Seven themes in african urban dynamics diva portal. It is this cultural distinctiveness that i intend to tackle in discussing modern african literature in english. I have always argued that if 00 ojaide final 2612 10. Therefore, african literature is always chained to the experiences of the peoples of the continent. This lesson identifies four important themes in modern american literature. The arrival of the white man is the first precise historical event in africa, for it is the.
East african literature article about east african. As george joseph notes on the first page of his chapter on african literature in understanding contemporary africa, while the european perception of literature generally refers to written. Mqhayi in xhosa, and mario antonio in portugueseis readily evident. African literature, the body of traditional oral and written literatures in afroasiatic and african languages together with works written by africans in european languages. Other themes in this period include social problems such as corruption, the economic. Alienation forms the subject of many psychological, sociological, literary and philosophical studies. War and industrialization seemed to devalue the individual. The period is marked by two significant aesthetic movements. From this vast literature, certain key themes emerge. African literature article about african literature by the.
Alienation is a major theme of human condition in the contemporary epoch. The myths and trickster tales, which typically explain the creation of the universe, the activities of the gods at the beginning of creation, and the essence of existence. Precolonial literature often takes the form of oral narratives that are sometimes accompanied by music and center around the trickster figure. Some common themes and ideas within the field of postmodern thought.
During this period, society at every level underwent profound changes. The paper deals with some of the themes in african literature. African literature the influence of oral traditions on. It has been created within the larger realm of postcolonial literature, although scholars distinguish between the two, saying that african american literature differs from most postcolonial literature in that it is written by. For example, literature in english is the subject of five chapters, and french the subject of three, while literature in portuguese is confined to a single chapter. Literature scholars differ over the years that encompass the modernist period, however most generally agree that modernist authors published as early as the 1880s and into the mid1940s. That is why i trace response to oral poetic performances as of the udje and ijala and the continuation into modern works in english, french, or portuguese, among others.
Not a main theme in african literature but in actual african history. There is the eurocentric temptation to see modern african literature written in these european languages as an extension of european literature. Besides a general overview on african art, cook conducts close readings of fiction and drama by cyprian ekwensi, ngugi wa thiongo, wole soyinka, and peter palangyo. I argue in my first chapter that lee uses white flight as a narrative form to move. In ethiopia, originally written in geez script is the kebra negast or book of kings. Sep 09, 2018 african literature refers to literature of and from africa.
Common themes and techniques of postmodern literature. African literature is as diverse as the continent itself, but several characteristics and themes prevail throughout much of the written works emerging from africa. This paper deals with some of the themes in african literature such as colonialism, liberation, nationalism, tradition, displacement and rootlessness. Content, form and technique of traditional and modern praise poetry in northern sotho by dominic mamahlo kgobe submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of doctor of literature and philosophy in the subject african languages at the university of south africa promoter. Oral literature of west africa includes the epic of sundiata composed in medieval mali, the older epic of dinga from the old ghana empire. Themes in the literary traditions of contemporary africa are worked out frequently within the strictures laid down by the imported religions christianity and islam and within the struggle between traditional and modern, between rural and newly urban, between genders, and between generations. Modern african literature is an astonishing and vibrant body of work, produced in multiple languages and from every part of the continent, including memoir, oral literature, poetry, short fiction, novels and more. What are the characteristics of african literature.
These themes have to do with african tradition, with french colonialism and the displacement of africans both physically and spiritually from their native tradition, with attempts to blend the french and the african. African literature article about african literature by. African literature possessing those qualities that define it as such. Some common themes and ideas within the field of postmodernism. African literature is literature of or from africa and includes oral literature as george joseph notes in his chapter on african literature in understanding contemporary africa, whereas. The basic characteristics of african english literature are 1 written in both african and european languages.
