Ulli Beier
Encyclopedia
Horst Ulrich Beier (30 July 1922 – 3 April 2011) was a German editor, writer and scholar, who had a pioneering role in developing literature, drama and poetry in Nigeria
, as well as literature, drama and poetry in Papua New Guinea
. His wife Georgina Beier had an instrumental role in simultaneously stimulating the visual arts in both Nigeria and Papua New Guinea.
Beier was born in Glowitz, Weimar Germany (modern Główczyce, Poland) in July 1922. His father was a medical doctor and an appreciator of art and raised his son to embrace the arts. After the Nazi party' rise to power, the Beiers, who are non-practicing Jews
, left for Palestine
. In Palestine, while his family were briefly detained as enemy alien
s by the British authorities, Ulli Beier was able to earn a BA as an external student from the University of London
. However, he later moved to London to earn a degree in Phonetics. A few years later, after his first marriage to the Austrian
artist Susanne Wenger, he was given a faculty position at the University of Ibadan
to teach Phonetics.
and arts. Though, he was a teacher at Ibadan, he ventured outside the city and lived in nearby cities, of Ede
, Ilobu and Osogbo
, this gave him an avenue to see the spatial environment of different Yoruba communities. In 1956, after visiting the First Congress of Negro Artists and Writers organized by Presence Africaine at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France Ulli Beier returned to Ibadan and founded the magazine Black Orpheus, the name was inspired by Jean Paul Sartre's essay "Orphée Noir". The journal quickly became the leading space for Nigerian authors to write and publish their work. The journal became known for its innovative works and literary excellence and was widely acclaimed. Later in 1961, Beier, co-founded the Mbari Artists and Writers Club, Ibadan, a place for new writers, dramatist and artists, to meet and perform their work. In 1962, he co-founded (with the dramatist Duro Ladipo) Mbari-Mbayo, Osogbo. In the early 1980s he founded and directed the Iwalewa Haus, an art centre at the University of Bayreuth
in Germany
.
Ulli Beier was known for his efforts in translating African literary works. He emerged as one of the scholars who introduced African writers to a large international audience for his works in translating plays of dramatists such as Duro Ladipo
and publishing Modern Poetry (1963) an anthology of African poems.
After Beier left Nigeria in 1968, he worked in Papua New Guinea and intermittently returned to Nigeria for brief periods. While in Papua New Guinea, he co-organised with Georgina Beier the country's first art exhibition, at the University of Papua New Guinea
’s Centre for New Guinea Cultures, featuring artwork by Timothy Akis
. Ulli Beier created the literary periodical Kovave: A Journal of New Guinea literature, which reproduced works by Papua New Guinean artists including Timothy Akis and Mathias Kauage
. His efforts have been described as significant in facilitating the emergence of Papua New Guinean literature.
While in Papua New Guinea, he encouraged Albert Maori Kiki
to record his autobiography, which Beier transcribed and edited. The book, Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime
was published in 1968.
He lived in Sydney, Australia with his wife and artist Georgina Beier. Beier died aged 88 on 3 April 2011 at his home in Annandale.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, as well as literature, drama and poetry in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. His wife Georgina Beier had an instrumental role in simultaneously stimulating the visual arts in both Nigeria and Papua New Guinea.
Beier was born in Glowitz, Weimar Germany (modern Główczyce, Poland) in July 1922. His father was a medical doctor and an appreciator of art and raised his son to embrace the arts. After the Nazi party' rise to power, the Beiers, who are non-practicing Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, left for Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. In Palestine, while his family were briefly detained as enemy alien
Enemy alien
In law, an enemy alien is a citizen of a country which is in a state of conflict with the land in which he or she is located. Usually, but not always, the countries are in a state of declared war.-United Kingdom:...
s by the British authorities, Ulli Beier was able to earn a BA as an external student from the University of London
University of London External Programme
The University of London International Programmes is a division of the University of London that manages external study programmes.Several colleges and institutes of the University of London offer degrees through the programme, including Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, Heythrop College, Institute of...
. However, he later moved to London to earn a degree in Phonetics. A few years later, after his first marriage to the Austrian
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
artist Susanne Wenger, he was given a faculty position at the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
to teach Phonetics.
Career
While at the University, Beier transferred from the Phonetics department to the Mural Studies department. It was at the Mural Studies department he became interested in Yoruba cultureYoruba Culture
Yoruba culture refers to the idiosyncratic cultural norms of Yorubaland and the Yoruba people.-Sculpture:The Yoruba are said to be prolific sculptors, famous for their magnificent terra cotta works throughout the 12th and 14th century; artists also harnests their capacity in making artwork out of...
and arts. Though, he was a teacher at Ibadan, he ventured outside the city and lived in nearby cities, of Ede
Ede, Netherlands
' is a municipality and a town in the center of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland.- Population centres :Community :* Bennekom: 14.749* De Klomp: 508* Deelen: 50* Ede : 67.812* Ederveen: 3.167* Harskamp: 3.464...
, Ilobu and Osogbo
Osogbo
Osogbo is a city in Nigeria, the capital of Osun State and a Local Government Area.The Local Government Area has an area of 47 km² and a population of 156,694 at the 2006 census; the postal code of the area is 230.-Infrastructure and demographics:Osogbo lies on the railway line from Lagos to...
, this gave him an avenue to see the spatial environment of different Yoruba communities. In 1956, after visiting the First Congress of Negro Artists and Writers organized by Presence Africaine at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France Ulli Beier returned to Ibadan and founded the magazine Black Orpheus, the name was inspired by Jean Paul Sartre's essay "Orphée Noir". The journal quickly became the leading space for Nigerian authors to write and publish their work. The journal became known for its innovative works and literary excellence and was widely acclaimed. Later in 1961, Beier, co-founded the Mbari Artists and Writers Club, Ibadan, a place for new writers, dramatist and artists, to meet and perform their work. In 1962, he co-founded (with the dramatist Duro Ladipo) Mbari-Mbayo, Osogbo. In the early 1980s he founded and directed the Iwalewa Haus, an art centre at the University of Bayreuth
University of Bayreuth
The University of Bayreuth is a public research university situated in Bayreuth, Germany. It was founded in 1975 as a campus university focusing on international collaboration and interdisciplinarity...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Ulli Beier was known for his efforts in translating African literary works. He emerged as one of the scholars who introduced African writers to a large international audience for his works in translating plays of dramatists such as Duro Ladipo
Duro Ladipo
Duro Ladipo was one of the best known and critically acclaimed Yoruba dramatists that emerged from postcolonial Africa. Writing solely in the Yoruba language, he captivated the symbolic spirit of Yoruba mythologies in his plays which were later adapted to other medium such as Photography,...
and publishing Modern Poetry (1963) an anthology of African poems.
After Beier left Nigeria in 1968, he worked in Papua New Guinea and intermittently returned to Nigeria for brief periods. While in Papua New Guinea, he co-organised with Georgina Beier the country's first art exhibition, at the University of Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
’s Centre for New Guinea Cultures, featuring artwork by Timothy Akis
Timothy Akis
Timothy Akis, born around 1944 in Tsembaga village, Simbai Valley, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, died in 1984, was a Papua New Guinean artist. His art consisted primarily in imaginative pen and ink drawings and batiks inspired by his country's wildlife...
. Ulli Beier created the literary periodical Kovave: A Journal of New Guinea literature, which reproduced works by Papua New Guinean artists including Timothy Akis and Mathias Kauage
Mathias Kauage
Mathias Kauage O.B.E., born in Miugu, Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea in 1944, died in May 2003 , was a Papua New Guinean artist. In 1998, Kauage was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to the arts by Queen Elizabeth II. The National Gallery of Australia has described him as...
. His efforts have been described as significant in facilitating the emergence of Papua New Guinean literature.
While in Papua New Guinea, he encouraged Albert Maori Kiki
Albert Maori Kiki
Sir Albert Maori Kiki was a Papua New Guinea pathologist and politician. He was one of the founders of the Pangu Party, which demanded 'home rule leading to eventual independence' for New Guinea...
to record his autobiography, which Beier transcribed and edited. The book, Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime
Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime
Kiki: Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime is the autobiography of Albert Maori Kiki, the Papua New Guinea pathologist and politician.The book, first published in 1968, describes the author's childhood as a member of a semi-nomadic tribe, with vivid descriptions of rituals and customs...
was published in 1968.
He lived in Sydney, Australia with his wife and artist Georgina Beier. Beier died aged 88 on 3 April 2011 at his home in Annandale.
Published works
- Voices of Independence: New Black Writing from Papua New Guinea, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980. 251 pp.s
- Joint Editor with Gerald MooreGerald Moore (scholar)Gerald Moore is an independent scholar living in Udine, Italy. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He has taught at many universities, including Sussex, Hong Kong, Makerere, Ife, Port Harcourt, Jos and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. His last teaching post was at Trieste. He is...
: Penguin Book of Modern African PoetryPenguin Book of Modern African PoetryThe Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry , is a 1984 poetry anthology edited by Gerald Moore and Ulli Beier. It consists mainly of poems written in English and English translations of French or Portuguese poetry; poems written in African languages were included only in the authors' translations...
(1999). - Black Orpheus: An Anthology of New African and Afro-American Stories, 1965.
- Thirty Years of Oshogbo Art, Iwalewa House, Bayreuth, 1991.
- Neue Kunst in Afrika: das Buch zur Austellung, Reimer, Berlin, 1980 (Contemporary Art in Africa, Pall Mall Press, London, 1968).
- A Year of Sacred Festivals in One Yoruba Town, Nigeria Magazine, Marina, Lagos, Nigeria, 1959.
External links
- "Tribute to Ulli Beier", Next, April 5, 2011
- "Osun, artists mourn German scholar Ulli Beier", The Nation (Nigeria), Ozolua Uhakheme, April 5, 2011
- Ulli Beier, an obituary Telegraph, May 12, 2011