African literature

Source: African Literature: Overview

and Bibliography by Jonathan P. Smithe
– African literature is as diverse as the continent itself,
but several characteristics and themes prevail
throughout much of the written works emerging from
Africa. For instance, there is often a great emphasis on
the history, culture and customs of a group of people
when telling their stories.
What Are the Common Themes in African
Literature?

– African literature can be divided into

three distinct categories: precolonial,
colonial and postcolonial. 
– Precolonial literature often takes the form of oral
narratives that are sometimes accompanied by
music and center around the trickster figure.
– Colonial literature examines the horrors of slavery
and the slave trade, revolting against colonialism
and drawing inspiration from Africa's past.
– Postcolonial literature focuses on the clash
between indigenous and colonial cultures,
expressing hope for Africa's future.
– Within these categories is a subset of African women writers who
focus on the ordeals that women face in a patriarchal and
colonialist country. Their work often contains sub-themes of
women finding strength in each other's company when abandoned
or dismissed by their husbands and fathers, who are, in turn,
subjugated by the English. The narratives depict the struggles of
women trying to hold together their families and preserve their
cultures, but they often find themselves overruled by men.
The basic characteristics of African English Literature are:
– 1) Written in both African and European languages. The
predominant African languages used are Amharic, Zulu,
Hausa, and Swahili.
– 2) Encapsulates different periods in African history, from
ancient Africa to the period of Imperialist domination
(15th-19th centuries), and from the post-colonialist and
reconstruction period (19th-mid-twentieth century) to
the post-independent/contemporary period (mid-
twentieth century-present).
– 3) Includes oral and written literature from more
than 3,000 ethnic African groups.
– 4) May be regionally-based, such as West
African Literature, North African Literature,
South African Literature, or East African
Literature.
– 5) Oral literature comes in varied forms such as myths,
folk tales, proverbs, dramas, songs, and folk tales. They
often involve stories about the creation of the world and
legends about how various powerful dynasties originated
in African regions.
– 6) During the colonization period, written slave
narratives documented European atrocities and the
horrors of slavery. Nationalist newspapers as well as
resistance/liberation poetry critiqued European
colonizers and their practices. In the 19th century,
various African authors produced works in English
criticizing colonialist ambitions and advocating for
independence. These authors include Chinua Achebe,
Wole Soyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o.
– 8) During the post-colonialist era, various authors
denounced the practice of apartheid. These
authors include Nadine Gordimer, Bessie Head,
and J.M. Coetzee.
– 9) Last, but not least, contemporary African
literature often documents how corrupt,
modern African governments perpetuate
the suffering of the African people.