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African Literature

The document provides an overview of African literature by discussing its history, culture, religions, prominent poets and writers, and languages. It notes that African literature preserves the rich cultures and traditions of the continent through both oral and written works, and reflects the struggles of African people. Some of the most celebrated writers mentioned include Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, John Peer Clark, and James Ngugi Wa Thiong'o. The document also provides brief histories of the major language families spoken across the continent.

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Genizah D. Andong
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125 views2 pages

African Literature

The document provides an overview of African literature by discussing its history, culture, religions, prominent poets and writers, and languages. It notes that African literature preserves the rich cultures and traditions of the continent through both oral and written works, and reflects the struggles of African people. Some of the most celebrated writers mentioned include Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, John Peer Clark, and James Ngugi Wa Thiong'o. The document also provides brief histories of the major language families spoken across the continent.

Uploaded by

Genizah D. Andong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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AFRICAN LITERATURE

Introduction: AFRICA

 Africa Terra
 Land of the Afri (Afer)
 Refer to what is known as TUNESIA.
 Afer
 From the Phoenician – AFAR – dust or from the AFRIDI tribe of the North Africa.
 Africa
 From Greek: APHRIKE – without cold
 The 2nd largest continent
 An immense continent that covers more than 1/5 of the earth’s land surface.

HISTORY

 The continent of Africa is almost as old as the Earth itself.


 The earliest known “protohuman fossils” have been found in Africa, primarily in Kenya and Tanzania and Ethiopia.
 The continent was also known the home of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the ancient Egypt.
 The modern European colonization of Africa began with the Portuguese who established trading stations on the coast
in the 15th and 16th century.
 In 1995, Africa contained about 13% of the world’s population and was the second most populous continent after Asia.

ENVIRONMENT

 Africa comprises 46 countries and territories within its borders.


 African continent is surrounded by plateau land, with few distinct mountain ranges and a narrow coastal plain.

CULTURE

o Most of Africa’s local arts focus on spiritual motifs.


o Decorative motifs are used to honor the animal and life of the region.
o Often, the work of art would have more than one purpose, either religious ceremonial or expression of freedom.
o Many villages are subsistent farmers, which means that they live almost entirely off the food that they grow themselves.
o The music of Africa is a part of all aspects of life.
o In forms of instruments, such as strings, wind and percussions originated in Africa.
o Sculpture – one of the greatest contributions of Africa, like masks, metal works, leather, painting, pottery, jewellery, and
dresses.
o Early humans created painting and engravings on rock walls.

RELIGIONS

 There are hundreds of local religions in Africa because of each ethnic group has its own set of beliefs and practices.
 Many recognizes a supreme God as well as many lesser Gods and spirits which include the souls of the dean ancestors.
 Islam – is the dominant religion of Northern Africa.

AFFICAN LITERATURE

Oral and written literary pieces produced on the African continent


1
Preserves the rich cultures and traditions of the African nations
Reflects on the struggles of African people
Home of literary

POETS AND WRITERS

1. Wole Soyinka (Nigeria; July 13, 1934)


 The foremost English language poet and certainly most celebrated playwright.
 His works were:
a. The Swamp Dwellers
b. Death and the King’s Horsemen (1975)
c. Opera (1979)
d. Play of Giants (1984)

2. Chinua Achebe (1930)


 Nigerian novelist and poet.
 His works were:
a. Things Fall Apart (1958) – Achebe’s first novel.
b. The Arrow of God (1964)
c. A Man of the People (1966)
d. Girl’s at War (1972)
e. Christmas in Biafra and Other Poems (1973)

3. John Peer Clark (Nigerian; April 6, 1935)


 Poet, dramatist, and literary critic.
 He contributed significantly to the Nigerian renaissance of the late 50s and early ‘60s.
 His works were:
a. Ozidi (1966)
b. Song of a Goat (1961)
c. A Decade of Tongues

4. James NgugiWaThiong O (Kenya; January 5, 1938)


 The most East African novelist
 His two novels were:
a. Weep Not, Child (1964)
b. The River Between (1965) – concern the impact of colonialism, Christianity and rebellion on East
African peoples.
 Some of his works were:
a. A Grain of Wheat (1967) – novel about the Mau Mau rebellion
b. Petals of Blood (1977)
c. Detain
d. Will Marry When I Want
e. Devil on the Cross
f. Decolonizing the Mind (1986)

5. OmanheneNana AdakuII

LANGUAGES

1. Afroasiatic – dominant in North Africa and the Horn.


2. Click – is spoken by the Koi-koi in southern Africa.
3. Niger-Congo – covers almost all of West Africa and the Congo.
4. Sudanic – includes Kanuri, Songhai, Turkana, and Masai.
5. Austronesian – were introduced from Southeast Asia about 2,000 years ago.

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