 anisfieldwolf book award. However, i was hoping for more autobiographical insights. Aug 02, 2019 the eldest son of a primaryschool headmaster and a devout christian mother, wole soyinka lived a comfortable life in the ake parsonage in abeokuta.