What is literature? What is poetry? How do poets committed to the idea of using poetry as a weapon of socio-cultural and political struggle manage to impress their works in the minds and memories of men long after the struggle has been fought and won or lost? What will a new generation of poets write about after the explosive social contradictions that inspired older poets have been resolved? Why do the themes and styles of poets in transitional societies change along with human fortunes and circumstances?

This book provides answers to these questions and more, using the poetic heritage of South Africa. It is a compelling pedagogic work, a must-read for every student, researcher and teacher of African poetry, and a collector’s item for the general public.