African Literature - PDF

RUHAMEN G. LANGALEN, LPT, MAT-English Instructor  Objectives 1. : Discuss Afro-Asian literature. 2. Identify the historical background of Africa 3. Characterize African literature. 4. Differentiate oral and written literature. 5. Discuss the different African languages. 6. Id...

RUHAMEN G. LANGALEN, LPT, MAT-English Instructor  Objectives 1. : Discuss Afro-Asian literature. 2. Identify the historical background of Africa 3. Characterize African literature. 4. Differentiate oral and written literature. 5. Discuss the different African languages. 6. Identify various African writers. 7. Appreciate African literary works in English. 8. Critique an African literary piece.  Together let’s answer the following questions. 1. What is Afro-Asian Literature? 2. What are the countries under the Afro-Asian Literature? 3. What are the norms and culture associated with the countries under the Afro-Asian Literature? 4. What are the characteristics of Afro-Asian Literature? 5. What are the common themes associated with Afro-Asian Literature? 5. Who are the most influential writers of Afro-Asian Literature? AFRO + ASIAN AFRO + ASIAN  - Second largest continent, covering 1/5 of the total land surface off earth. Legend: Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean Red Sea and Indian Ocean Atlantic and Indian Oceans - ETYMOLOGY: - came from Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa “terra land of the Afri” (plural, or “Afer” singular) for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern Tunisia.  - the largest and most populous continent. - Cradle of human race, of civilization, of world religions. Legend: Arctic Ocean Europe Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean  - the largest and most populous continent. - Cradle of human race, of civilization, of world religions. Legend: Arctic Ocean Europe Pacific Ocean Red Sea, inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean Mediterranean and the Black Indian Ocean - ETYMOLOGY: - originated from the Ancient Greek word “Aoia” first attributed to Herodotus (about 440 BCE) in reference to Anatolia or to the Persian Empire, in contrast to Greece and Egypt. - originally was a name for the east bank of the “Aegean Sea”, an area known to the Hittites as Assuwa.  AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE It mirrors not only the customs and traditions of African and Asian countries but also their philosophy of life which deeply and predominantly contemplative and hauntingly sweet. It is the reflection of the storm and the stress of developing nations seeking a place under the sun which every student must understand, so they may know how this literature affects the history and culture of a nation. It refers to the literary output of the various countries and cultures in Africa and Asia. This includes their oral traditions and the first contemporary written and/or published prose and poetry. Asian Literature alone is diverse and vibrant add to that is the magnificence of African Literature will summed up in enriching Afro- Asian Literature AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE The background of Afro-Asian Literature dates to the very beginning when the first mixed race individual began writing. Earlier written documents were based on stories passed by word of mouth. Literary works were handed by mouth from generation to generation to entertain, educate and remind the people about their past, heroic deeds of their people, ancestry and culture. Afro-Asian Literature is a sign of new and modern times. It also teaches people and allow them to learn about different experiences and cultures from all over the world.  AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE GENRES: Playwriting Poems Prose Playwrights celebrate their own culture and ancestry by setting plays in the past and referencing historical events in their storylines. When performed, this will feature backdrops and costumes which will reflects the culture and unique spirit of Afro-Asian Literature. Poems tell about the history and culture of the Afro-Asian people. Today, Afro-Asians still express their creativity and honor their by crafting beautiful poems such as haikus, ballads or sonnets. Prose it is used to expose truth, to describe objects, places and people, to draw a reader deeper into a society. NORMS –a standard or pattern, especially of social behavior, that is typical or expected of a group. CULTURE – is defined as the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs, and affective understanding that are learned through a process of socialization. These shared patterns identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group. The highest degree of culture is embodied within a virtue of respecting other humans, either as an individual or a put of community. It is no surprise that, in the phase, people