African Literature: Foundations

African Geography

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most populated continent. Africa has 54 recognized "states" that are referred to as countries. Examine the various countries of Africa below in order to familiarize yourself with the geography of this part of the world.

Overview of African History

Many records of Africa begin with the Ancient Egyptian civilizations, which reached across Africa. However, Africa was similar to Latin America in the sense of the varying multitudes of tribes and civilizations that existed across the continent. Throughout the past of Africa, slavery had long been practiced, and between the 15^th-19^th centuries, approximately 7-12 million slaves were taken to the New World.

Also similar to Latin American history, there was a race to colonize Africa, which resulted in the destruction of many indigenous people groups. Although historians classify the European control of Africa as Colonialism, the term Imperialism is more fitting. Imperialism is an unequal human and territorial relationship, which is clear in the powerful Europeans taking over the less powerful Africans. The best example of the negative effects of imperialism occurred in the Congo with the European desire for Ivory at whatever the cost. This resulted in many African deaths and created tension that lasted for years.

Finally, the Berlin Conference of 1884 made rules regulating the trade and colonization in Africa; unfortunately, the effects of European colonization in Africa terminated the ability for African countries to stand on their own feet and govern their own areas.

Although African countries received formal independence after World War II and violence has decreased, the effects of imperialism can still be seen today in the aftermath of the rampant genocide that occurred for years. The African states typically have some form of presidential system that shows preference for one ethnic group over another, which results in continued violence and instability throughout Africa.

African Literature

The time periods of African Literature are Oral, Pre-Colonial, Colonial, and Post-Colonial. In African Literature, much of the Oral literature is poems that people sing. These songs include praise poems, ritual verse, and narrative epics among others. Love songs and Proverbs also serve as Oral literature in Africa.

The Pre-Colonial time period brings out the Trickster Tale, which reveals a small animal using intelligence to outsmart a larger animal. During this period, many literary texts covering topics about astronomy, politics, law, faith, and history among others appeared.

Colonial literature in Africa mainly reveals various slave narratives because the authors were exposed to Western language, they wrote in English. Also, many African plays began to appear in this time period. Themes of liberation and independence permeate Colonial literature.

Finally, postcolonial literature began in the 1950's and 1960's when many states received true independence. The authors focus on the differences between the past and present Africa with concepts such as development and individualism.

Reading Assignment: Novel Reading

Remember to continue reading your chosen novel that you selected from the list provided by your teacher. You should be finishing your novel by the end of this module and should begin preparing for the research unit.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.