Ethiopia Unbound – J.E. Casely Hayford
This is one of the most important books in Africa written in 1911 by J.E. Casely Hayford. It is recorded as the first book written and published in English in Africa. Although referred to as a novel, J.E. Casely Hayford who was a strong Pan-Africanist explores the philosophy of African nationalism stressing that education was one of the forces the black man could use to attain independence. This type of education, according to his work, was “an education of the black masses, institutionally controlled by black men and void of European customs.”
Hayford, in effect, publicly advocated the establishment of a national university with a curriculum relevant to African needs and conditions. The plot and character of the novel are also designed to give the notion that black institutions are better than European institutions.
