The Poetaster - A book of anthology

That creative writing in Amharic abounds in Ethiopia is unquestionable. It is perhaps a tradition that dates back to the beginning of writing and is as divers in content and form as that which exist in the various cultures of the world. Art generally springs from the norms, the values, the culture in which it exists. Language, a major communicative tool of every human society, is the refractor of Culture and its dynamics. It is therefore not surprising that as a country that has maintained Political independence over the centuries, there has been no language of the colonizer in which to write. This has ensured that Ethiopia has remained the only of African nation that has kept its rich social and historical traditions intact in its peoples Language.

But since no society can remain as "an island, entire in itself" in the modern world, English has found itself as foreign language in Ethiopia and is gradually been utilized for creative writing by the young generation.

It is therefore not surprising but rather heart-warming to find young poets like Fikre, writing in English. Fikre Slasie Yemane's The Poetaster is a welcome addition to the voices that are crying out to be heard not only in Ethiopia, but throughout the world. His collection deals with various issues that are universalistic in nature while remaining distinctively Ethiopian.

The Opening poem sets the pace for the collection for it expresses the doubtful, uncertain nature of most poets whose questing minds leads towards a paradoxical, ironical, cynical perception of reality. Most of the poems deal with the poet's search for self, for a meaning in existence even as he yearns to fly in to freedom like a bird. There are issues of love, of friendship, of struggle, of dreams, aspirations, of life and of death:

We all die What stays in us is Death After a long time Or shortly after birth.

Fikre's work is lyrical in tone and one hopes that the lyricism which grow alongside the much needed Linguistic Mastery and propel him to Apollo's mountain top.

We need to read him for he beckons to Us with the frankness of a soul in turmoil. Came and be part of the celebration Came and be part of the dancers. Came taste of the nectar that flows from the horn of the Muse.

Instructor - Nereus Yerima Tadi June, 2004