Questions and Answers
What is oral literature often characterized by?
Prose or verse, often mythological or historical.
What is the best-known work of Ethiopian literature written in Ge'ez?
Kebra Negast.
Which of the following was possibly the first African novel written in English?
Chinua Achebe's novel 'Things Fall Apart' was one of the first African novels to receive worldwide acclaim.
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Who was the first post-independence African writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?
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Which of the following is NOT a notable novel by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o?
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Wole Soyinka is known for writing the play titled ______.
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What does the story 'Once Upon a Time' primarily reflect on?
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What was the tragic consequence in the bedtime story told in 'Once Upon a Time'?
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Which African author wrote the Nobel-winning novel 'Disgrace'?
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The poem 'Africa' by David Diop is often studied in African literature.
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Study Notes
Historical Development of African Literature
- Oral literature consists of prose and verse, often featuring mythological tales and trickster characters.
- Call-and-response techniques are unique storytelling methods used in African oral traditions.
- Poetry involves narrative poems, often sung, including praise poems and various forms such as ritual and occupational verse.
Precolonial Literature
- Ge'ez literature in Ethiopia dates back to the fourth century AD, with Kebra Negast being a significant work.
- Timbuktu holds over 300,000 manuscripts, mostly in Arabic, covering topics like astronomy and philosophy.
- Swahili literature draws from Islamic teachings and developed in indigenous contexts, with notable works like Utendi wa Tambuka.
Colonial African Literature
- Africans began writing in European languages during colonialism, leading to the first African English novel, "Ethiopia Unbound" by Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford in 1911.
- Herbert Isaac Ernest Dhlomo authored the first English-language African play, "The Girl Who Killed to Save" in 1935.
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o wrote the first East African drama, "The Black Hermit," focusing on tribalism.
- "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe became a landmark work in African literature.
Postcolonial African Literature
- Wole Soyinka was the first post-independence African Nobel Prize laureate in 1986, with earlier recipients including Albert Camus.
- Other African authors who won the Nobel Prize include Naguib Mahfouz, Nadine Gordimer, John Maxwell Coetzee, Doris Lessing, and Abdulrazak Gurnah.
Notable Novels by African Writers
- Chinua Achebe: "Things Fall Apart," "Arrow of God"
- Ama Ata Aidoo: "Our Sister Killjoy," "Changes: a Love Story"
- J.M. Coetzee: "Disgrace," "Life & Times of Michael K"
- Nadine Gordimer: "Burger's Daughter," "The Conservationist"
- Naguib Mahfouz: "The Beginning and the End," "Cairo Trilogy"
- Wole Soyinka: "The Interpreters," "Seasons of Anomy"
Notable African Poets
- Prominent poets include:
- Ama Ata Aidoo (Ghana)
- Kofi Anyidoho (Ghana)
- Dennis Brutus (South Africa)
- Gabriel Okara (Nigeria)
- Léopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal)
- Wole Soyinka (Nigeria)
- Warsan Shire
Summary of "Once Upon a Time"
- The narrator faces insecurity and fear in a crime-prone neighborhood, leading to a contrast between a happy family fantasy and harsh realities.
- The family's attempts to secure their home reflect broader societal issues, including racial tensions and apartheid allusions.
- The boy's tragic death highlights the consequences of their escalating security measures, serving as a critique of societal fears and isolation.
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Description
Explore the rich historical development of African literature, focusing on its oral traditions. This quiz delves into the elements of prose and verse, featuring mythological tales and the unique storytelling techniques used across the continent. Test your knowledge on poetry, narratives, and the significance of oral literature in African culture.
