Black African Literature in English, 1992-1996 (review)

It is a pleasure to review the most recent bibliographical contribution by Bernth Lindfors. The previous edition (1987-91) won the 1966 Conover-Porter prize, which is awarded every two years for excellence in Africana bibliography or reference work. Lindfors shared that prize with Nancy J. Schmidt, who won for Sub-Saharan African Films and Filmmakers (1987-1992). I am happy to report that this edition lives up to its expectations.

Lindfors numbers the entries in his bibliography consecutively beginning with the earliest edition. This, the present edition, begins with item 20735 and ends with 34386. His previous work ends with 20734 and his next expected edition will presumably begin with 34387. This approach makes reference to works in earlier editions much easier to state. The entries are only briefly annotated, especially in cases that call for clarity.

The very first part of the book, "Periodicals Cited: List and Abbreviations," does more than give handy shorthand for often quoted journals. Lindfors also lists the place of publication. This may not seem important. It is no surprise to find that Présence Africaine is published in Paris; it is, however, a big surprise to find that Igbo Times originates in Chatsworth, California. The listing of places of publication also helps to distinguish between journals bearing the same name.

The bibliography is divided into two major parts, Part 1, "Genre and Topical Studies and Reference Sources," which is further divided into 27 parts. Part 2 is a listing of works about individual authors. No creative works are included unless they are accompanied by an introduction or other material that makes their inclusion desirable.

Part 1 includes bibliographies, biographies, interviews, general works, etc. Most of the sections are self-explanatory. "Craft of Writing" has mainly to do with literary prizes. "Image Studies" deals with representations of various concepts, from motherhood to nationalism to "railway culture." "Censorship" covers the topic in apartheid South Africa, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and other countries. "Language and Style" deals mainly with the language question, language policy, and language problems. A new subdivision with this edition is "Media (Film, Radio, Television, Video, Press)." In all cases works about individual writers are deferred to Part 2.

Part 2 consists of books and articles about over 1,000 individual authors and refers the reader to other references in both Parts 1 and 2. "Solomon Tshekiso [it should be Tshekisho] Plaatje" can serve as an example. The first section is on bibliography. There is no book or article dealing specifically with Plaatje, but the author, using entry numbers, refers the reader to three wider bibliographies that feature Plaatje. Next comes "Biography," a section of 19 entries that includes many relatively short, anonymous articles but also a major work, They Fought for Freedom: Sol Plaatje by John Pampallis. Under "Criticism" are 35 work, one of which is A Collection of Solomon T. Plaatje Lectures 1981-1992. Lindfors notes in numbered entry form where the individual works in the collection can be found. At the end of the criticism section he gives numbered references to works in which Plaatje is partly considered. Found mostly in Part 1, these references are well worth checking. There are two references to Part 2. One of these is especially relevant, a work on Peter Abrahams that "[d]iscusses Abrahams' debt to Plaatje." This is pretty much how the "Individual Authors" part works.

There are four indexes: author, subject, and geographical. As far as mechanics are concerned I have to report that Lindfors misnumbers one of my articles, but he is only one number off. I tried assiduously to find other examples but could find none. I am satisfied, after examining all indexes, that there are no systematic mistakes, the bibliographer's nightmare. His subdivisions are, for the most part, logical and easy to follow. My only quibble is that it would have been worthwhile...