The vernacular press and african literature by ntongela masilela. The term african literature generally refers to a comprehensive, complex and creative literature of and from africa. Lactaotao african literature preserves the rich culture and traditions of the african nations. Seven themes in african urban dynamics acy can be seen in the distorted divisions between high status centers and a spreading, sometimes immense, dirtpoor habitat that is poorly served and underintegrated coqueryvidrovitch 2005a.
The vernacular press and african literature by ntongela masilela to consider the importance of the vernacular press in the making of african literature is simultaneously to encounter the paradoxical role of christian missionaries in both enabling and equally disabling the emergence of modern african literary sensibilities. A valuable book in the genre of african oral literature is ruth finnegans oral literature in africa. It also endeavors to analyze the theme of alienation in modern literature in general and indian writing in english in particular. In ten essays anchored in the search and study of topics and approaches shaping contemporary african literature, nigerian scholarpoet tanure ojaide investigates and examines aesthetics, politics, conflicts, and evolving shifts in the works of contemporary african writers. Ibadan ideology igbo igbo language issue izevbaye linguistic literary criticism literature in africa london marxist masquerade mode modern african literature narratives. The literature of south africa in english and afrikaans is also covered in a separate article, south african literature. An analysis of themes in african literature, the case of nigerian literature themes of colonialism, liberation, nationalism, tradition, displacement and rootlessness in african literature.
Pdf downloads of all 1291 litcharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The oral tradition in the work of some of the early writers of the 20th centuryamos tutuola of nigeria, d. The predominant african languages used are amharic, zulu, hausa, and swahili. The relationship between oral and written traditions and in particular between oral and modern written literatures is one of great complexity and not a matter of simple evolution. Its themes were influenced by segregation, lynching, migration and the womens suffragette movement. Themes in the literary traditions of contemporary africa are worked out frequently within the strictures laid down by the imported religions christianity and islam and. Ethical and moral nature of african civilization traditionally, african literature is an informal evening fireside.
Continuing this theme amidst the black power movement of the 1970s and the. In the work of the earliest african writers in french can be found the themes that run through this literature to the present day. What is african literature history of african literature. Precolonial literature often takes the form of oral narratives that are sometimes accompanied by. But different critics belonging to different schools of thought have provided varying interpretations about african literature. An examination of contemporary african literature using modern literary theory, the book argues for the need to establish the relationship between form and content in the african novel and to avoid the tendency to read individual novels as sociological or political tracts. First of all, it is necessary to have an idea about what constitutes the african literature. What are the main themes that can be found in african literature. The period following the civil war until 1919 is dubbed the reconstruction period. Modern american literature includes twentieth and twentyfirst century fiction, poetry, and drama. A number of themes recur throughout achebes fournovel cycle. Its themes were influenced by segregation, lynching, migration and the womens suffragette. Modern african literature in european languages african.
African literature is literature of or from africa and includes oral literature or orature, in the term coined by ugandan scholar pio zirimu as george joseph notes in his chapter on african literature in understanding contemporary africa, whereas european views of literature often stressed a separation of art and content, african awareness is inclusive. East african literature the literature of the peoples of east africa who speak the swahili language and live in kenya, uganda, the united republic of tanzania, and malawi and on the island of mafia. African literature consists of a body of work in different languages and various genres, ranging from oral literature to literature written in colonial languages french, portuguese, and english. Pdf the criticism of african literature researchgate. Modern african literature is conditioned by four major factors. The growth of cities is one of the most significant aspects of the contemporary.
Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Another important difference between traditional african oral art and modern african literature involves the identity and social standing of their respective practitioners. African literature african literature the influence of oral traditions on modern writers. Since the small communities have merged into states, writers now focus on nationstates. The writer in modernday africa has assumed the role of the conscience of the soci ety, reminding readers and society of the high cultural ethos that must be upheld. African literature comes from west africa, east africa, south africa and its suburb rhodesia. Common themes and techniques of postmodern literature 191 shift to postmodernism as with all stylistic eras, no definite dates exist for the rise and fall of postmodernisms popularity. The impact of the epic on the novel, for instance, continues to influence writers today. Common themes and techniques of postmodern literature of.