of Asia and Africa adapt the culture of mutual cooperation. AFRICA- has 300 distinct ethnic groups, 200 languages. Home to the most genetically people on Earth. Sense of Community – a popular African proverb comes to mind to express the African sense of community. It says: “Go the w a y t hat m a n y people go; if you go alone, you will have the reason to lament”. The African idea of security and its value depends on personal identification with and within the community. Sense of Good Human Relations – the art of dialogue and conversation is a cherished value in African human people freely discuss their problems and look for suggestions and solutions together. The unwillingness to talk to people either private or public affairs can be interpreted as a bad manners or sign of enmity. Sense of Hospitality – the African sense of hospitality is one of the African values that is still quite alive. The Africans easily incorporate strangers and give them lands to settle hoping that would go one day, and the land would revert to the owner. Africans have symbolic ways of expressing welcome. These are in forms of presentation of kola nuts, traditional gin, coconuts, and etc. in various communities.  ASIA- Asian values are inter-related. They all support the view of the individual as being a part of a much larger group or family, and place great importance on the well-being of the group, even at the expense of the individual. Family and Education – attributed to the basic notion of family and the central role that education plays in the family. Great importance is placed on child rearing, and education is a fundamental aspect of this views. They spend more time with their children. Reserve Conformity and Harmony – another great importance is placed on maintaining harmony. The greatest virtue that can achieve is not greatness of one’s self, which is viewed as being selfish and self-centered, but fulfilling his or her role in the whole family or group. The achievement of an individual may be seen as really the result of the effort of one’s family or group.  Benevolence and Obligation – Asian societies tend to be very hierarchical, where in some cases it is not unusual to consider teacher and student, or even parent and child as equals. Asian hierarchical relationships involve a lot of what might be viewed as dependence or domination but a good deal of responsibility and benevolence is expected in return. Lose of face, shame and honor – losing face is one of the better known Asian concepts among other society. Unlike individualistic cultures, shame and honor go far beyond the individual, and reflect directly upon one’s family, notion, or other group, and so taken very seriously. Maintaining good face is a kind of measurement of how well one has maintained faith to traditional values, and one’s social standing among others. It serves as a strong control mechanism which reinforces all other Asian values. ❑ Afro-Asian countries usually cared for their family first; then they are fond of their social values; and especially, their love for their own country. ❑ They are also active in celebrating festivals that reflects their own characteristics as an Asian and African. ❑ They are religious because they give importance to “The Creator” by giving thanks and offering prayers to Him. ❑ They are also active if we talk about literature because they are good writers. ❑ They are talented on different branch of sports and arts that they are about to compete worldwide. African literature is as diverse as the continent itself, b u t several characteristics a n d themes prevail throughout much of the written works emerging from Africa. There is often g r e a t emphasis on the history, culture a n d customs of a group of people when telling their stories. A f r o - Asian’s literary works were h a n d ed b y m o u th from generation to generation to entertain, educate a n d remind the people a b o u t their past, heroic deeds of their people, ancestry a n d culture. A fr o - Asian literature is a sign of new or modern times. I t also teaches people a n d allow t h e m to learn a b o u t different experiences a n d cultures from all over the world. Afro-Asian literature shares several common themes between African a n d Asian countries. Some of these themes include nature, peace, a n d the highlight on emotions. EXAMPLE ABOUT NATURE: Petals of Blood by Ngugi w a Thiong’o - It is a poem which suggests t h a t there is a deadly power within the nature t h a t must be respected despite attempts to suggest by humans t h a t they live harmoniously with it. EXAMPLE ABOUT PEACE: N o Longer a t Ease b y Chinua Achebe - I t is a novel which concerns the struggle of O b i Okonkwo’s g ra n d fat h e r. O ko n k w o who against the changes brought b y the English. EXAMPLE ABOUT H I G H L I G H T O N EMOTIONS: Brave Faces: The D a r i n g Stand