Their Champagne Party Will End! Poems in Honor of Bate Besong

Coming soon to Amazon.com, Michigan State University Press and African Books Collective - The celebration in verse of the life and works of Bate Besong, Cameroon's most influential and controversial poet, playwright and scholar. Published by Langaa RPCIG.

With Contributions from 27 poets from Cameroon and Africa and a forward by Ba'bila Mutia

Book Description

The poems in this collection are a snapshot of the mood that prevailed following the death, on March 8, 2007, of Bate Besong, Cameroon’s most vocal and controversial Poet, Playwright and scholar. Bate Besong ushered in a new kind of nationalist “fighting” literature in Cameroon which is unapologetic in its defense of Cameroon’s Anglophone minority and scathing in its denunciation of postcolonial African dictators and their western collaborators. These poems defy Bate Besong’s death by affirming that his impact as a writer lives on.

Commendations

“Moving and tellingly generous, these tributes attest to the value of Bate Besong as humanist, artist, and patriot; the ‘Inextinguishable Flame’ of his inspiration; the triumph of his life over the pain of his departure. Here is a resonant celebration not only of the brief but boisterously bright fire of one of our bravest writers, but also of the unbreakable chord of our common humanity. The refrains in these elegies are anthems of hope. The ink in their lines will for ever stay aglow.”

Niyi Osundare, Nigerian writer & former teacher of Bate Besong

“These poems put into perspective the essence of that Anglophone Cameroon literary icon, the fearless “Obasinjom warrior” with the bemused smile, who once upon a time, was called Bate Besong.”

Ba’bila Mutia, Cameroonian writer, Professor of Literature, ENS, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon.

Book your copy now!!!

Comments

[Esther Abange]

Great effort, particularly in a country where we systematically destory our heroes and national icon at the slightest mistake or if we don't share the same political ideology.

Okigbo died while fighting for the secessionist state of Biafra but he is a Nigerian National icon some 40 years later because Nigerians can look beyond his political beliefs to focus on his literary works. let's hope that 40 years from today we will be talking about "BB" and his contribution to Cameroonian literature in the same manner.

Once again congratulations for keeping the flame alive. Looking forward to purchasing my own copy once it becomes available.

[Meoto]

Good initiative from Ashutantang and Dibussi to remember the great Obasinjom Warrior, Bate Besong. I hope the Cameroonian public gets to savour it. Waiting to get my copy.

PS: The debates on this forum show an increasing internet-presence of Cameroonians; good news to Cameroonian bloggers, the new "rebel" leaders!

Sofi you'll read more of such comments in future!

[paulo laurent]

BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS NEVER DESTROY THEIR HEROES. THE ENMY(FRENCH CAMEROUN) IS THE CULPRIT WHO DESTROY OUR HEROES AND SOW DISCORD AMONGST BRETHREN TO DIVIDE AND RULE

[Tom Leveque]

It would be interesting to know why Dibussi and Joyce chose "Their Champaigne Party Will End!" as the title of this masterpiece. You do not seeem to realize what you have done Joyce and Dibussi in bringing to the lamplight once again some of the 'disturbing' phrases of the great literary icon Bate. Thanks so much! These poems remind me of 'simple talkative' whose every word spat out fire and limestone. His death was a great loss to this small marginalized part of the world.