The aim of this course is to introduce, expose and familiarize to students the unique civilization of the people of the African Continent through modern literary works. Focus will be upon the world-view and contemporary issues that contributes to the creative activities. The authors personal beliefs, views, moral perceptions within their multiple cultures will be highlighted so as to understand the authors creative intentions. Understanding the individual authors nationalistic limitations would thus help to perceive the problems faced that hinders the federation of Africa.




Two main genres, poetry and fiction will be studied. Selected poems such as the works of the Negritude (of the African Francophone Region) composers during the pre independence periode (for example Aime Cesaine, Leopold Sedar Senghor and Leon Damas), poets of the second generations and the new poems from the African Anglophone Region will be viewed. For the purpose of discussions and themes in general, issues on colonization, independence, self indentification and self honour of the African Nation during the early periode will be focused. Poems deriving from the various sources of inspirations, themes, techniques and structure will conclude the discussions. For fiction, selected works of Chinua Achebe, Ngungi Wa Thiong O, Gabriel Okara, Ayi Kwei Armah and Wole Soyinka will be discussed. In the study of these fictions, the comparative and structural approaches will be used apart from studies on a few contextual and socio cultural issues that has been highlighted in these works.




References:




1. Cook, David. (1977). African Literature: A Critical View. London, Longman.

2. Larson, Charles R. (1971). The Emergence of African Fiction. Indiana University Press.

3. Moore, Gerald. (1962). Seven African Writers. London: Oxford University Press.

4. Parekh, Pushpa Naidu and Jagne, Siga Fatima (eds.). 1998. Postcolonial African Writers. London: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers.

5. Smith, Roland (ed.). (1976). Exile and Tradition. London. Longman and Dalsousie Press.

6. Wright, Edgar. (ed.). The Critical Evaluation of African Literature. London: Heinemann.