Against Cancer b y Nasra Al A d a w i - I t is a poetry a n d true to life stories a b o u t women wi th breast cancer in Tan zan i a. The testimonies in Brave Faces are told through personal stories a n d poetry t h a t speak to this courage, the loneliness, the anger a n d the p a i n of losing something. Chinua Achebe One of the world’s most widely recognized and praised writers, Chinua Achebe wrote some of the most extraordinary works of the 20th century. His most famous novel, Things Fall Apart (1958), is a devastating depiction of the clash between traditional tribal values and the effects of colonial rule, as well as the tension between masculinity and femininity in highly patriarchal societies. Achebe is also a noted literary critic, particularly known for his passionate critique of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (1899), in which he accuses the popular novel of ra m p a nt racism through its othering of the African continent and its people. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Born in Nigeria in 1977, and part of a new generation of African writers taking the literary world by storm. Adichie’s works are primarily character-driven, interweaving the background of her native Nigeria and social and political events into the narrative. Her novel Purple Hibiscus ( 2 0 0 3 ) is a bildungsroman, depicting the life experience of Kambili and her family during a military coup, while her latest work Americanah (2013) is an insightful portrayal of Nigerian immigrant life and race relations in America and the western world. Adichie’s works have been met with overwhelming praise and have been nominated for and won numerous awards, including the Orange Prize and Booker Prize. Wole Soyinka is among contemporary Africa's greatest writers. He is also one of the continent's most imaginative advocates of native culture and of the humane social order it embodies. Born in Western Nigeria in 1934, grew up in an Anglican mission compound in Aké. A precocious student, he first attended the parsonage's primary school, where his father was headmaster, and then a nearby grammar school in Abeokuta, where an uncle was principal. Though raised in a colonial, English-speaking environment, Soyinka's ethnic heritage was Yoruba, and his parents balanced Christian training with regular visits to the father's ancestral home in `Isarà, a small Yoruba community secure in its traditions. Soyinka recalls his father's world in `Isarà, A Voyage Around "Essay" (1989) and recounts his own early life in Aké: The Years of Childhood (1981), two of his several autobiographical books. Aké ends in 1945 when Soyinka is eleven, with his induction into the protest movement that during the next decade won Nigeria's freedom from British rule. The political turbulence of these years framed Soyinka's adolescence and early adulthood, which he chronicles in his most recent autobiographical work, Ibadan, The Penkelemes Years, A Memoir: 1946-1965 (1994). Ayi Kwei Armah His novels are known for their intense, powerful depictions of political devastation and social frustration in Armah’s native Ghana, told from the point of view of the individual. His works were greatly influenced by French existential philosophers, such as Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, and as such hold themes of despair, disillusionment and irrationality. His most famous work, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born (1968) centers around a n unnamed protagonist who attempts to understand his self and his country in the wa ke of post- independence. Mariama Bâ ❑ One of Africa’s most influential women authors, known for her powerful feminist texts, which address the issues of gender inequality in her native Senegal and wider Africa. ❑ Bâ herself experienced many of the prejudices facing women: she struggled for an education against her traditional grandparents, and was left to look after her nine children after divorcing a prominent politician. ❑ Her anger and frustration at the patriarchal structures which defined her life spill over into her literature: her novel So Long A Letter (1981) depicts, simultaneously, its protagonist’s strength and powerlessness within marriage and wider society. Nuruddin Farah ❑ Born in Somalia in 1945, written numerous plays, novels and short stories, all of which revolve around his experiences of his native country. ❑ The title of his first novel From a Crooked Rib (1970) stems from a Somalian proverb “God created woman from a crooked rib, and anyone who trieth to straighten it, breaketh it”, and is a commentary on the sufferings of women in Somalian society through the narrative of a young woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. ❑ His subsequent works feature similar social criticism, dealing with themes of wa r and post-colonial identity. Aminatta Forna ❑ Born in Glasgow