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Gabriel Okara

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1114: 348:, Okara "translated directly from the Ijo (Ijaw) language, imposing Ijo syntax onto English in order to give literal expression to African ideas and imagery. The novel creates a symbolic landscape in which the forces of traditional African culture and Western materialism contend.... Okara’s skilled portrayal of the inner tensions of his hero distinguished him from many other Nigerian novelists." 202:
In 1945 Okara found work as a printer and bookbinder for colonial Nigeria's government-owned publishing company. He remained in that post for nine years, during which he began to write. At first he translated poetry from
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After leaving school Okara wrote plays and features for radio, and in 1953 his poem "The Call of the River Nun" won an award at the Nigerian Festival of Arts. Some of his poetry was published in the literary magazine
365:, edited by Professor Chidi T. Maduka, addressed Okara's "place in African literature and the fact that he has not been given his full due in African literature", which was partly attributable, said 881: 1195: 509: 167:, "It is with publication of Gabriel Okara's first poem that Nigerian literature in English and modern African poetry in this language can be said truly to have begun." 991: 1190: 344:(1964). Its protagonist Okolo, like countless post-colonial Africans, is hunted by society and haunted by his own ideals. Experimenting linguistically in 1170: 246:, and by 1960 he had won recognition as an accomplished literary craftsman, his poetry being translated into several languages. He attended the landmark 878: 1175: 1025: 902: 543: 487: 919: 796: 333:", is a frequent feature of anthologies. Okara was very concerned with what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is faced with modern 1180: 945: 196: 844: 1165: 406: 330: 641: 1185: 1145: 1078: 437: 195:, he attempted to enlist in the British Royal Air Force but did not complete pilot training, instead he worked for a time for the 1160: 506: 566: 373:
acknowledged Okara as "not just the oldest writer but a foundational producer of the literary arts in our part of the world."
753: 591: 1155: 396: 711: 358: 251: 482:(edited and with an introduction by Brenda Marie Osbey), University of Nebraska Press, African Poetry Book Series, 247: 184: 386: 242: 208: 52: 1058: 429: 138: 724: 283: 1008: 382:
1953: Best All-Round Entry In Poetry at the Nigerian Festival of Arts, for "The Call of the River Nun"
1150: 1140: 1135: 685: 215:(1967–70) worked as Information Officer for the Eastern Nigerian Government Service. Together with 188: 1063: 827: 311: 212: 160: 1074: 879:"‘Gabriel Okara has written in all genres, yet not much attention has been given to his work’" 646: 539: 535: 483: 433: 423: 315: 307: 143: 108: 48: 771: 351:
In addition to his poetry and fiction, Okara also wrote plays and features for broadcasting.
121:(24 April 1921 – 25 March 2019) was a Nigerian poet and novelist who was born in Bumoundi in 828:"Penpoints, Gunpoints, and Dreams: A history of creative writing instruction in East Africa" 295: 287: 1053: 885: 513: 366: 334: 326: 56: 966: 275: 1119: 319: 279: 271: 204: 1099: 668: 1129: 623: 528: 263: 228: 216: 126: 78: 861: 823: 370: 303: 299: 224: 192: 354:
Many of his unpublished manuscripts were destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War.
155:(2005). In both his poems and his prose, Okara drew on African thought, religion, 267: 180: 176: 1109: 291: 207:
into English and wrote scripts for government radio. He studied journalism at
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and imagery, and he has been called "the Nigerian Negritudist". According to
