A Rain of Words
A Bilingual Anthology of Women's Poetry in Francophone Africa

Irene Assiba D'Almeida (Edited by), Janis A. Mayes (Other)

9780813927657

Hardback, published 6 February 2009

368 pages
22.8 x 15.4 x 2.5 cm, 0.565 kg

A Rain of Words is a groundbreaking project that will undoubtedly make a major contribution to the fields of African, women's, francophone, literary, and translation studies. This superb anthology not only fills a void but will stimulate interest in the maligned genre of poetry as well. The range of countries and generations included in this project is astounding. - Renee Larrier, Rutgers University, coeditor of Migrating Words and Worlds: Pan-Africanism Updated ""A Rain of Words is an important document and resource, since it represents the compilation and reclamation of valuable, rare literary production. In addition, it responds to two real needs: locating and foregrounding poetry by women and by African women, and making these voices accessible through translation to a wider public."" - E. Anthony Hurley, Stony Brook University, author of Through a Black Veil: Readings in French Caribbean Literature

Although the past two decades have seen a wide recognition of the notable fiction written in French by African women, little attention has been given to their equally significant poetry. ""A Rain of Words"" is the first comprehensive attempt to survey the poetic production of these women, collecting work by forty-seven poets from a dozen francophone African countries. Some are established writers; others are only beginning to publish their work. Almost none of the poems here have been published outside of Africa or Europe or been previously translated into English. The poems are accompanied by brief biographies of the poets, a glossary, and an extensive bibliography. Supplementing these are a critical introductory essay by Irene Assiba d'Almeida on the artistic role women have played in oral traditions and an essay by Janis A. Mayes discussing language politics and the cultural contexts within which the poetry emerges.This landmark bilingual collection - the result of ten years of research, collection, editing, and translation - offers readers of English or French entry into a flourishing and essential genre of contemporary African literature.