African Literature

African literature refers to literature of and from Africa. As George Joseph notes on the first page of his chapter on African literature in Understanding Contemporary Africa, while the European perception of literature generally refers to written letters, the African concept includes oral literature.
As George Joseph continues, while European views of literature often stressed a separation of art and content, African awareness is inclusive:

"Literature" can also imply an artistic use of words for the sake of art alone. ... traditionally, Africans do not radically separate art from teaching. Rat ...more

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Lists

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

African Fiction

603 books — 432 voters

The Cedarville Shop and the Wheelbarrow Swap by Bridget Krone

Assassins in the Cathedral by Dave Jackson

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102 books — 5 voters

Mathématiques congolaises by In Koli Jean Bofane

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25 books — 3 voters

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124 books — 83 voters

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39 books — 2 voters

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Quotes Tagged “African Literature”

“ By seventeen forty-six it was already darkening… Slowly the flicker dimmed till it was dark, with enough space for my thoughts to fill up the room. ”
― Tsholofelo Lehaha

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“ She spoke of those needing the white destroyers' shiny things to bring a feeling of worth into their lives, uttered their deep-rooted inferiority of soul, and called them lacking in the essence of humanity: womanhood in women, manhood in men. For which deficiency they must crave things to eke out their beings, things to fill holes in their spirits. ...more ”
― Ayi Kwei Armah, Two Thousand Seasons

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