An African Elegy

This moving collection of poems from the Booker Prize–winning author finds strength and hope while reflecting on the complex issues that have burdened Africa.

First published in 1992, Ben Okri’s remarkable debut poetry collection plays with the mystique of the African continent, countering simplistic narratives of suffering that have been imposed on it with vibrant, nuanced portraits of the traditions and resilience of African peoples. An invaluable window onto his experiences as a Nigerian immigrant to the UK and as a writer discovering his calling, these poems also speak to universal truths about love, injustice, and the search for meaning.