written by Peter W. Vakunta
In this book of poems, the poet speaks in a confident tone of apocalyptic utterances: advising, warning, denouncing, protesting, and lamenting. This long poem has the twin virtues of relevance and clarity of diction. The poet willfully eschews the irksome ineloquence and syntactic sophistry characteristic of traditional poetry. He adopts the tone of African Guardians of the Word, the griots. Passion, energy, and incisive irony are the hallmarks of this didactic work.
| ISBN | 9789956552108 |
| Pages | 100 |
| Dimensions | 203 x 127mm |
| Published | 2022 |
| Publisher | Langaa RPCIG, Cameroon |
| Format | Paperback |
1 comment
“Honor Among Thieves is one more expression of Africa’s disaster and dilemma. The long poem chronicles the “dance macabre in the putrefaction” by “metamorphosed nitwits” feeding “feces to the poor.” Vakunta’s words flow feverishly in a harsh, harrowing rhythm, like blood gushing out of the bodies of innocent victims of Africa’s reprehensible dictators. Cameroon is the particular site of the tragedy, but it could be Kenya, or Somalia, or Sudan…”
Dr. Femi Ojo-Ade, Professor Emeritus of French & History, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, USA