The author, one of Africa's leading writers, explores the relationship between art and political power in society, taking as its starting point the experience of writers in contemporary Africa, where writers are often seen as enemies of the post-colonial state. This study raises the wider issues of the relationship between the state of art and the art of the state, within territorial, temporal, social, and even psychic contexts. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.