Department of English

A survey of the emergence and development of anglophone African Literature, the course will devote equal time to each of the main genres of literature--drama, prose fiction, and poetry. While according some significance to the place in the tradition of writing by European settlers and texts in English translation, only canonical works by anglophone African writers that were originally written in English drawn from East, South, and West Africa will be treated. All works will be examined in relation to the cultural, economic, political, and social history of Africa. On the other hand, the attention of students will be vigorously directed towards methods of characterization, narrative techniques, the oral elements and other literary features, an understanding of which is necessary for an assessment of the African contribution to the literature of the world. To be analyzed are works by Peter Abrahamis, Chinua Achebe, Ama Ata Aidoo, Ayi Kwei Armah, Kofi Awoonor, Alex La Guma, John Pepper Clark (Bekederemo), Wole Soyinka, Buchi Emecheta, Ngugi Wa Thiong'O, Rebecca Njau, Okcot P'Bitek, Jared Angira, Lenre Peters, Niyi Osundare, and Molara Ogundipe-Leslie.