Chinua Achebe and Ngugi Wa Thiong'o

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Questions and Answers

What are the main themes of Chinua Achebe's novels?

Traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of Western and traditional African values.

What has Achebe been called?

The father of modern African writing and Africa's greatest teller.

In which lecture did Achebe criticize Joseph Conrad?

An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'.

What language does Ngugi Wa Thiong'o primarily write in?

Gikuyu. Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Ngugi's famous short story?

The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright. Signup and view all the answers

What notable action did Ngugi take while imprisoned?

He wrote his first modern novel, 'Devil on the Cross', on prison-issued paper. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument of Ngugi's essay 'Decolonizing the Mind'?

African writers should express themselves in their native languages rather than European languages. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Nadine Gordimer?

A South African writer and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991. Signup and view all the answers

What were some of Nadine Gordimer's notable works?

Burger's Daughter and July's People. Signup and view all the answers

With whom did Nadine Gordimer maintain a friendship during the Anti-Apartheid movement?

Nelson Mandela. Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Nadine Gordimer's first published novel?

The Lying Days. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main themes in Chinua Achebe's novels?

The traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of Western and traditional African values. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Chinua Achebe referred to as the 'father of modern African writing'?

Achebe has been instrumental in shaping modern African literature and narrative forms. Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Achebe's lecture that critiques Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'?

An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' Signup and view all the answers

In what language does Ngugi Wa Thiong'o primarily write?

Gikuyu Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's famous short story?

The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright Signup and view all the answers

What significant work did Ngugi Wa Thiong'o write while imprisoned?

Devil on the Cross Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's essay that argues for native language expression?

Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature Signup and view all the answers

Who is Nadine Gordimer and what notable award did she receive?

Nadine Gordimer is a South African writer and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the notable works by Nadine Gordimer?

Burger's Daughter and July's People Signup and view all the answers

What was the title of Nadine Gordimer's first published novel?

The Lying Days Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chinua Achebe

Achebe's novels explore the cultural collision between traditional Igbo society and Western influences, particularly during and after the colonial period.
He is considered a foundational figure in modern African literature, often recognized as Africa's most prominent storyteller.
In his influential essay, "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'," Achebe criticizes Joseph Conrad's portrayal of Africa and Africans as dehumanized and savage, arguing that Conrad's work reinforces racist stereotypes.

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan writer who champions the use of African languages in literature.
He is the founder and editor of Mutiiiri, a journal dedicated to the Gikuyu language.
His short story, "The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright," has been translated into 94 languages globally.
While imprisoned, Ngugi wrote his first novel in Gikuyu, Devil on the Cross, using prison-issued paper.

Decolonizing the Mind

In his essay, "Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature," Ngugi argues for African writers to express themselves in their native languages instead of European languages.

Nadine Gordimer

Nadine Gordimer, a South African writer, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991.
Her writings engaged with the complexities of Apartheid in South Africa.
Her novels, Burger's Daughter and July's People, were banned during the Apartheid era.
Gordimer was a close friend of Nelson Mandela during the Anti-Apartheid movement.
She assisted Mandela in editing his powerful speech, "I Am Prepared to Die," delivered during his trial.
Gordimer's debut novel, The Lying Days (1953), is a Bildungsroman set near Johannesburg, her hometown.

Chinua Achebe

Achebe was a Nigerian writer, poet and professor
His most famous novel was Things Fall Apart
His novels focused on the traditions of Igbo society, the effects of Christian influences, and the clash of Western and traditional African values during and after the colonial era
He was called "the father of modern African writing" and Africa’s greatest teller
He wrote the lecture "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's “Heart of Darkness”"
Achebe argued that Joseph Conrad (author of Heart of Darkness) was a racist, because he dehumanizes Africans in the novel, portraying Africa as a metaphorical battlefield without humanity, Europeans enter

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o

Kenyan writer
Primarily writes in the Gikuyu language
Founder and editor of the Gikuyu language journal Mutiiiri
His famous short story The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright is translated into 94 languages around the world
Wrote his first modern novel in Gikuyu Devil on the Cross on prison-issued paper while he was imprisoned

Other Notable African Writers

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o argues for African writers to use their native languages instead of European languages in his essay Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature
His most recent books include Globalectics: Theory and the Politics of Knowing (2012) and Something Torn and New: An African Renaissance
Nadine Gordimer was a South African writer and the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991
She was friends with Nelson Mandela during the Anti-Apartheid movement
She edited Mandela’s famous speech, “I Am Prepared to Die”
Gordimer’s novels dealt with apartheid in South Africa and novels such as Burger’s Daughter and July’s People were banned
Gordimer’s first published novel was The Lying Days (1953), which is a Bildungsroman that takes place in her hometown near Johannesburg.

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Description

Explore the influential works of Chinua Achebe and Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, two pivotal figures in African literature. Discover their contributions to cultural narratives, the use of African languages, and their critiques of colonialism. This quiz will delve into their key writings and the impact they've had on modern literature.