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

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 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.