Perceiving Romanticism in Ghanaian Poetry: A Case Study of Kofi Awoonor’s Rediscovery and Other Poems

Abstract

This study examines the interplay between Romanticism and African Poetry within the framework of William Wordsworth’s ‘Preface’ to the Lyrical Ballads. For the past few decades, there has been an evolution of contemporary African literature (especially poetry). One such evolution is the shift from the oral tradition to the modernist in literature due to the emergence of formal education. This has engendered a phenomenon whereby contemporary African poets who wish to project their customs, and at the same time gain a wider readership, have picked up elements of writing from the Western culture. It will be worthwhile to gauge the degree of success with which they execute this task. This research explores Kofi Awoonor’s Rediscovery and Other Poems (1964) as a case study to prove that there is fruitful integration of Romanticism and African oral tradition. This research also posits that Kofi Awoonor is a contemporary African Romantic Poet. Textual analysis is the basic methodology used in addressing the phenomenon of romanticism in African poetry. This study adds to existing knowledge on the experimental fusion of Africa and oral literature and Western literary elements. It is recommended that further research be conducted to establish other paradigms existing in the creative integration of African oral elements and western literary techniques.