134: 1100:"Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara: The Poet of the Nun River — interview" 669:"Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara: The Poet of the Nun River — interview" 507:"Renowned Poet and Novelist, Gabriel Okara, Dies Just Before 98th Birthday" 801: 156: 255: 223:'s cause during part of 1969. From 1972 to 1980 he was director of the 130: 122: 74: 530:
Long Drums & Cannons: Nigerian Dramatists and Novelists, 1952–1966
259: 220: 1026:"Gabriel Okara… Restoring the genius of Africa's oldest living poet" 903:"Gabriel Okara… Restoring the genius of Africa’s oldest living poet" 369:, to Okara (like himself) not having been "university-based", while 357:
In April 2017, the Gabriel Okara Literary Festival was held at the
706:"Gabriel Okara," in Hans M. Zell, Carol Bundy, Virginia Coulon, 1088:. Port Harcourt, Nigeria: Onyoma Research Publications, 2007. 920:"The River Nun Called, and Gabriel Okara Answered at Last..." 797:"The River Nun Called, and Gabriel Okara Answered at Last…" 141:
Africa, he is best known for his early experimental novel,
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in his honour. The publication in May 2017 of the book
946:"Renowned Nigerian poet, Gabriel Okara, dies at 97" 147:(1964), and his award-winning poetry, published in 102: 94: 86: 63: 30: 23: 1030:The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News 592:"Nigerian literary community mourns Gabriel Okara" 527: 175:Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara, the son of an 526:Laurence, Margaret; Stovel, Nora Foster (2001). 642:"Nigerian Negritudist Gabriel Okara Dies at 97" 8: 619: 617: 615: 613: 428:, London: Deutsch, first edition; Heinemann 1009:"Echoes of Achebe’s works at writers’ show" 708:A New Reader's Guide to African Literature 340:He pursued that theme in his first novel, 20: 1196:Nigerian expatriates in the United States 1056:"Gabriel Okara: a Poet and His Seasons." 567:"Okara, Gabriel 1921– | Encyclopedia.com" 211:in 1949, and before the outbreak of the 499: 1071:Who's Who in 20th Century World Poetry 748: 746: 702: 700: 698: 16:Nigerian poet and novelist (1921–2019) 851:, University of Nebraska Press, 2016. 725:"Gabriel Imomotimi Okara (1921-2019)" 692:, University of Nebraska Press, 2016. 432:(No. 68), 1970. Africana Publishing, 412:2017: Gabriel Okara Literary Festival 337:, as in his poem "Once Upon a Time". 325:One of Okara's most famous poems is " 7: 1191:Nigeria Prize for Literature winners 197:British Overseas Airways Corporation 772:"Gabriel Okara is dead (1921-2019)" 331:You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed 179:chief, was born in Bomoundi in the 1086:Gabriel Okara: The Man and His Art 534:. University of Alberta. pp.  219:, Okara was roving ambassador for 35:Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara 14: 1171:Government College Umuahia alumni 1112: 640:Staff, Harriet (28 March 2019). 407:Pan African Writers' Association 1176:20th-century Nigerian novelists 944:Augoye, Jayne (25 March 2019). 996:Gabriel Okara: Collected Poems 690:Gabriel Okara: Collected Poems 1: 758:Contemporary Black Biography 262:, along with such writers as 1015:(Nigeria), 25 November 2015. 452:Little Snake and Little Frog 183:in 1921. He was educated at 1181:20th-century Nigerian poets 967:"Gabriel Okara (1921-2019)" 712:Heinemann Educational Books 459:An Adventure to Juju Island 359:University of Port Harcourt 252:Makerere University College 1212: 1166:Yaba Higher College alumni 862:"A bouquet for poet Okara" 516:, Olisa TV, 25 March 2019. 445:The Fisherman's Invocation 391:The Fisherman's Invocation 329:". Another popular poem, " 248:African Writers Conference 185:Government College Umuahia 149:The Fisherman's Invocation 1186:20th-century male writers 1146:People from Bayelsa State 892:(Nigeria), 19 March 2017. 409:Honorary Membership Award 387:Commonwealth Poetry Prize 199:(later British Airways). 1161:Nigerian male novelists 770:David (25 March 2019). 628:Encyclopædia Britannica 466:The Dreamer, His Vision 401:The Dreamer, His Vision 250:held on 1 June 1962 at 209:Northwestern University 153:The Dreamer, His Vision 119:Gabriel Imomotimi Okara 1084:Eldred Ibibiem Green, 1059:World Literature Today 909:(Nigeria), 5 May 2017. 