Donatus Nwoga (30 July 1933 – 1991) was a poetry critic and professor of African literature at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Donatus Ibeakwadalam Nwoga | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donatus Ibeakwadalam Nwoga 30 July 1933 |
| Died | 1991 (aged 57–58) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | University of London; Queen's University Belfast |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | ?—1991 |
| Notable work | West African Verse: An Anthology, and Poetic Heritage: Igbo Traditional Verse |
Early life and education
editNwoga was from Mbaise in Imo State, Nigeria. He studied at St Brigid's School, Ahiara.[1] In the 1950s, Nwoga studied at the University of London and then at Queen's University Belfast, where he attended classes with the poet Seamus Heaney.[2] Nwoga was a founding editor of the student magazine Gorgon and likely the first person to publish Heaney's work.[3][4]
Research
editNwoga and Romanus Egudu researched Igbo poetry and published a collection of translated into English.[5] Nwoga taught with Chinua Achebe in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.[6]
He was a member of organisations including the African Literature Association, the International African Institute, the Association for Commonwealth Language and Literature Studies, and The Folklore Society.[1]
Publications
editNwoga was the author of West African Verse: An Anthology, and Poetic Heritage: Igbo Traditional Verse, among other publications.[7][8]
Death and legacy
editFollowing Nwoga's death in 1991, Heaney wrote a tribute to him titled "A Dog Was Crying Tonight in Wicklow Also".[9]
The Institute of African Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, launched a Dictionary of Igbo Proverbs in Nwoga's honour.[10]
A memorial lecture was in Nwoga's name was created at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.[11] In the opening remarks of the 2020 lecture, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Nnanyelugo Okoro described Nwoga as "a humanist and intellectual elephant.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Udo, Mary (23 March 2017). "NWOGA, Prof. Donatus Ibe". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "Donatus Ibeakwadalam Nwoga". Celebrating Igbo People. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ Suhr-Sytsma, Nathan (10 July 2017). Poetry, Print, and the Making of Postcolonial Literature. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-16684-4.
- ^ Hoy, Seán (September 2017). "Ambassador's Blog: Letter from Nsukka". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ Fraser, Robert (4 September 1986). West African Poetry: A Critical History. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-31223-3.
- ^ Matzke, Christine; Raji, Remi; Raji-Oyelade, Aderemi; Davis, Geoffrey V. (2006). Of Minstrelsy and Masks: The Legacy of Ezenwa-Ohaeto in Nigerian Writing. Rodopi. ISBN 978-90-420-2168-6.
- ^ Nwoga, Donatus Ibe (1967). West African Verse: An Anthology. Longmans.
- ^ Egudu, Romanus N.; Nwoga, Donatus Ibe (1971). Poetic heritage: Igbo traditional verse. Nwankwo-Ifejika.
- ^ Innes, C. L.; Collier, Gordon (26 November 2013). "Africans and Ireland". In Lindfors, Bernth; Davis, Geoffrey V. (eds.). African Literatures and Beyond: A Florilegium. Rodopi. ISBN 978-94-012-0989-2.
- ^ Uzodinma, Emmanuel (27 April 2013). "Institute to launch dictionary of Igbo proverbs". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ a b Odu, Ikechukwu (14 February 2020). "UNN would continue to honour academic excellence, hardwork — VC". Vanguard News. Retrieved 11 June 2020.