About the book
Tanella Boni is a major African poet, and this book, The Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn, is her first full collection to be translated into English. These poems wrestle with the ethnic violence and civil war that dominated life in West Africa’s Ivory Coast in the first decade of the new millennium. Boni maps these events onto a mythic topography where people live among their ancestors and are subject to the whims of the powerful, who are at once magical and all too petty. The elements—the sun, the wind, the water—are animated as independent forces, beyond simile or metaphor. Words, too, are elemental, and the poet is present in the landscape—“during these times / I searched for the letters / for the perfect word.” Boni affirms her desire for hope in the face of ethno‑cultural and state violence although she acknowledges that desiring to hope and hoping are not the same.
Editions of Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781496211859
Read an Excerpt
Tanella Boni is a major African poet, and this book, The Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn, is her first full collection to be translated into English. These poems wrestle with the ethnic violence and civil war that dominated life in West Africa’s Ivory Coast in the first decade of the new millennium. Boni maps these events onto a mythic topography where people live among their ancestors and are subject to the whims of the powerful, who are at once magical and all too petty. The elements—the sun, the wind, the water—are animated as independent forces, beyond simile or metaphor. Words, too, are elemental, and the poet is present in the landscape—“during these times / I searched for the letters / for the perfect word.” Boni affirms her desire for hope in the face of ethno‑cultural and state violence although she acknowledges that desiring to hope and hoping are not the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn about?
Tanella Boni is a major African poet, and this book, The Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn, is her first full collection to be translated into English. These poems wrestle with the ethnic violence and civil war that dominated life in West Africa’s Ivory Coast in the first decade of the new millennium. Boni maps these events onto a mythic topography where people live among their ancestors and are subject to the whims of the powerful, who are at once magical and all too petty. The elements—the sun, the wind, the water—are animated as independent forces, beyond simile or metaphor. Words, too, are elemental, and the poet is present in the landscape—“during these times / I searched for the letters / for the perfect word.” Boni affirms her desire for hope in the face of ethno‑cultural and state violence although she acknowledges that desiring to hope and hoping are not the same.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Poetry / Poems
Where can I read a sample of Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781496211859
Is Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series African Poetry Book
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn?
Tanella Boni
Who is the Publisher of the book Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn?
Nebraska
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn is available as paperback(ISBN 9781496211859)
Where can I buy Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn from below
Where can I buy Future Has an Appointment with the Dawn?