but raised in Sierra Leone, ❑ first drew attention for her memoir The Devil That Danced on Water ( 2 0 0 3 ) , an extraordinarily brave account of her family’s experiences living in w a r - torn Sierra Leone, and in particular her father’s tragic fate as a political dissident. ❑ Forna has gone on to write several novels, each of them critically acclaimed: her work The Memory of Love (2010) juxtaposes personal stories of love and loss within the wider context of the devastation of the Sierre Leone civil war, and was nominated for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Nadine Gordimer ❑ One of the apartheid era’s most prolific writer, works powerfully explore social, moral, and racial issues in a South Africa under apartheid rule. ❑ Despite winning a Nobel Prize in Literature for her prodigious skills in portraying a society interwoven with racial tensions, Gordimer’s most famous and controversial works were banned from South Africa for daring to speak out against the oppressive governmental structures of the time. ❑ Her novel Burger’s Daughter follows the struggles of a group of anti- apartheid activists, and was read in secret by Nelson Mandela during his time on Robben Island. Alain Mabanckou ❑ Originating from the Republic of Congo, Alain Mabanckou’s works are written primarily in French, and are well known for their biting wit, sharp satire and insightful social commentary into both Africa and African immigrants in France. ❑ His novels are strikingly character-focused, often featuring ensemble casts of figures, such as his book Broken Glass, which focuses on a former Congolese teacher and his interactions with the locals in the bar he frequents, or his novel Black Bazar, which details the experiences of various African immigrants in a n Afro-Cuban bar in Paris. Ben Okri Ben Okri’s childhood was divided between England and time in his native Nigeria. His young experience greatly informed his future writing: his first, highly acclaimed novels Flowers and Shadows (1980) and The Landscapes Within (1981) were reflections on the devastation of the Nigerian civil war which Okri himself observed firsthand. His later novels met with equal praise: The Famished Road (1991), which tells the story of Azaro, a spirit child, is a fascinating blend of realism and depictions of the spirit world, and won the Booker Prize. Ngugi wa Thiong’o ❑ is one of Africa’s most important and influential postcolonial writers. He began his writing career with novels written in English, which nevertheless revolved around postcolonial themes of the individual and the community in Africa versus colonial powers and cultures. ❑ H e was imprisoned without trial for over a year by the government for the staging of a politically controversial play; after his release, he committed to writing works only in his native Gikuyi and Swahili, citing language as a key tool for decolonizing the mindset and culture of African readers and writers. Binlah Sonkalagiri (Thai: บินหลาสันกาลาคีร,ี RTGS: Binla Sankalakhiri) is the pen-name of Thai author Wuthichat Choomsanit (วุฒ ชาติ ชุม ่ สนิ ท,born 1965). He won the S.E.A. Write Award in 2 0 0 5 for his work, Chao Ngin (Princess). He attended the Faculty of Fine Arts a t Chulalongkorn University but did not graduate before starting his career as editor-in-chief Pai Yarn Yai, a publication belonging to writer and singer. Chart Korbjitti ( Thai ชาติ กอบจิตติ, born June 25, 1954 in Samut Sakhon) is a Thai writer. He first came to prominence with the publication of his novel Khamphiphaksa (The Judgment) in 1981. N a m e d as Book of the Year by Thailand's Literature Council, the book won him the S.E.A. Write Award. He received a second S.E.A. Write Award in 1994 for Wela (Time). He was named a National Artist in Literature in 2 0 0 4 , and was among the honorees of the inaugural Silpathorn Award, given to Thai contemporary artists. Chit Phumisak (Thai: จิตรภูมศ ั ดิ,์ 25 September 1930 – 5 May 1966) ิ ก ❑ was a Thai author, historian and poet. ❑ His most influential book was The Face of Thai Feudalism (โฉมหน้าศักดินาไทย, Chomna Sakdina Thai), written in 1957 under the pseudonym Somsamai Srisootarapan. ❑ Other pen names used by Chit include Kawi Kanmuang and Kawi Srisayam. Born into a poor family in Prachinburi Province, eastern Thailand, he studied philology at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Hem Vejakorn (Thai: เหมเวชกร,January 17, 1904, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok – April 16, 1969, Thon Buri, Bangkok) was a Thai artist and writer. He is best known for his illustrations for the covers of 10-satang pulp novels, which have in turn influenced subsequent generations of Thai artists and illustrators. It is estimated that he produced more than 5 0 , 0 0 0 pieces of art, including pen and pencil drawings, watercolors, posters and oil paintings. He portrayed