Like their counterparts, lesser writers all over the world, they take stockin. Clayton whisnant there are basically three ways that people use the term postmodernism. The classical themes of african literature were narratives of authentic cultures and the ght against colonial oc cupations, together with early encounters with nascent nationalism. The conscious recuperation in modern african literature forms the background to what is now recognized as an african variety of magic realism, which can be seen as inherent in the inspiration and cultural embeddedness of the african novels now grouped in this category. African writers create works which are peculiarly african and yet set in the modern world mbiti 1969, 228. History of nigerian literature everythinliterature. Alienation is the basic form of rootlessness, which forms the subject of many psychological, sociological, literary and philosophical studies. The beginning of nigerian literature in the beginning was oral literature, the root of african literature. This book is an exploration of trends in african literature and its european legacies. In this paper, an attempt is made to examine the discourse of postcolonial decadence in contemporary african fiction. Pdf the criticism of african literature awakened and grew by means of.
Modern african literature adopts many oral traditional forms and tropes. However, after modern imperialism, language alone cannot be the sole definer of a peoples literature. Most african writers, however, write in english, french, and portuguese. Per wastberg themes in african literature today african literature is contemporary. Modern african literature is the natural inheritor of traditional african literature and though. Africanamerican literature has both been influenced by the great african diasporic heritage and shaped it in many countries. Traditional aesthetics and modern african literature. Modern novel characteristics in english literature. Examples of precolonial african literature are numerous. One of meja mwangis novels of postcolonial disillusionment, kill me quick, is used as the case study for the discussion.
The main characteristics of modernist literature pen and. Colonial cities became laboratories and incubation sites for, and potent physical. An analysis of themes in african literature, the case of. These peoples have long maintained trade and cultural relations with arabia, india, iran, and indonesia, so that the influence exerted by the cultures of. African literature the influence of oral traditions on modern writers. For instance, there is often a great emphasis on the history, culture and customs of a group of people when telling their stories. Linebyline modern translations of every shakespeare play and poem. It was around 1720 ad during the times of sobhuza i, he recalled the instructions of a man in a vision who instructed him that a people of pale complection were coming soon, the. Achebes aesthetic african creative african critics african culture african languages african literary african literature african. What are the main themes that can be found in african.
Pdf introduction to contemporary african literature. African literature refers to literature of and from africa. African literature comes from west africa, east africa, south africa and its suburb. African literature can be divided into three distinct categories.
What are the main themes in the african literature. Themes of colonialism, liberation, nationalism, tradition, displacement and rootlessness in african literature this paper deals with some of the themes in african literature such as colonialism, liberation, nationalism, tradition, displacement and rootlessness. Pdf characteristics of african literature rony o p. Its special characteristic is that it constitutes a document of the present. The paradoxical primacy of european languages in african literatures necessitates another anomalythe inclusion of a separate chapter on literature in african languages. Nigerian literature, in particular, began with the oral tradition, pioneered by the unsung heroes of her literary past, like royal bards, warriors, story tellers, priests and many others. Modern african literature and cultural identity african. We have tried to include as many writers as we can to bring out the various forms of alienation in literature. One of the major issues in modern african literature is language. Achebes aesthetic african creative african critics african culture african languages african literary african literature african literature today african novel african oral literature african poetry african society african studies african writers approach artist audience awoonor beauty benamos canon chinua achebe chinweizu colonial creative. Traditional written literature, which is limited to a smaller geographic area than is oral literature, is most characteristic of those subsaharan cultures that have participated in the cultures of the. Teacher editions with classroom activities for all 1291 titles we cover. Apr 17, 2017 africanamerican literature starts with narratives by slaves in the prerevolutionary period focused on freedom and abolition of slavery. Kindred themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes.