EMPIRE WINDRUSH — Fifty Years of Writing About Black Britain
Onyekachi Wambu (ed.)
US edition: Hurricane Hits England – An Anthology of Writing About Black Britain
Preface by E. R. Braithwaite
Selected as a key title in the 'Well Worth Reading' national scheme promoting literature in libraries in 1998-99.
Contributors: Diran Adebayo, Jean Binta Breeze, Merle Collins, Bernardine Evaristo, Paul Gilroy, Stuart Hall, Victor Headley, CLR James, Hanif Kureishi, George Lamming, S.I. Martin, Dervla Murphy, Grace Nichols, Ben Okri, Caryll Phillips, Salman Rushdie, Sam Selvon, Wole Soyinka & others
SUNDAY TIMES – Wambu's wide-ranging anthology celebrates the insemination, proliferation and cross-pollination of the black voice in British culture … passionate, funny and moving. LITERARY REVIEW – This book should be installed in every school library in Britain.
FINANCIAL TIMES – Some of the best writing about the Black British experience.
UK: original edition Phoenix | July 1999 | PB 448 pages GBP 5.99 | 978-0753808399 | Society, Politics & Philosophy, Social Sciences, Multicultural Studies, Black Studies US: original edition Continuum | May 2000 | PB 448 pages USD 4.99 | 978-0826412614 | Biographies & Memoirs, Ethnic & National
UNDER THE TREE OF TALKING — Leadership for Change in Africa
Onyekachi Wambu (ed.)
Contributors: Chinua Achebe, Taddy Blecher, Jean Bosco Butera, Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, Martha Chinouya, Chinweizu, Eva Dadrian, Wangui wa Goro, William Gumede, Parselelo Kantai, Susan and Juliet Kiguli, Ali A. Mazrui, Kimani Ngoju, Ndidi Nwuneli, Marianna Ofosu, Paul Tiyambe Zeleza. Onyekachi Wambu provides an introduction and a chapter on Africa and China.
Onyekachi Wambu and 18 distinguished thinkers and leaders reflect on the failure of leadership at all levels in large parts of the continent, and propose positive solutions to inspire a new generation of African leaders. Effective and inspiring leadership at all levels is increasingly recognised to be the key to positive social and political change. Under the Tree of Talking testifies to hope on the horizon for African societies.
The Rt Hon. NEIL KINNOCK – I firmly recommend this strong volume of essays by a wide range of African writers – some are very established authors like Ali Mazrui and Chinua Achebe and others are new young voices. Two features of this book make it truly different and important: first, the theme of leadership which it addresses is a vital consideration for African development that is led by Africans. Second, it is a book about Africa which – unlike most books about the continent – is written by Africans … If you take this book, if you absorb what it says, you will join me, I'm sure, in being enlightened and encouraged by the candour, constructiveness and courage of the authors. 'Under the tree of talking' there is knowledge and wisdom to be found. DIRAN ADEBAYO – A must-read for all those, global Africans and others, who care about the continent's future. Wambu has assembled a great heavyweight cast to shed light on a matter that probably more than any other has affected Africa's fortunes these last 50 years: leadership. LORD LUCE – A very remarkable book [which] gives African views rather than European views on how they can and want to best solve their problems.
original edition: The British Council | September 2007 | PB 291 pages GBP 3.99 | 978-0863555862 | Society, Politics & Philosophy, Social Sciences, Human Geography, Developmental Studies
Onyekachi Wambu
Born in Nigeria in 1960, Onyekachi Wambu arrived in the UK after the Biafran war. He was Editor of the leading Black newspaper, The Voice, at the end of the 1980s. As a TV producer and director he has made documentaries for the BBC and Channel 4. He is currently director of The African Foundation for Development (AFFORD).
Wambu's first groundbreaking publication was Empire Windrush: Fifty Years of Writing About Black Britain (ed.), selected as a key title in the 'Well Worth Reading' national scheme promoting literature in libraries in 1998-99. A second book, Under The Tree Of Talking: Leadership For Change in Africa, (ed. Wambu) was commended by The Rt Hon. Neil Kinnock as being, "a rare and significant achievement."