rural life, Thai history and figures from Thai. Kanokphong Songsomphan (Thai: กนกพงศ สงสมพันธุ,์ February 9, 1966 in Khuan Khanun, Phatthalung Province, Thailand – February 13, 2 0 0 6 in Nakhon Si T h a m m a r a t ) was a Thai writer. He was the winner of the S.E.A. Write Award for Thailand in 1996 for his collection of short stories, Phaendin Uen (Another Land). His name is sometimes transliterated as Kanogpong Songsompuntu. His other major work was Saphan Khard (The Broken Bridge), which was translated into Japanese. Nick Joaquin Nicomedes "Onching" M. Joaquin was born on M ay 4, 1917 in Paco, Manila. His mother was a public school teacher and a colonel father in the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Nick Joaquin started to write short stories, poems, and essays in 1934. Consider as a brilliant kid, he did not get to finish high school, he discovered tha t he could study more by reading books on his own, and his father's library had countless of the books he mind to read. He wrote so variedly and so well about so m a n y phase of the Filipino throughout his entire life span. Gregorio F. Zaide Legendary historian to Philippine history, and made noteworthy contributions. A diligent scholar, he authored 67 books, some were use as textbooks in history for secondary and colleges in the country. He has also written more than 5 0 0 articles in history printed in local and foreign journals. Encarnacion Alzona ❑ was a reputed historian and guru to a generation of other famous historian's and at the same time as University of the Philippines professor in history. ❑ She acknowledged the Lone Prize awarded by the Congress de Hespanitas de Filipinas in 1954 for her El Legado de Espana a Filipina. ❑ She is a prolific writer; a number of her historical writing’s have already becomes Classics, mainly her A History of Education in the Philippines. Teodoro Agoncillo wrote abundant books and papers about Philippine History. To name a number of his famous works are History of the Filipino People; The Crisis of the Republic; The Revolt of the Masses; The Story of Bonifacio and the Katipunan; Ang Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas; and the Malolos, Philippine History (adopted as official textbook in Philippine History). Abe Kobo (安部公房) March 7, 1924 - January 22, 1993) was a Japanese writer. He was born in Tokyo, grew up in Manchuria and graduated in 1948 with a medical degree from Tokyo Imperial University on the condition that he wouldn't practice. Abe is a very famous Japanese novelist and playwright for works and he has been compared to German writer Franz Kafka. He published his first novel in 1948 and worked as an avant-garde novelist and playwright, but it wasn't until he published The Woman in the Dunes in 1960 that he won widespread international acclaim. In the 1960s, he collaborated with Japanese director Hiroshi Teshigahara in adapting to film The Pitfall, The Woman in the Dunes, The Face of Another and The Ruined Map. Abe's surreal and often nightmarish explorations of the individual in contemporary society earned him comparisons to Kafka and his influence extended well beyond Japan, particularly with the success of The Woman in the Dunes at the Cannes Film Festival. Osamu Dazai ( 太宰治) (June 19, 1909 – June 13, 1948) ❑ was a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 2 0 t h-century Japan. ❑ He is noted for his ironic and gloomy wit, his obsession with suicide, and his brilliant fantasy. ❑ Japanese writer. Pseudonym of Tsushima Shuji. Osamu Danzai became "the literary voice of his generation." He's known for works like Shayo (1947, The Setting Sun) and Ningen Shikkaku (1948, No Longer Human). Etymology Africa Terra – Land of the Afri(plural);Afer (singular) Phoenician Afar meaning dust or Afridi meaning tribe of the Northern Africa. Greek Aphrike – meaning without cold or Latin Aprica – meaning sunny, then later became AFRICA.  Africa is a land flushing with sunshine and vivid light. It is called “the Dark Continent” – not because of the complexion of the original inhabitants but because most people know very little about it. It is the last of the continents to feel the influence of Western civilization: therefore many people consider it a backward continent.  Historical background  HISTORICAL B A C K G R O U N D Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent after Asia. African Literature comprises oral and written works of the continent, composed in either African Languages or foreign ones. Most formal African Literature is still developing distinctive styles.  HISTORICAL B A C K G R O U N D The widespread African Oral Tradition, however, is rich in folktales, myths, riddles, and proverbs that not only convey an imaginative view of the world but also serve a religious, social, and educational function.  