The Aesthetics of Necessity: An Interview with Werewere Liking

Werewere Liking, b. 1950 in Cameroon, has developed in her oeuvre the concept of an aesthetics of necessity. Based on a combination of West African traditional philosophy, post-colonial ontology, and pragmatic material determinism, Liking expounds a theory of aesthetics driven by need. Present in her work in the theatre, novels, and musical productions, the aesthetics of necessity is for Liking the force behind the creative impulse of art in general. Africa provides a compelling example of creativity in everyday life, where a highly constrained environment and limited resources press individuals to continuously seek creative solutions to survive.