Black Orpheus was a Nigeria-based literary journal founded in 1957 by German expatriate editor and scholar Ulli Beier that has been described as "a powerful catalyst for artistic awakening throughout West Africa".[1] Its name derived from a 1948 essay by Jean-Paul Sartre, "Orphée Noir", published as a preface to Anthologie de la nouvelle poésie nègre et malgache, edited by Léopold Sédar Senghor.[2] Beier wrote in an editorial statement in the inaugural volume that "it is still possible for a Nigerian child to leave a secondary school with a thorough knowledge of English literature, but without even having heard of Léopold Sédar Senghor or Aimé Césaire", so Black Orpheus became a platform for Francophone as well as Anglophone writers.[3]
Black Orpheus was "a journal of African and Afro-American literature" established in 1957 by university professor Ulli Beier.[5] It was produced in Ibadan, Nigeria, and was groundbreaking as the first African literary periodical in English, publishing poetry, art, fiction, literary criticism, and commentary.[6] Its editors included Wole Soyinka and Es'kia Mphahlele (1960–64).[7]
Black Orpheus was highly influential; Abiola Irele – the magazine's editor from 1968 – wrote in the Journal of Modern African Studies: "The steady development of Black Orpheus over the last seven years amounts to a remarkable achievement. It has succeeded in breaking the vicious circle that seems to inhibit the development of a proper reading public by its continued existence, by its very availability; more than that, it has also gone on to establish itself as one of the most important formative influences in modern African literature.…It can be said, without much exaggeration, that the founding of Black Orpheus, if it did not directly inspire new writing in English-speaking Africa, at least coincided with the first promptings of a new, modern, literary expression and re-inforced it by keeping before the potential writer the example of the achievements of the French-speaking and Negro American writers."[9]
Beier also founded the Mbari Club, in 1961, a cultural hub for African writers that was closely connected with Black Orpheus, and during the 1960s also acted as a publisher — considered to be the only African-based publisher of African literature at the time — producing 17 titles by African writers.[10]
Having earned a reputation as "the doyen of African literary magazines",[11]Black Orpheus eventually ceased publication in 1975.[1]
^ abcKate Tuttle, "Black Orpheus", in Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates Jr (eds), Encyclopedia of Africa, Volume 1, Oxford University Press, 2010, p. 189.
^Peter Benson, Black Orpheus, Transition, and Modern Cultural Awakening in Africa, University of California Press, 1986, p. 24.
^Quoted in Mark Wollaeger with Matt Eatough, The Oxford Handbook of Global Modernisms, Oxford University Press, 2012, p. 276.
^Scott-Smith, Giles; Lerg, Charlotte A. (2017). Campaigning Culture and the Global Cold War The Journals of the Congress for Cultural Freedom. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN978-1-137-59867-7.
^Ulli Beier (ed.), Black Orpheus: An Anthology of New African and Afro-American Stories, McGraw Hill, 1965 (Longmans of Nigeria, 1964).
^Dele Meiji Fatunla, "Three African and African Diasporan Literary Magazines the Everyone Should Know", What's On Africa, Royal African Society, 30 June 2015.
^Currey, James (2013). "Literary Publishing After Nigerian Independence: Mbari as Celebration". Research in African Literatures. 44 (2): 8–16. doi:10.2979/reseafrilite.44.2.8. JSTOR 10.2979/reseafrilite.44.2.8. S2CID 162072372.
^Wollaeger and Eatough, The Oxford Handbook of Global Modernisms, 2012, p. 280.
Further readingedit
Mark Wollaeger with Matt Eatough, "Black Orpheus, or, the Rise of the Little Magazine in Africa", in The Oxford Handbook of Global Modernisms, Oxford University Press, 2012, pp. 274–280.
Peter Benson, Black Orpheus, Transition, and Modern Cultural Awakening in Africa, University of California Press, 1986.