HISTORICAL B AC K G R O U N D African myths typically explain the creation of the universe, the activities of gods at the beginning of creation, the essence of all creatures, and the nature of their interrelationships. African legends which deal with the events that occurred after the era of the gods, describe such heroic human feats as establishing dynasties or single- handedly preventing disasters. HISTORICAL B AC K G R O U N D African folktales are usually told for nighttime entertainment. It features human beings and animals, either separately or together. African epigrams including proverbs and riddles were the great possession of their culture.  HISTORICAL B AC K G R O U N D African Written Literature Literacy in Arabic came to Africa with the introduction of the Islamic religion into the kingdom of Ghana in the 11th century by the a Tuaregs, tribal people of the Sahara. From 7th century, Arab influence was also prevalent on the east coast of Africa, where Arab traders and slavers were active.  HISTORICAL B AC K G R O U N D The Arabic script was eventually adapted for Swahili, which in central and East Africa served as the lingua franca(language for trade and other cross-cultural communication).  HISTORICAL B AC K G R O U N D African Literature consists of a body of work in different languages and various genres, ranging from oral literature to literature written in colonial languages (French, Portuguese, and English) ***Colonizer language in Literature*** Francophone African Literature(French) Lusophone African Literature (Portuguese) Anglophone African Literature (English)  HISTORICAL B AC K G R O U N D ❑ Islam was the dominant religion of Northern Africa. It was replaced by Christianity in the 17th century. ❑ RICHEST Countries invest more than poorest countries in terms of education. ❑ Only a small fraction of Africa’s young people attend universities. ❑ LITERACY RATES FOR MEN are higher than women. ❑ URBAN EDUCATION are higher than rural education. Different African L a n g u a ge Language in African Literature Five Major Languages 1. Afroasiatic Languages 2. Click Languages 3. Niger – Congo Languages 4. Sudanic Languages 5. Austronesian Languages Language in African Literature The best-known literatures in African languages include: ▪ Yoruba ▪ Zulu ▪ Hausa ▪ Amharic ▪ Sotho ▪ Somali ▪ Xhosa ▪ Swahili  Language in African Literature In West Africa Yoruba writing emerged after Bishop Ajayi Crowther, a former slave, developed a script for the language in 1900 published the first Yoruba translation of the Bible. Isaac Babaloa Thomas published the first work of fiction in Yoruba, Segilola Eleyinju ege (Segilola of the Seductive Eyes, 1929). Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa – was the most important Yoruba writer, who used his writings to commend Christian virtues to the public.  Language in African Literature In the Southern Africa, writing was introduced by missionaries who established themselves in the 1820’s at Lovedale, near Alice (now in the Eastern Cape Province). The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1678 and 1684) is one of the texts the missionaries translated for instruction. Language in African Literature Samuel Edward Krune Loliwe Mqhayi – was associated with the Lovedale mission, who used Xhosa-language in the novel, Itoyala lamawele (The Case of the two Brothers, 1914)- which recreates the legal proceedings he observed at the court of his uncle, a chief. Abantu abamnyama lapha bavela ngakhona (1922; The Black People and Whence They Came, 1979), by Magema ka Magwaza Fuze – tells of Zulu history and presents an early plea for black unity in Africa. Language in African Literature In the East Africa, a system of writing for the Somali language was not developed until the early 20th century, long after writing in Arabic had become widespread among Somali-speaking people. Characteristics of African Literature  Characteristics of African Literature ❑ African literature preserves the rich culture and traditions of the African nations. ❑ The myths and trickster tales, which typically explain the creation of the universe, the activities of the Gods at the beginning of creation, and the essence of existence.  Characteristics of African Literature Most of the literary pieces of Africa shed light on controversial issues such as; racial discrimination political conflicts civil war gender sensitivity human rights issues  Characteristics of African Literature ❑ Written in both African and European languages. The predominant African languages used are Amharic, Zulu Hausa and Swahili. ❑ 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- 20th century) to the post- independent/contemporary period (mid- twentieth century-present).  