754:"Okara, Gabriel 1921–" 430:African Writers Series 1054:Echeruo, Michael J.C. 512:25 March 2019 at the 417:Selected bibliography 884:11 June 2018 at the 714:, 1983; pp. 445–447. 684:Brenda Marie Osbey, 571:www.encyclopedia.com 310:, Saunders Redding, 227:Publishing House in 1156:Nigerian male poets 1073:, Routledge (2001, 760:. Encyclopedia.com. 314:, Francis Ademola, 189:Yaba Higher College 845:"Once Upon a Time" 832:Chimurenga Chronic 752:James M. Manheim, 377:Awards and honours 312:Christopher Okigbo 213:Nigerian Civil War 161:Brenda Marie Osbey 1098:Sumaila Umaisha, 901:Anote Ajeluorou, 877:Anote Ajeluorou, 667:Sumaila Umaisha, 647:Poetry Foundation 545:978-0-88864-332-2 488:978-0-8032-8687-0 316:Ezekiel Mphahlele 308:John Pepper Clark 284:Ngugi Wa Thiong’o 116: 115: 1203: 1122: 1117: 1116: 1115: 1069:Mark Willhardt, 1042: 1041: 1039: 1037: 1022: 1016: 1005: 999: 989: 983: 982: 980: 978: 963: 957: 956: 954: 952: 941: 935: 934: 932: 930: 916: 910: 899: 893: 875: 869: 860:Ozolua Uhakheme, 858: 852: 841: 835: 834:, 18 April 2017. 821: 815: 814: 812: 810: 793: 787: 786: 784: 782: 767: 761: 750: 741: 740: 738: 736: 721: 715: 704: 693: 682: 676: 665: 659: 658: 656: 654: 637: 631: 621: 608: 607: 605: 603: 588: 582: 581: 579: 577: 563: 557: 556: 554: 552: 533: 523: 517: 504: 296:Jonathan Kariara 288:Olusegun Olusola 163:, editor of his 105: 70: 44: 42: 21: 1211: 1210: 1206: 1205: 1204: 1202: 1201: 1200: 1126: 1125: 1118: 1113: 1111: 1104:African Writing 1095: 1081:), p. 237. 1050: 1048:Further reading 1045: 1035: 1033: 1024: 1023: 1019: 1007:Evelyn Osagie, 1006: 1002: 990: 986: 976: 974: 971:The Sun Nigeria 965: 964: 960: 950: 948: 943: 942: 938: 928: 926: 925:. 31 March 2019 918: 917: 913: 900: 896: 886:Wayback Machine 876: 872: 868:, 8 March 2017. 859: 855: 849:Collected Poems 843:Gabriel Okara, 842: 838: 822: 818: 808: 806: 805:. 31 March 2019 795: 794: 790: 780: 778: 776:The Sun Nigeria 769: 768: 764: 751: 744: 734: 732: 731:. 31 March 2019 723: 722: 718: 705: 696: 683: 679: 673:African Writing 666: 662: 652: 650: 639: 638: 634: 624:"Gabriel Okara" 622: 611: 601: 599: 598:. 25 March 2019 590: 589: 585: 575: 573: 565: 564: 560: 550: 548: 546: 525: 524: 520: 514:Wayback Machine 505: 501: 497: 480:Collected Poems 419: 379: 367:Lindsay Barrett 335:Western culture 327:Piano and Drums 237: 187:, and later at 173: 165:Collected Poems 103: 82: 72: 68: 59: 57:British Nigeria 46: 40: 38: 37: 36: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1209: 1207: 1199: 1198: 1193: 1188: 1183: 1178: 1173: 1168: 1163: 1158: 1153: 1148: 1143: 1138: 1128: 1127: 1124: 1123: 1120:Nigeria portal 1108: 1107: 1094: 1093:External links 1091: 1090: 1089: 1082: 1067: 1049: 1046: 1044: 1043: 1017: 1000: 984: 973:. 5 April 2019 958: 936: 911: 894: 870: 853: 836: 816: 788: 762: 742: 716: 694: 677: 660: 632: 609: 596:Businessday NG 583: 558: 544: 518: 498: 496: 493: 492: 491: 476: 469: 462: 461:(for children) 455: 454:(for children) 448: 441: 418: 415: 414: 413: 410: 403: 393: 383: 378: 375: 322:, and others. 320:Arthur Maimane 280:Bernard Fonlon 272:Bloke Modisane 236: 233: 172: 169: 114: 113: 106: 100: 99: 98:Novelist, poet 96: 92: 91: 88: 84: 83: 73: 71:(aged 97) 65: 61: 60: 53:Eastern Region 47: 34: 32: 28: 27: 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1208: 1197: 1194: 1192: 1189: 1187: 1184: 1182: 1179: 1177: 1174: 1172: 1169: 1167: 1164: 1162: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1147: 1144: 1142: 1139: 1137: 1134: 1133: 1131: 1121: 1110: 1105: 1101: 1097: 1096: 1092: 1087: 1083: 1080: 1079:0-415-16355-2 1076: 1072: 1068: 1065: 1061: 1060: 1055: 1052: 1051: 1047: 1031: 1027: 1021: 1018: 1014: 1010: 1004: 1001: 997: 993: 988: 985: 972: 968: 962: 959: 947: 940: 937: 924: 921: 915: 912: 908: 904: 898: 895: 891: 887: 883: 880: 874: 871: 867: 863: 857: 854: 850: 846: 840: 837: 833: 829: 825: 820: 817: 804: 803: 798: 