When choosing a title for his book it pays an author to tread warily. Too small a scope may cramp his style, while wider prospects may raise expectations which he cannot fulfil. In approaching the seemingly infinite subject of West African poetry I have limited my sights in two important respects. I have not sought to cover fully the voluminous field of vernacular orature, a task for which I possess neither space nor competence. Nor have I provided an entirely representative survey of poetry written in Portuguese or French. A glance at the contents page will confirm that throughout my principal focus has been the procession of poets who have emerged in English-speaking Africa since the end of the Second World War.

To treat of this and only this, however, would have been to demonstrate a shortsightedness of which I hope not to be accused. No cultural phenomenon exists in isolation, and especially not the most fluid art of poetry. Therefore as fast as I have battened down the hatches I have opened up port-holes to the fresh sea breezes. Since written verse from this part of the world has always drawn much of its richness from its oral foundations, my opening and closing chapters propose tentative ideas as to the relationship between the two, ideas which also to a certain extent serve as guidelines for the remainder of the book.