Characteristics of African Literature ❑ Includes oral and written literature from more than 3,000 ethnic African groups. ❑ May be regionally-based, such as West African Literature, North African Literature, South African Literature, or East African Literature. ❑ Oral literature comes in varied forms such as myths, folk tales, proverbs, dramas, songs, and folklores. They often involve stories about the creation of the world and legends about how various powerful dynasties originated in African regions.  Characteristics of African Literature ❑ 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. Characteristics of African Literature 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 Ngugiwa Thiong’o. Characteristics of African Literature During the post-colonialist era, various authors denounced the practice of apartheid. These authors include Nadine Gordimer, Bessie Head, and J.M. Coetzee. Apartheid - racial segregation of white African from the black African in terms of politics, social, and of economic discrimination. Characteristics of African Literature Last, but not least, contemporary African literature often documents how corrupt, modern African governments perpetuate the suffering of the African people.  AFRICAN MOST INFLUENTIAL WRITERS A N D POETS Soyinka Wole Born in Nigeria, 07-13-1934 Is perhaps the foremost English language poet and certainly the most celebrated playwright of black Africa. His work earned him the 1986 Nobel Prize For Literature. Combining Western dramatic forms with the music, dance, and mime of Africa. His plays achieve a ritualistic power and demonstrate the fundamental African concern with “Numinous” boundaries between the human and the divine between life and death.  From his first play, The Swamp Dwellers, which was produced in London in 1958, most of Soyinka's theatrical works have been seen on English and American as well as Nigerian stages. Two volumes of his collected plays have been published (1973, as 1974) as well such later plays Death and the King's Horseman (1975), Opera Wonyosi (1979), and a Play of Giants (1984). Wole Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986 – the first time a black African writer had been so honored and, in fact, the first international honor in literature ever won by a black African. Soyinka’s fame created a new interest in black African Literature; to date, very little is available to Western readers. ACHEBE, CHINUA Nigerian novelist and poet, whose first novel, Things Fall Apart (1958), set the theme for his subsequent work: The impact of Western influences on traditional African society. Achebe’s works; The Arrow of God (1964) and A Man of the People (1966). Unsentimental, often ironic, they vividly portray tribal culture and the very speech of the Ibo people. Achebe's later works include a short story collection, Girls at War (1972), and Christmas in Biafra and Other Poems (1973). Since 1971 he has been coeditor of Okike, one of Africa’s most influential literary magazines. CLARK, JOHN PEER Nigerian poet dramatist, and literary critic (born April 6, 1935), contributed significantly to the Nigerian renaissance of the late 50s and early '60s. His interest in collecting traditional African oral literature has resulted in such plays as Ozidi (1966), based on an Ljaw epic, and Song of a Goat (1961). Representative of his poetry is the volume, A Decade of Tongues. NGUGI WA THIONG'O, JAMES born in Kenya, January 5, 1938 is considered the most important East African novelist. Educated in both Kenya and England, he taught literature for many years. His first two novels, Weep Not, Child (1964), and The River Between 1965, concern the impact of colonialism, Christianity, and rebellion on the East African peoples. ❑ Both novels were influenced by the realism of West African writer Chinua Achebe. ❑ In A Grain of Wheat (1967), however-Ngugi's most successful novel about the Mau Mau rebellion – his style is more mature. ❑ novel, Petals of Blood, (1977) led to his imprisonment (1978-79) and to the prison diary, Detain (1981). He has written books in Kikuyu; The play, Will Marry When I Want ; and the novel, Devil on the Cross (both 1980, Eng. trans., 1982); and the critical work, Decolonizing the Mind (1986). Nadine Gordimer One of the apartheid era’s most prolific writers, Nadine Gordimer’s works powerfully explore social, moral, and racial issues in a South Africa under apartheid rule. Nadine Gordimer became the second sub –Sharan African winner of the Nobel Prize, in 1991. Despite winning a Nobel Prize in Literature for her prodigious skills in portraying a society interwoven with racial tensions, Gordimer’s most famous and controversial works were banned from South Africa for daring to speak out against the oppressive governmental structures of the time. Her novel Burger’s Daughter follows the struggles of a group of anti-apartheid activists, and was read in secret by Nelson Mandela during his time on Robben Island. Activity for African Literature (Role Playing)  African Literature Culminating Activity “Role Playing: Lights, Camera, and Action” Mechanics of the Activity: With the supervision of the teacher, 1. The class will be divided into various groups with five members in each group. 