The back without which there is no front

Abstract

Using as its point of reference the principle of "continuity" fundamental to Ewe conception of development and of life itself, this paper draws on the author's personal experience and testimony to establish an organic relationship between Ewe oral tradition and poetry written in English. The article examines contradictions surrounding the use of colonial-heritage language and culture as the basis of creativity and general education in Africa. It demonstrates the challenges of creative work in colonial-heritage languages and the benefits of original work in African languages that draws on models from the oral tradition; however, given that African cultural practice is primarily oral, the paper acknowledges the need for using modern technology for transmitting African literature, especially poetry, through recordings of the spoken voice.