African Literature PDF

AFRICAN LITERATURE  AFRICA Second largest continent after Asia. The earliest known protohuman fossils have been found in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. The Republic of South Africa, though long independent, was long controlled by European settlers. Its black African majority did not participate i...

AFRICAN LITERATURE  AFRICA Second largest continent after Asia. The earliest known protohuman fossils have been found in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. The Republic of South Africa, though long independent, was long controlled by European settlers. Its black African majority did not participate in national elections until 1994.  LANGUAGES Between 800 and 1,700. Afroasiatic languages, dominant in North Africa include Berber, Kushitic, Semitic, Chad and Coptic languages. Click languages, named because of their implosive characteristic “click sounds”, include Khoisan spoken by the Khoikhoi. Niger-Congo languages cover almost all of West Africa include Hausa, Peul, and Wolof. Sudanic languages include Kanuri, Songhai, Turkana, and Masai. Despite the ignorance of most so called "literati" to the domain of African literature, African literature in fact is one of the main currents of world literature, stretching continuously and directly back to ancient history. Oral literature or orature may be in prose or verse. Storytellers in Africa sometimes use call- and-response techniques to tell their stories.  Poetry, often sung, includes: narrative epic, occupational verse, ritual verse, praise poems to rulers and other prominent people.  Praise singers, sometimes known as "griots", tell their stories with music.  RELIGION Dominant religion of northern Africa is Islam, which replaced Christianity and spread into the equatorial zones. Islam is the fastest-growing faith in Africa.  Ethnic group vs Religious Group Ethnic groups share many common characteristics such as language, physical features, customs, and traditions Religious groups share a common belief system but are not necessarily composted of a single ethnic group.  EDUCATION Only a small fraction of Africa’s young people attend universities. Due to the lack of prestigious universities, qualified students attend U.S and European universities.  Africa’s History and Economy ► People have lived in Africa for thousands of years. It is sometimes called the “cradle of civilization.” ► Hundreds of ethnic groups live together in close groups called tribes. Each ethnic group has its own language, religion, and culture which can sometimes cause conflicts.  Colonialism in Africa ► From the 1800s to the 1960s, European countries ruled most of Africa. The European countries wanted to own Africa’s gold, diamonds, copper, and other resources. Europeans divided most of Africa into colonies. Often different ethnic groups were forced to live together in one country causing conflicts. Liberia (left) and Ethiopia (right) are the only countries that were never colonized. Many of these ethnic groups were enemies and could not get along. Today fighting among ethnic groups is still a problem. ► "We are fighting every day because we are Hutu and they are Tutsis. We cannot mix, we are always in conflict," the tribesman said. "We will stay enemies forever." (left, Hutu soldiers in Rwanda) The Europeans needed modern transportation, so they built roads, railroads, and seaports throughout Africa. They used these ports to ship minerals and raw materials to Europe. Raw materials are products from nature such as cotton, metal, and wood. The Europeans used them to make factory goods that they would sell to their African colonies. Europeans also started plantations. A plantation is a large farm that grows crops. Plantations in colonial times grew crops such as coffee, sugarcane, and cotton. During the 1960s, Africans began ruling themselves. They were no longer colonies, or lands ruled by distant countries. Now all African countries are independent.  Life Today ► Today most Africans earn a living by farming. ► They use traditional methods like using animals instead of modern farm machinery like tractors. Most Africans are subsistence farmers which means they struggle just to grow enough food for their families. Africans also work in mines and export its minerals to many nations. African oil take growing importance, mainly after the 2003 oil crisis and recent oil reserves discoveries. Sudan, and Nigeria are the main oil producers. China owns 45% of Nigeria's oil production, and 40% of Sudanese ones. Oil is both provided by continental and offshore productions. Each African nation earns most of its money by exporting only one or two farm or mineral products. Today, most countries in Africa are still developing nations. This means that except for the country of South Africa, the nations in Africa have a low standard of living and poor industry or technology. Corruption Natural Problems - some governments - like war or famine mean ‘steal’ or cheat some people never make money for enough money to improve Companies themselves. their lives. - some people get lucky and get well paid jobs from large companies – e.g. oil Why is there such a companies big rich-poor divide in Africa? Colonies Education - some countries used to be owned by richer countries (e.g UK) who would steal - some people are more money and resources from them educated, so they can get much better jobs Today, Africans are still working to improve their countries.  AFRICAN LITERATURE Comprises oral and written works of the continent. Oral tradition such as myths, riddles, and proverbs serve as religious, social and educational function. Africa was illiterate until Christian missionaries arrived in 19th century. Africa has no ancient tradition of written literature. African literature written by Westerners This is the literature we all know. It talks about Africa as seen by Westerners. It often shows the negative images of Africa or the Africans. Its authors are usually non-Africans who have lived or spent some time visiting Africa. They have written their view points in any issues that caught their attention. African literature written by Africans in Western languages. African authors in this group are mostly those that received a traditional African education, and then, later, a western or colonial education. African literature written in African languages by African authors. African authors like Ngugi wa Thiong’O, Thomas Mfolo, Fagunwa, Mazisi Kunene, Ousmane Sembene, Cheikh Anta Diop have long encouraged African literatures in African languages. That is why we have texts in languages like Wolof, Swahili, Lingala, Kikongo, Hausa, Sesuto, Xhosa, Zulu, Umbundu, Kikuyu and many others. African literature in African languages will certainly help Africa in its development.  AFRICAN WRITERS AND POETS SOYINKA, WOLE – the foremost English-language poet and the most celebrated playwright of Black Africa. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986 – the first international honor in literature won by a black African. ACHEBE, CHINUA – Nigerian novelist and poet, whose first novel, Things Fall Apart, set the theme for the impact of Western influences on traditional African society. He has been co-editor of Okike, one of Africa’s most influential literary magazine. CLARK, JOHN PEER – nigerian poet, dramatist, and literary critic, contributed significantly to the Nigerian renaissance of the late 50s and early ‘60s. NGUGI WA THIONG’ O, JAMES – considered as the most important East African novelist. His novels concern the impact of colonialism, Christianity, and rebellion.  DAVID DIOP David Diop was one of the most promising French West African young poets, whose short career, however, ended in an air-crash off Dakar in 1960. Diop lived an uprooted life, moving frequently from his childhood onwards between France and West Africa. In Paris Diop joined the négritude literary movement, which championed and celebrated the uniqueness of black experience and heritage. Diop's work reflects his hatred of colonial rulers and his hope for an independent Africa.  Negritude It referred to the sense of a common Negro inheritance, revolt against colonialist values, and nostalgia for the beauty and glory of the African heritage  AFRICA David Diop Africa, my Africa Africa of proud warriors on ancestral savannahs, Africa that my grandmother sings. On the bank of her distant river, I have never known you But my face is full of your blood, Your beautiful black blood which waters the wide fields.  The blood of your sweat, The sweat of your work, The work of your slavery, The slavery of your children, Africa, tell me, Africa Is this really you? This back which is bent And breaks under the load of insult, This back trembling with red weals Which says yes to the whip on the hot roads of noon.  Thus, gravely a voice replies to me, Impetuous son, that tree robust and young, That tree over there Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers That is Africa, your Africa which grows Grows patiently, obstinately And whose fruit little by little learn The bitter taste of liberty.