2. Each member will be assigned a task, namely; 1. The Researcher and the Developer 2. The Discussants 3. The Participant 4. The Assessor 5. The Monitor  African Literature Culminating Activity Mechanics of the Activity: 1. The Researcher - organize the materials from various sources. 2. The Developer – prepare the presentation to be used whether audio or visual. 3. The Discussant- share important concepts and key information. 4. The Participant - listen and ask questions relevant to the topics. 5. The Assessor- provide thought-provoking questions to be answered by the participant. 6. The Monitor – give intelligent and informative feedback on the performance of its group.  African Literature Culminating Activity 3. Each group will discuss the given African literary pieces (Once Upon a Time, Africa, Anticipation) 4. The teacher will give 5 minutes preparation. 5. The duration of the activity is maximum of 20 minutes. 6. Each group will decide on the mode of presentation (e.g. classroom setting, debate, forum, etc.) as long as the roles are equally distributed)  African Literature Culminating Activity 7. The scoring rubric will be:  AFRICAN POEM Guide Questions: 1. Describe Africans. 2. Why are Africans looked down upon? 3. In your own little way, how can you help ameliorate the sad plight of the Africans? 4. Who is talking in the poem? 5. Who do you think is the son mentioned in the poem? 6. Explain the second stanza and its implication to our present society. AFRICAN POEM Once Upon a Time -Gabriel Okara (Nigerian) Once upon a time, son, they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes: but now they only laugh with their teeth, while their ice-block-cold eyes search behind my shadow. There was a time indeed they used to shake hands with their hearts: but that’s gone, son. Now they shake hands without hearts while their left hands search my empty pockets.  Feel at home!’ ‘Come again’: they say, and when I come again and feel at home, once, twice, there will be no thrice- for then I find doors shut on me. So I have learned many things, son. I have learned to wear many faces like dresses – homeface, officeface, streetface, hostface, cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles like a fixed portrait smile. And I have learned too to laugh with only my teeth and shake hands without my heart. I have also learned to say,’Goodbye’, when I mean ‘Good-riddance’: to say ‘Glad to meet you’, without being glad; and to say ‘It’s been nice talking to you’, after being bored.  But believe me, son. I want to be what I used to be when I was like you. I want to unlearn all these muting things. Most of all, I want to relearn how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs! So show me, son, how to laugh; show me how I used to laugh and smile once upon a time when I was like you.  AFRICAN SHORT STORY A.Direction: Read and interpret the short story entitled “Anticipation” by Mabel Dove Danquah. Consider the following guide questions: 1. Describe the setting. 2. What atmosphere is created by this setting? 3. What African customs and traits are revealed in this story? 4. Compare the African ways of celebrating with those Filipinos. 5. Characterize Nana Adaku II. 6. Comment on what the author says about the attitudes of men toward women and vice versa. 7. Did you expect the story to end the way it did? 8. Define “irony”. Give an example of it in the story. 9. Explain the title of the story. B. Direction: Read and interpret/critique the poem entitled “Africa” by David Diop. Consider the following: a. Author’s style/purpose b. Implications on their lives c. Figures of speech used d. Theme  Africa - David Diop Africa of proud warriors in ancestral Savannahs Africa of whom my grandmother sings On the banks of the distant river I have never known you But your blood flows in my veins Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields The blood of your sweat The sweat of your work The work of your slavery Africa, tell me Africa Is this your back that is unbent This back that never breaks under the weight of humiliation This back trembling with red scars And saying no to the whip under the midday sun? But a grave voice answers me Impetuous child that tree, young and strong That tree over there Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers That is your Africa springing up anew springing up patiently, obstinately Whose fruit bit by bit acquires The bitter taste of liberty. References: Book References: 1. Duka, Carolina R.(2001, The Literatures of Asia and Africa, Philippines: Rex Book Store 2. Carpio, R. (2006), Crisscrossing through Afro-Asian literature, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc.