BB: A Select Bibliography

(A) PUBLICATIONS: ACADEMIC

Essays

________ 1993: Literature in the Season of the Diaspora: Notes to the Anglophone Cameroonian Writer’ Nalova Lyonga, Bole Butake, Eckhard Breitinger (ed) Anglophone Cameroon Writing. Bayreuth: RFA/Germany. 5 – 18.

________ 1997: “Who’s Afraid of Anglophone Theatre “I & II”. London: West Africa, 7 – 3 July pp 1106 – 1107, 14-20 July 1146.

________ 2001: “The Limits of a Manichean Vision and the Egoist Hero in Post Colonial Bourgeois Theatre”: Epasa Moto: A Bilingual Journal of Language and Literatures. University of Buea. Vol. 1. No. 479 – 98.

________ 2002: “Ontogenesis of Modern Anglophone Cameroon Drama and its Criticism: Excursus”: VOICES The Wisconsin Review of African Languages and Literatures. University of Wisconsin 1414 Van Hise, 1220 Linden Drive, Madison, W1537306 Vol. 1 No. 5 1-19.

________ “ L’Ecrivain est mort: Alas, Poor Ferdinand (Son Excellence Leopold Oyono)’ USA: ALA Bulletin A Publication of the African Literature Association. Vol. 28 No. 2 Spring 119-124.

WORK IN PROGRESS/AWAITING PUBLICATION

1. ‘New Engagements in Cameroon Literature: the other side of the Bridge’ (ALA BULLETIN, USA)

2. Lest we forget an Ancestral Combattant: David Mandessi Diop (1930-1962)

3. Before a Cameroonian Rwanda: Critique on Piet Konings and Francis B. Nyamnjoh’s Negotiating an Anglophone Identity: The Politics of Recognition and Representation in Cameroon (Review Essay)

4. The failure of the Modern Aesop in Anglophone Drama: The Example of Hansel Ndumbe’s Eyoh’s The Inheritance (WEKA II ed. Professor Bole Butake)

5. Colonizing the Stage: The Early Theatre of Bole Butake (Revue internationale des arts, lettres et sciences sociales ed. Professor Edmond Biloa)

6. The Writer May Now Take Pride In His Subversion. The Ofeimun Glasnost in Cameroon Writing (ed. Professor Onookome Okome, University of Alberta, Canada)

7. Drama and the Jinx of Despair: Ba’bila Mutia’s Before This Time, Yesterday (in Roselyne Jua, Bate Besong, Henry Kah Jick, Asheri Kilo (ed) Critical Perspectives on Anglophone Cameroon Drama: 1980 to the Present

(B) PUBLICATIONS: CREATIVE WORK

________ 1980: Polyphemus Detainee & Other Skulls (poems) With a Foreword by Professor Ime Ikiddeh. Ibadan: Scholars Press.

________ 1987: The Most Cruel Death of the Talkative Zombie (a faery play in three parts with a revelry at a requiem). Limbe: Nooremac Press.

________ 1991: Obasinjom Warrior With Poems after Detention. Limbe: Alfresco Publishing House, Norfolk.

________ 1991: Requiem for the last Kaiser (a drama of conscientization and revolution). Nigeria: Centaur, ISB N. 978-2316-113. (Presbook Edition: 1998)

________ 1994: The Banquet (a pageant). Nigeria-Makurdi: Editions Ehi, ISB N. 978-2177-04-0 (Cased).

________ 1997: The Grain of Bobe Ngom Jua. USA Bellingham W.A: Camnexus ISBN 0965576132.

________ 1998: Just above Cameroon (Selected Poems 1980-1994). Limbe: Presbook.

________ 1999: “Just above Cameroon: For Alexandre Biyidi” U.S.A ALA Bulletin: A Publication of the African Literature Association. Vol. 25 Summer No. 3 39-41

________ 2003:, Change Waka & His Man SawaBoy: Yaounde: Editions CLE. ISBN 2-7235-0143-4

________ 2003: Three Plays (The Achwiimgbe Trilogy) Yaounde: Editions CLE, ISBN 2-7235-0182-5

Forthcoming:

a) Requiem for the last Kaiser in Anthology of Cameroonian Drama (ed) Emmanuel Ngwang (American Edition) USA Kentucky: University of Kentucky Press.

b) Requiem for the last Kaiser (American Edition) University of Southern California, 840 Childs Way, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2540

c) “Emanya-nkpe: New Collected Poems” (Work in Progress)

INTERVIEWS
1. Anglophone Cameroon Literature at the Cross Roads: An interview with Dr. Bate Besong, By Dr. Pierre Fandio, Research Group on Africa and Diaspora Imaginary/GRIAD in Africultures, Paris (forthcoming 2004)

2. BATE BESONG: Why Literature Does Not Thrive in Cameroon” with Professor Okome Onookome in Times Review of Ideas and Arts DAILY TIMES OF NIGERIA (DTN) 5 December, 2001

CITATIONS IN ENCYCLOPAEDIAS
1. Who’s Who in Africa (Third Edition) with a Preface by the Rt. Hon Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ed. Raph Uwechue.

2. Encyclopaedia of African Literature (Routledge: London, New York, Canada, 2003) Entries on Bate Besong by Professor M’Bare N’gom, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, USA

SELECT CRITICISM ON BATE BESONG
1. Ambanasom, S.A. Education of the Deprived: A Study of Four Cameroonian Playwrights Yaounde: University Press, 2003.

__________. “Is Bate Besong’s Poetry Too Difficult for Cameroonians’ in Abioseh Michael Porter. ed. ALA
Bulletin. Vol. 28 Summer/Fall. 2002 Number 3.4 pp. 43-51.

2. Ngwane, George. Bate Besong or the Symbol of Anglophone Hope. Limbe, Nooremac, 2001

3. Nyamndi George. ‘Requiem for the Last Kaiser: A Promethean Reading” in Abioseh Michael Porter (ed) USA ALA Bulletin 2003 pp. 118-132.

Comments

[Solomon Amabo]

a very creative person.what i keep wondering is where BB draws his lucid titles for his poems, essays and plays.for example 'their champagne party will end,' Before a Cameroonian Rwanda,' or even Chage Waka...
Not only creative but a good historian.BB takes us memory lane in the days of Night Soil Men in Cameroon.has done a lot just like the Ngugis,Mongo Betis,Chinua Achebe to preserve the African Culture,and protect the rights of the suffering African people.BB is one of Africa's priest-doctcrs.
a model for many of today's youth,a great intellectual achievement.my encouragements for BB's works in progress.what i have learnt agian from BB is that,life is not how long you live,not how much is in have your bank account,but how well you live,what contributions have we made to the development of our society.

[Kelvin Ngong Toh]

Bate Besong is one of those rare Cameroonian poets and playwrights who knows how to blend aesthetics and message. In fact what is interesting about him is that he dwells more on orature and the bible to pass out what has been term grim and raw satire of Post-independence Cameroon.

[Chief Fonkem Achankeng I]

Dear Dr. Besong

Just as impressive as I expected it would be. Detailed, focused and very well put together.

Thank you for suggesting that I take a look at this website. Remember you must keep working hard as we have done since our undergraduate days. Those who know and recognize your worth know it. Also know that some people emerged and lived in the wrong societies or in the right societies at the wrong time. You well know about Chief Obafemi Awolowo (late) and Mr. Manfred N. F Ashu (also late). My guess is that they are there because they have the obligation to work for change. You, Bate Besong are one of these visionary leaders whose voices cannot be in sympathetic vibration with the major channels of history, culture and power in their respective societies. And that is why you and others like you are leaders!

HRH Chief Fonkem Achankeng I

[yimbu emmanuel nchia]

the worst thing that can ever happen to a cameroonian student of english expression is not to read the works of bate besong.bate besongs works do not only x-ray the numerous problems that characterised post-independent cameoon,his works does not only traced where the rains started beating us but go a long way to call the entire society to order.bate besong,like ngugi, soyinka,achebe amongst many others seem to be those who think that the problems of post-independence africa is that of leadership.all i can wish bb is progress.

[Takha Eyenni Nelson,745.85.69]

A SCHOLAR OF OUR TIME, A MODERN SCHOLAR, "B.B".

[ojong elias ashu]

B.B THE ACADEMIC IROKO,THE TOURCH OF FREEDOM!
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST THAT LIFE BRINGS.
ASHU,CHINA.

[Olalekan Adeniyi]

Please how can one get sited in the Africa Who's Who
thanks

[Dr Wilson Eseme]

Dr. Bate Besong did not invent himself. The Cameroonian political or social climate did not reveal him either. This guy was simply born with "it". I still remember as a school boy in Bilingual Grammar School Buea when my class was assigned this rather strange looking and blunt talking fellow to teach us English Language. I could see even then that he was not cut out for basic stuff. This was a first rate genius loitering in the campus of a secondary school. Unfortunately it took the powers that be too long to honor his talents which are for the most I think in born. If a 15 yr old could detect talent, surely the guys running the university system could too. The truth is they did but were too afraid or should I say cowardly to bow. Don't ask BB how he does his works, I am sure he doesn't know too. He is just an instrument through which literary ingenuity flows. Every once in a lifetime someone is honored with the presence of a king. For me and my class mates (I am sure all will agree)those late afternoons we sometimes spent talking about "non academic" things proved to be more educative than formal lessons!
Lead on Sir, lead on!

[Dove]

Very refreshing to find something so inspiring about Cameroon. Keep it BURNING, BB.Thanks.

[Atangana]

Dear Doctor.
We wish to read your article titled:"L`Ecrivain est mort;Alas,Poor Ferdinand(Son Excellence)Leopold Oyono".Indeed,it is not active in the list containing your bibliographies.Your ENGLISH 208 students really wish that you will make that article available for them.Thank you in advance.Yours respectfully.

[Che Ndipewah]

Dr Bate Besong is a writer with a vision.Though many readers finds it difficult to understand his plays,iam well impressed with his writings.His plays provoke thought,his plays agitates,when i read his plays i just feel like taking up arms to attack the government,iam inspired by his writings.He strongly uphold the ideals of a writer with a vision.According to BB a writer most have a vision,he most be able to expose the ills of his society,thereby changing that society for the betterment of her citizens and Cameroon is such a Society as we see in Dr John Nkengasongs Across the Mongolo,Black Caps and Red Feathers,The Widows Myth and many other critical essays.If the Cameroonian masses can read in between the lines i believe BB is not doing bad to change his society thereby young writers like me and many others coming up will emulate their examples and we shall use them as a yard stick to measure our own lives.
Che Ndipewah(University of Yaounde 1)

[Tabe-Ojong martin]

Please reply

[Agborball Nkongho]

Kudos to the writer as a political tiger/obasijom warrior. You are a genuine intellectual and one of the finest and committed scholars I have ever known in my life. You are a literary genius; teacher, philosopher and social critique. You are an inspiration to the younger generation.
Keep up the good work and keep the literary flame burning.

[John Awunganyi]

About 5 months ago a friend introduced me to the works of Professor Besong. As I read his essays I find his approach very innovative, clear and compelling. As a student of mathematics, I find as I read his works that very little concentration is needed to appreciate the beautiful ideas in them and every paragraph is a pleasure to read. Readers of all persuasions will undoubtedly find something exciting in each of his works. Go ahead enjoy, bon appetite!

[Tabe Samuel]

I sincerely do not know how to address you. The Doctor or Professor prefixes are not decent enough.
Let me just join the chorus to call you BB. I know you don’t fret about prefixes. You are a pedagogic celebrity. An intellectual icon, the hub of acumen in a despondent political regime. That’s my radical view.
I have no problem with your choice of words. People who say your writing is on the doorsills of verbal disorder are entitled to their opinion as I am to mind. I think you are full of words and they are inevitably bursting out the seams of truth.
Go ahead BB you are not a shoddy scholar.
God bless you.
Samuel Taberem - London.

