Summons

Edited by Richard S. Mabala and others. Summons is the first collection of poetry written in English in Tanzania. Although Tanzania was under British colonial rule, it is not today so-called English-speaking: Kiswahili has become its predominant language in all spheres of communication, and most Tanzanian writers write exclusively in Kiswahili. Tanzania Publishing House, while giving priority to writing in Kiswahili, does not discourage those who can write in foreign languages from doing so. Summons is an example of the potential that exists for writing in English. The poets in this collection are young people brought up in the ferment of the policy of Socialism and Self Reliance. Their poetry is, therefore, as would be expected, about the problems of building socialism: the sufferings of imperialist exploitation in alliance with local agents including bureaucrats and dishonest leaders; ideologies that mystify the vision people have of themselves; and the ordinary human questions of personal happiness and meaning. Summons has been approved by EMAC as a set book for O-Levels in Tanzanian Secondary Schools.