792: 789: 777: 773: 766: 763: 759: 755: 749: 747: 743: 730: 729:Vanguard News 726: 720: 717: 713: 709: 703: 701: 699: 695: 691: 687: 681: 678: 674: 670: 664: 661: 649: 648: 643: 636: 633: 629: 625: 620: 618: 616: 614: 610: 597: 593: 587: 584: 572: 568: 562: 559: 547: 541: 537: 532: 531: 522: 519: 515: 511: 508: 503: 500: 494: 489: 485: 481: 477: 474: 470: 467: 463: 460: 456: 453: 449: 446: 442: 439: 438:0-8419-0015-9 435: 431: 427: 426: 421: 420: 416: 411: 408: 404: 402: 398: 394: 392: 388: 384: 381: 380: 376: 374: 372: 368: 364: 360: 355: 352: 349: 347: 343: 338: 336: 332: 328: 323: 321: 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 293: 289: 285: 281: 277: 273: 269: 265: 264:Chinua Achebe 261: 257: 253: 249: 245: 244: 243:Black Orpheus 234: 232: 230: 229:Port Harcourt 226: 222: 218: 217:Chinua Achebe 214: 210: 206: 200: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 178: 170: 168: 166: 162: 158: 154: 150: 146: 145: 140: 136: 132: 128: 127:Bayelsa State 124: 120: 112: 111: 107: 101: 97: 95:Occupation(s) 93: 89: 85: 80: 79:Bayelsa State 76: 67:25 March 2019 66: 62: 58: 54: 50: 45:24 April 1921 33: 29: 25:Gabriel Okara 22: 19: 1103: 1085: 1070: 1057: 1034:. Retrieved 1032:. 5 May 2017 1029: 1020: 1012: 1003: 995: 992:"Chronology" 987: 975:. Retrieved 970: 961: 949:. Retrieved 939: 927:. Retrieved 922: 914: 907:The Guardian 906: 897: 890:The Guardian 889: 873: 865: 856: 848: 839: 831: 824:Billy Kahora 819: 807:. Retrieved 800: 791: 779:. Retrieved 775: 765: 757: 733:. Retrieved 728: 719: 707: 689: 686:Introduction 680: 672: 663: 651:. Retrieved 645: 635: 627: 600:. Retrieved 595: 586: 574:. Retrieved 570: 561: 549:. Retrieved 529: 521: 502: 479: 472: 468:(20) (poems) 465: 458: 451: 444: 424: 400: 390: 371:Odia Ofeimun 363:Gabriel Okra 362: 356: 353: 350: 345: 341: 339: 324: 304:Wole Soyinka 300:Rebecca Njau 276:Okot p'Bitek 241: 238: 225:Rivers State 201: 193:World War II 174: 164: 152: 148: 142: 133:. The first 118: 117: 109: 104:Notable work 69:(2019-03-25) 18: 1151:Ijaw people 1141:2019 deaths 1136:1921 births 473:As I See It 268:Rajat Neogy 181:Niger Delta 151:(1978) and 87:Nationality 1130:Categories 1013:The Nation 866:The Nation 495:References 397:NLNG Prize 292:Grace Ogot 139:Anglophone 41:1921-04-24 1066:: 454–456 781:31 August 425:The Voice 346:The Voice 342:The Voice 191:. During 171:Biography 144:The Voice 135:modernist 110:The Voice 81:, Nigeria 1106:, No. 6. 882:Archived 809:9 August 802:This Day 735:18 March 675:, No. 6. 653:9 August 510:Archived 157:folklore 137:poet of 90:Nigerian 49:Bomoundi 998:(2016). 923:THISDAY 475:(poems) 447:(poems) 256:Kampala 235:Writing 131:Nigeria 123:Yenagoa 75:Yenagoa 1077:  1036:29 May 977:29 May 951:29 May 929:29 May 602:29 May 576:29 May 542:  486:  478:2016: 471:2006: 464:2005: 457:1992: 450:1981: 443:1978: 436:  422:1964: 405:2009: 399:, for 395:2005: 389:, for 385:1979: 260:Uganda 221:Biafra 847:, in 551:8 May 1075:ISBN 1064:1992 1038:2020 979:2020 953:2020 931:2020 811:2021 783:2023 737:2022 655:2021 604:2020 578:2020 553:2011 540:ISBN 484:ISBN 434:ISBN 205:Ijaw 64:Died 31:Born 538:–. 536:171 254:in 177:Ijọ 1132:: 1102:, 1062:, 1028:. 1011:, 994:, 969:. 905:, 888:, 864:, 830:, 826:, 799:. 774:. 756:, 745:^ 727:. 710:, 697:^ 688:, 671:, 644:. 626:, 612:^ 594:. 569:. 318:, 306:, 302:, 298:, 294:, 290:, 286:, 282:, 278:, 274:, 270:, 266:, 258:, 231:. 129:, 125:, 77:, 55:, 51:, 1040:. 981:. 955:. 933:. 813:. 785:. 739:. 657:. 630:. 606:. 580:. 555:. 490:. 440:. 43:) 39:(

Index

Bomoundi
Eastern Region
British Nigeria
Yenagoa
Bayelsa State
The Voice
Yenagoa
Bayelsa State
Nigeria
modernist
Anglophone
The Voice
folklore
Brenda Marie Osbey
Ijọ
Niger Delta
Government College Umuahia
Yaba Higher College
World War II
British Overseas Airways Corporation
Ijaw
Northwestern University
Nigerian Civil War
Chinua Achebe
Biafra
Rivers State
Port Harcourt
Black Orpheus
African Writers Conference
Makerere University College

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