[Takha Eyenni Nelson]

Why this tragic event?
why should the cool hands of death arrest our learned B.B so soon?
Why why why why?
after launching another heroic piece of work in Buea...the sad n unexpected decided to manifest.Dr.Bate Besong was caught this morning in an accident along the Douala Yaounde high way. together with some other learned friends, they lost their lives.

what a tragic even.
we pray the Holy Spirit to console the entire family.may his name be found in the Lamb's book of life...i extend my condolence and "ASHIA" to the family of B.b and to the family of the other colleaques who passed away during the accident.

peace,perfect peace...
till we all join you someday in paradise...
may peace n consolation reign in our hearts

[Musongong Luke]

BB is dead! Yes, unbelievable but true. The talkative zombie has left the scene. His last Act in this scene ended with "DISGRACE". But BB was not a disgrace. He only passed to us a message. BB stood to remind those who walk about with empty intellectual jackets making unuseful noise for political gains to judge their consciences. BB kept crying out to intellectuals to die on the battlefield of intellectual pursuit. He simply followed his preaching from which many should learn.
ADIUE BB

[ndakwe ndakwe bandollo]

dr bb was a literary colosus of a rare specie in the land he once regreted being born into,he toiled,laboured for the course of freeom of thought and speech.he was indefatigueable in what he believed in.
to me he has no replacement like the bob marley the kwame nkrumah.i was with him on monday tuesday and the evening of the launching of DISGRACED
HE WAS A REGULAR PARTICIPANT WITH DR HILARIUS AMBE ON MCFM PROGRAMME TITLED COGITO PRESENTED AND PRODUCED BY PHILO METUGE.I ADMIRED HIS COURAGE AND VISION FOR ANGLOPHONES AND CAMEROON.
ONETHING I AM SURE IS THIS THAT DR BB,S PLACE IS IN HEAVEN I CAN ASSURE ALL THOSE WHO HATED HIM FOR HIS TRUTH ABOUT IT
BB WAS A MAN WHOSE INTETIONS FOR CAMEROON AND ANGLOPHONES WERE PURE BUT WAS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND PERSECUTED FOR HIS BELIVE TILL THE LAST DAYS ON EARTH.
GOD BLESS DR BB

[canisia ndifor]

'LIFE'S BUT A WALKING SHADOW; A POOR PLAYER? THAT STRUTS AND FRETS HIS HOUR UPON THE STAGE, AND IS HEARD NO MORE' BB IS GONE. LOSS IS LIFE'S NON NEGOTIABLE SIDE.IT IS THE TIME WHEN WE LEARN, UNCONDITIONALLY, THAT WE ARE POWERLESS OVER THINGS WE THOUGHT WE HAD A GRIP ON. BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE, BECAUSE EVERY ENDING BRINGS A NEW BEGINNING. THANK'S FOR ALL THE KNOWLEDGE YOU SHARED WITH US. REST IN PEACE

[Larry Tansinda]

Dr. Bate Besong was an example of true inspiration to many. As a teacher, he added a new found freedom and mental stimulation in the minds of young people who are often sheltered with despair; he was also a friend regardless of his beliefs or values.
BB, you will be greatly missed and thank Goodness you started a change process that will be continued especially if we aspire to ever make our world a better place than we found it.....

[govokinolij]

Hello

Looks good! Very useful, good stuff. Good resources here. Thanks much!

G'night

[Antique]

Hi. It is pleasant here very much to me. I shall advise to the friends. I am sorry for my English. I only learn this language and me while difficultly to communicate.
Thanks to you.

[enyihe elvis]

I am very pleased with the way inwhich many great Cameroonian writers and poets are verse with literature and the representation of the society through their works.I am particularly attached to the writings of late BB whose works eventhough the language is and impediment to understanding,are a satire of the society and another way, a strife for nation building.
As a writer and critic,you must always expose what is wrong and derogative and preach change .BB just like Nkemngong euphemisticly present the cameroonian society pregnant with alot of wrongs which need to be addressed.I encourage many other writers to follow in this trend inorder build this nation by exposing it.

[Ringtones]

respect