Talking Drums

Talking Drums: A Selection of Poems from Africa South of the Sahara, ed. by V ronique Tadjo, also explores ancient cultural traditions. Drawn from Africa's rich history of oral narrative passed down through the generations, the compilation contains a mix of traditional poems and selections by more recent poets, and is divided into seven thematic sections. In the poem ""Telephone Conversation,"" Nigerian poet Wole Soyinka writes, ""The price seemed reasonable, location/ Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived/ Off premises. Nothing remained/ But self-confession. `Madam,' I warned,/ `I hate a wasted journey-I am African.' ""