Akínwùmí Ìsòlá (1940–2018), renowned writer, scholar, and sentinel of indigenous African languages, contributed to the development of Yorùbá literary traditions by producing most of his literary works in Yorùbá.
His artistic pacesetting in Yorùbá literature included his anthology, Àfàìmò Àti Àwon Àròfò Mìíràn (1978), which contains poems composed over a significant period in his life. Language, Translation, and Poetic Realities considers Ìsòlá’s language use in this anthology; his contributions to the promotion of Yorùbá and African linguistic and cultural values; and the procedures, benefits, and challenges of translating his poetry into English.
In so doing, Akinloyè Òjó examines the understudied relationship between African oral traditions and contemporary African literature, addressing in particular the influential role of traditional forms of praise-singing in contemporary Yorùbá poetry.
By:
Professor or Dr. Akinloyè Òjó (University of Georgia USA)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 232mm,
Width: 154mm,
Spine: 22mm
Weight: 600g
ISBN: 9781501390623
ISBN 10: 1501390627
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 02 April 2026
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
College/higher education
,
Undergraduate
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
1. Introduction Part One: Akínwùmí Ìsòlá and His Poetry 2. The Honest Man: Yorùbá Writer, Poet, and Language Sentinel 3. The Poems: Àfàìmò Àti Àwon Àròfò Mìíràn Part Two: Akínwùmí Ìsòlá’s Language Dexterity 4. Promoting African Languages: The Honest Man’s Quest for Splendor and Fairness 5. The Use of language: Yorùbá and Akínwùmí Ìsòlá’s Poetry 6. The Proverbial Poet: Poetic Engagement of Yorùbá Proverbs Part Three: Akínwùmí Ìsòlá’s Poetry Rendered in English 7. Literary Translation, Cultural Understanding and Selected Works of Akínwùmí Ìsòlá 8. The Affectionate Bard: Love and Other Extraordinary Emotions 9. Twelve Published Akinwumi Isola’s Poems in Translation 10. Conclusion Appendix: Akínwùmí Ìsòlá, Writer and Poet: A Bibliographic Essay
Akinloyè Òjó is Professor of Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies and Director of the African Studies Institute at University of Georgia, USA. His publications include In Flight: A Collection of Poems (2000), Africans and Globalization: Linguistic, Literary, and Technological Contents and Discontents (2017), Gender Equality and Human Development in Africa (2018), and Language, Society, and Empowerment in Africa and Its Diaspora (2022).
Reviews for Language, Translation, and Poetic Realities: The Poetry (Àfàìmò Àti Àwon Àròfò Mìíràn) of Akínwùmí Ìsòlá
Language, Translation, and Poetic Realities is a pacesetting book on the legendary work of Akínwùmí Ì??`lá. The book contributes excellently to the knowledge of his work and the genre. It is systematic, simple, and motivating. * Oluseye Adesola, Senior Lector II in Yoruba and African Studies, Yale University, USA *
