Wanda Leopold was a Polish author, doctor, and social science activist known for her study of English writings beginning in West Africa, specifically Nigeria. A translator as well as a literary critic, she stressed the artistic qualities of creative writing. She was a scholar of Polish culture, literature, and language. Her book, "O literaturze Czarnej Afryki," was the first Polish introduction to African literature that was written in both English, and French. Some of her first critical essays were on Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, and Wole Soyinka.
Early life
Wanda Leopold was the daughter of :pl:Jerzy Iwanowski|George Ivanovski who was a minister and senator of the Second Republic. Her uncles were: :pl:Wacław Iwanowski|Wacław Ivanovsky - Belarusian social activist and politician, Tadeusz Ivanovo - Professor of Biology at the University of Vilnius, Kaunas and lawyer Stanislav Ivanovo. Her uncle was :pl:Bronisław Ziemięcki|Bronisław Ziemięcki - pre-war minister and mayor of Lodz. In 1938, she graduated from high school and 'Jawurkówny Kowalczykówny'. In 1938-1939, she studied law at the University of Warsaw. While in school, she worked in the Association of Polish Democratic Youth, where she met her future husband, Stanislaw Leopold. During the war from 1940–1944, she began studying at the Faculty of Polish, a secret of the University of Warsaw. She befriended the then Tadeusz Borowski. She and Stanislaw went on to have one child, Joan. During the Warsaw Uprising, her husband was killed commanding the first battalion on August 28, 1944. About a year later, her daughter passed away. After returning to Warsaw, she met the painter, Kajetan Sosnowski. Later on, Leopold married Kajetan Sosnowski. They had two children, Honorata, and :pl:Marcin Sosnowski|Martin - actor, director and poet.
Career
Leopold was a member of the research staff for the Center of Social and Cultural Problems of Contemporary Africa, at the Polish Academy of Sciences. Rather than most of the other scholars who were in her field,, she was a specialist in the history of literature and a literary critic. She specialized in the study of English writing, with a focus of West Africa. Her first critical essays were focused on Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, and Wole Soyinka. After losing her husband and daughter, she began working at the Baltic Institute in Torun. Later, she returned to Warszaw and in 1946 she graduated from the Polish program at Warsaw University under the guidance of prof. :pl:Julian Krzyżanowski|Julian Krzyzanowski and began an assistantship at the Polish philology at the University of Breslau. Then, she later became an assistant in the Polish Department at Wrocław University. After returning to Warsaw she worked at the Institute of Literary Research. She published literary critiques, in the "Forge" and "New Culture," as well as writing 'radio plays' for children. In the editorial "Forge" she met painter Kajetan Sosnowski, who she later married. In 1953, she joined the :pl:Związek Literatów Polskich|Union of Polish Writers.
Major publications
O literaturze Czarnej Afryki
Written in Warsaw in 1973, this text included a detailed survey that illustrated the many inter-relations between African and European literatures.
Antologia poezji afrykańskiej
This anthology of African poetry offered a selection of many African poets who wrote in English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili. A major topic of discussion was the issue of cultural identity among African writers. The polish translations were also praised for their high artistic quality.
Myślę, że jestem... O Stanisławie Jerzym Lecu
Jezyk i literatura Afryki Wschodniej
In this text she emphasized the importance of artistry in creative and imaginative writing. She also discussed Swahili literary traditions.
Drogi i manowce afrykanskiej literatury. Z badan nad problemami kszaltowanie sie swiadomosci kulturowej w niepodlegych krajach Czarnej Afryki.
Kolonializm Niemiecki w Kamerunie i Jego Wspolczesne Oceny
In this text, she discussed the little-known period of German colonization of Cameroon and indigenous opposition to German colonialism led by the Cameroon citizens who had studied in Europe. It also includes an analysis of the problems of colonial education and its consequences today.
Chinua Achebe i narodziny powiesci nigeryjskiej
This text discussed Chinua Achebe and some of his works.
Wspolczesna powiesc nigeryjska--problemy kszaltowania sie nowej swiadomosci w pisarstwie Cypriana Ekwensi
Chart of contributors to African vernacular and literature
Known colleagues
Tadeusz Borowski was a known colleague of Leopold. They knew each other from 'wartime' classes. They worked on editing and researching texts together while they maintained a close friendship.
Albert S. Gerard worked with Leopold on his published work, European-language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa, before she passed away.
Activism
In 1943, Leopold was a cyclist and a departure liaison to the whole country in the 6th division of the AK. Also, during the Warsaw Uprising, she fought and served as a liaison officer of the 6th division of the Home Army. In February 1968, she participated in the meetings of the Warsaw branch of the Polish Writers Union concerning a protest against censorship by the picture played at the Warsaw National Theatre. The presentation of "Forefathers' Eve" directed by Kazimierz Dejmek was concerned. Later, in 1975 she was a signatory of the letter protesting against changes in the constitution of PRL. Then, in 1976 she wrote a letter to the Parliament on the appointment of a commission to clarify the incidents of :pl:Wydarzenia radomskie|Radom and Ursus, as well as working with the Workers Defence Committee.
