Literatures in African Languages: Theoretical Issues and Sample SurveysB. W. Andrzejewski, S. Pilaszewicz, W. Tyloch Although African literatures in English and French are widely known outside Africa, those in the African languages themselves have not received comparable attention. In this book a number have been selected for survey by fourteen specialist writers, providing the reader with an introduction to this very wide field and a body of reference material which includes extensive bibliographies and biographical information on African authors. Theoretical issues such as genre divisions are discussed in the essays and the historical, social and political forces at work in the creation and reception of African literature are examined. Literature is treated as an art whose medium is language, so that both the oral and written forms are encompassed. This book will be of value not only to readers concerned with the cultures of Africa but to all those with an interest in the literary phenomena of the world in general. |
Contents
PREFACE | 13 |
ORAL LITERATURE B W Andrzejewski | 31 |
THE RISE OF WRITTEN LITERATURES IN AFRICAN LAN | 49 |
LITERATURE IN FULAD W Arnott | 72 |
LITERATURES IN THE MANDE AND NEIGHBOURING LAN | 97 |
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19th century Addis Ababa African languages African literature African Studies Akan Amharic Andrzejewski Arabic Axmed Bambara Bantu BIBLIOGRAPHY born Cali Cape Town character Christian chronicle Church collection composed concerned contemporary culture edited Emperor English Ethiopian European example Faarax Fante father folklore Fulani Galaal genres Giiz Hadeja Hausa hero Hiskett Ibadan Islamic Ismaaciil izibongo Jaamac Johannesburg Jolobe Kano king Lagos Lesotho linguistic literary lived London Lovedale Malagasy Mande Mandinka Maxamed missionaries Mogadishu Moslem Mqhayi Nigeria NNPC novel oral literature oral narratives oral poetry oral tradition Oromo performance Pietermaritzburg play poems poet poetic political praise prose proverbs published reader religious Sayid script Sheikh short stories social society Somali language songs Sotho Swahili Tanzanian teacher texts themes tion transcript translation Tswana University Usman dan Fodio verse Wakar writing written literature wrote Xaaji Xasan Xhosa Xiddigta Oktoobar Yoruba Zaria Zulu