The Writer, Resistance, and Anticipation of Freedom

Drawing on the ever contentious and antagonistic relationship between the writer and the state, especially in the postcolony, the chapters assembled in this collection delineate Bill F. Ndi, the poet and playwright’s arduous and sometimes dangerous role as a custodian or guardian of the socioeconomics and politico-cultures of the Cameroonian postcolony and Africa at large. The chapters insist that granted The Cameroons’ quadruple experience of colonialism (through the Germans, the French, the British and La République du Cameroun), Cameroun and British Southern Cameroons’ history needs to purge itself of the epistemic and ontological violence of Francophonecentric historiography.

“Bill F. Ndi possesses a unique and powerful voice within the Cameroonian literary scene and this apposite volume of critical essays attempts not only to situate him properly within that domain but also to significantly augment his already considerable stature.” Sanya Osha, University of Cape Town, South Africa “Bill F. Ndi is an unapologetic and committed firebrand writer with a position that refuses to seek validation from the same who oppress and blackball black writing. Hassan Yosimbom’s book is a testimony to Ndi’s resolve to resist anything that stands in the way of his people’s freedom.” Koua Viviane, PhD. (Comparative literature, Limoges: France), College of Liberal Arts, Auburn University, Auburn Alabama. “This book is a work of the utmost importance to understand the subtleties and complexities of the anglophone Cameroonian crisis and ongoing civil war in the Cameroons.” Professor Aghi Bahi, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

 “In this book, Yosimbom delves into the intricate impact of imperialism by examining the works of Bill F. Ndi, a modern postcolonial writer of British Southern Cameroons extraction. The book is a compelling analysis of the relationship between writers and the state. It stresses the need to challenge Francophone-centric views and empower the marginalized and oppressed Anglophones in the Cameroons. Brought to the limelight is the rootedness of this historical imbalance and its perpetuation by Francophone-dominated regimes and the complicit panhandling Anglophone elites. Addressed are the themes of peace, identity, autonomy, resilience, and resistance…” Maimo Mary Mah, Development Communication Specialist/Consultant