“What African Literature is in the Complexity of The Interpreters (Wole Soyinka)? Is there any way our Biased Ugandan Readership could be Re-educated to Like its Style and Appreciate its Message?”

Abstract

This article re-examines views of some literary critics who find Soyinka’s style intolerably complex and those who disagree with this extremist view. The article further examines reasons given by each group. An attempt is then made to summarize the reasons given for the complexity of The Interpreters by getting into the text to reappraise the major styles Soyinka employs. Behind all this is an attempt to demonstrate that Soyinka is very much a committed artist giving a scathing comment on the corruption and bankruptcy of the so-called leaders (interpreters) of a newly independent Nigeria (Africa). Finally, as a rebuttal to increasing anti-Soyinka critics within our local/Ugandan society, some of whom mere singers of prejudices, the article attempts an ‘educating crusade’: challenging practicing teachers/lecturers first, and then extending this to our Language Education Curriculum in Teacher Training Colleges and Universities to re-examine the way we prepare our teachers of English and Literature for the critical task ahead during their execution of professional obligations. This is how the article looks at The Interpreters as a very important pointer to something that has gone wrong with our pedagogical and methodological practices. It is not Soyinka alone under attack when we label him too complex to deserve our attention but many other authors constantly being pooled into the ‘hole of poor or no readership’ in this country.