The voices that sing behind the veil is a comprehensive anthology of African literature that was introduced by the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Grace Jeanet Mason, at a ceremony held at the Goethe-Institute in Accra.
The anthology, edited by historian Ivor Agyeman-Duah, had long been regarded as one of the most complete works from Africa and its diaspora.
It contains 56 stories from 15 African nations as well as the United States, the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, and the United Kingdom.
The 684-page book was created in cooperation with the Pan African Writers Association, situated in Accra (PAWA).
Award-winning authors, scholars, and up-and-coming talent from across the world contributed to the book, including Zaynab Alkali from Nigeria, Ben Okri from the UK and Nigeria, Molefi Kete Asante from the US, Wesley Macheso from Malawi, Ogochukwu Promise from Nigeria, and Grace Maguri from Kenya.
Others were Chikumbitso Ndaferankhande, Esther K. Mbithi of Kenya, Mary Ashun of Ghana, Wale Okediran of Nigeria, and Martin Egblewogbe of Ghana (Malawi).
When introducing the book, Ms. Mason called the collection of short stories "really Pan African" in nature and subject.
Given the high prestige of the contributors participating in the project, she claimed that the high quality book was not a surprise.
She acknowledged the positive connection the High Commission has with PAWA and pledged to support the group's efforts to further African literature in the future.
stimulating on the mind
Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary-General of PAWA, praised the editor and publisher for an unique and intellectually fascinating book that had already attracted the interest of many academics and authors following its brief public presentation at a conference. He pushed the publisher to provide an inexpensive soft back edition for academics and students.
Difficulties
Out of the many excellent entries he got, the editor, Mr. Agyeman-Duah, stated how challenging it was for him to make a final selection on which stories to put in the book.
That was a good indicator of the status of African literature, he claimed.
Throughout the year, he stated, the book will also be released in a few additional African nations.
Professor Toyin Falola, a historian from Nigeria who holds the Jacob and Frances Sanger Massiker Chair at the University of Texas at Austin, stated: "These extraordinary stories, mesmerising and beautifully written, are surely connected to a past that remains with us, the experiences of day-to-day life."