The FIFA World Cup is here. Four years ago, the world biggest sporting tournament left African soil having been organised very well by South Africa. This year all eyes will be on Brazil as the tourney starts tonight with a match between Brazil and Croatia.
As the world cup rolls into town you have to wonder what kind of team the African literature fraternity would send if they were given the opportunity. This is the purpose of this blog; to imagine who would be in the African writers’ squad in the world cup.
The task is simple really. Choose three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight defenders, and five strikers to send to Brazil like in any world cup team. In this instance, the goalies are the ones that ensure that they keep the faith as the last barrier against bad prose. The defenders wouldn’t be the ones we keep talking about in the news or blogs but good defenders do a lot in ensuring that the craft is defended with good prose.
The midfielders would be of two types; the energetic types churning out many good books and supporting the business to have a positive bank balance. These are also the ones you see at festivals either well-known or that you may never heard of but represent the continent’s prose to the fullest. Strikers are the ones for whom everything they put out is a hit with the critics and the market.
So here you have it, the JamesMurua.com African writers 23 person World Cup squad.
Goalkeepers
Zukiswa Wanner, Chibundu Onuzo, Doreen Baingana.
Defenders
A Igoni Barret, Thando Mgqolozana, Dinaw Mengestu, Chika Unigwe, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Petina Gappah, Hawa Golakai, Mukoma Wa Ngugi.
Midfielders
Teju Cole, Helen Oyeyemi, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Binyavanga Wainaina, Kinyanjui Kombani, Lola Shoneyin, Niq Mhlongo, Angela Makholwa.
Strikers
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Lauren Beukes, Nadifa Mohamed, Noviolet Bulawayo, Aminatta Forna
Coach
Bibi Bakare (Cassava).
Who do you think would make it to the first eleven in your squad? Either comment below of tweet using the hashtag, #AfricanWriterWorldCupSquad stating their name and their position.
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