May 01, 2024
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Black Orpheus was a Nigeria based literary journal founded in 1957 by German expatriate editor and scholar Ulli Beier that has been described as a powerful catalyst for artistic awakening throughout West Africa 1 Its name derived from a 1948 essay by Jean Paul Sartre Orphee Noir published as a preface to Anthologie de la nouvelle poesie negre et malgache edited by Leopold Sedar Senghor 2 Beier wrote in an editorial statement in the inaugural volume that it is still possible for a Nigerian child to leave a secondary school with a thorough knowledge of English literature but without even having heard of Leopold Sedar Senghor or Aime Cesaire so Black Orpheus became a platform for Francophone as well as Anglophone writers 3 Issue number 1 The Congress for Cultural Freedom a front group set up by the Central Intelligence Agency was a funder of the magazine 4 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingHistory editBlack Orpheus was a journal of African and Afro American literature established in 1957 by university professor Ulli Beier 5 It was produced in Ibadan Nigeria and was groundbreaking as the first African literary periodical in English publishing poetry art fiction literary criticism and commentary 6 Its editors included Wole Soyinka and Es kia Mphahlele 1960 64 7 Characterised by its pan African reach Black Orpheus also published in English translation the work of Francophone writers among them Leopold Senghor Camara Laye Aime Cesaire and Hampate Ba as well as playing a significant role in the careers of such notable authors and artists as Wole Soyinka John Pepper Clark Gabriel Okara Dennis Brutus Kofi Awoonor Andrew Salkey Leon Damas Ama Ata Aidoo Cyprian Ekwensi Alex La Guma Bloke Modisane Birago Diop D O Fagunwa Wilson Harris Valente Malangatana and Ibrahim el Salahi 1 6 Many of them featured in a 1964 anthology edited by Beier Black Orpheus An Anthology of New African and Afro American Stories which was published in Lagos London Toronto and New York 8 Black Orpheus was highly influential Abiola Irele the magazine s editor from 1968 wrote in the Journal of Modern African Studies The steady development of Black Orpheus over the last seven years amounts to a remarkable achievement It has succeeded in breaking the vicious circle that seems to inhibit the development of a proper reading public by its continued existence by its very availability more than that it has also gone on to establish itself as one of the most important formative influences in modern African literature It can be said without much exaggeration that the founding of Black Orpheus if it did not directly inspire new writing in English speaking Africa at least coincided with the first promptings of a new modern literary expression and re inforced it by keeping before the potential writer the example of the achievements of the French speaking and Negro American writers 9 Beier also founded the Mbari Club in 1961 a cultural hub for African writers that was closely connected with Black Orpheus and during the 1960s also acted as a publisher considered to be the only African based publisher of African literature at the time producing 17 titles by African writers 10 Having earned a reputation as the doyen of African literary magazines 11 Black Orpheus eventually ceased publication in 1975 1 See also editPresence Africaine Transition MagazineReferences edit a b c Kate Tuttle Black Orpheus in Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates Jr eds Encyclopedia of Africa Volume 1 Oxford University Press 2010 p 189 Peter Benson Black Orpheus Transition and Modern Cultural Awakening in Africa University of California Press 1986 p 24 Quoted in Mark Wollaeger with Matt Eatough The Oxford Handbook of Global Modernisms Oxford University Press 2012 p 276 Scott Smith Giles Lerg Charlotte A 2017 Campaigning Culture and the Global Cold War The Journals of the Congress for Cultural Freedom Palgrave Macmillan ISBN 978 1 137 59867 7 Black Orpheus at WorldCat a b Cover of Black Orpheus Collection items from West Africa Word Symbol Song British Library Es kia Mphahlele Encyclopaedia Britannica Ulli Beier ed Black Orpheus An Anthology of New African and Afro American Stories McGraw Hill 1965 Longmans of Nigeria 1964 Dele Meiji Fatunla Three African and African Diasporan Literary Magazines the Everyone Should Know What s On Africa Royal African Society 30 June 2015 Currey James 2013 Literary Publishing After Nigerian Independence Mbari as Celebration Research in African Literatures 44 2 8 16 doi 10 2979 reseafrilite 44 2 8 JSTOR 10 2979 reseafrilite 44 2 8 S2CID 162072372 Wollaeger and Eatough The Oxford Handbook of Global Modernisms 2012 p 280 Further reading editMark Wollaeger with Matt Eatough Black Orpheus or the Rise of the Little Magazine in Africa in The Oxford Handbook of Global Modernisms Oxford University Press 2012 pp 274 280 Peter Benson Black Orpheus Transition and Modern Cultural Awakening in Africa University of California Press 1986 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