Characteristics & Writers

EL 114- SURVEY ON
AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE
AFRICAN
LITERATURE
VINCENT J. CASTRO, LPT, MAED
Instructor
LESSON
TARGETS
01 02 03
Define African Literature Analyze the characteristics of Identify African Writers and
African Literature Poets
Get into Groups:
01
WARM-UP • Form groups of 5 members.
• Each group will receive an
ACTIVITY
envelope containing strips of
paper containing name of
countries.
Classification of Countries:
02 • Categorize the given
countries into two (African
Countries and Asian
Countries)
Share your answers:

03 • Share your answers to the
class.
AFRICAN
LITERATURE
Is the body of written and oral works
created by authors from the African
continent.
African literature is distinguished by its
exploration of themes related to
colonialism, post-colonial identity,
social issues, and cultural heritage.
AFRICAN
LITERATURE
It includes a variety of literary
forms such as novels, poetry,
drama, and essays, and often
reflects the continent’s diverse
cultures, languages, and
histories.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF
AFRICAN
LITERATURE
1. SLAVE
NARRATIVES
Slave narratives are a significant
and defining feature of African
literature, particularly in the
context of the African diaspora.
These narratives are personal accounts written by individuals

who experienced enslavement, detailing their struggles,
resistance, and eventual liberation.
They offer profound insights into the experiences of African
slaves and are crucial for understanding both historical and
literary aspects of African literature.
Historically, slave narratives emerged prominently in the 18th

and 19th centuries, during the transatlantic slave trade.
The transatlantic slave trade was a large-scale and brutal system

of forced migration that took place from the late 15th century to
the early 19th century. It involved the transportation of enslaved
Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, where they
were forced to work, primarily in plantation economies.
NOTABLE
EXAMPLES:
Olaudah Equiano’s The
Interesting Narrative of
the Life of Olaudah These texts were not only
Equiano personal stories, but also
political documents aimed at
fostering empathy and support
Frederick Douglass’s for the abolitionist cause.
Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass, an
American Slave.
2. PROTESTS AGAINST
COLONIZATION
These protests often take the form
of literary works that critique, resist,
and respond to the impacts of
colonial rule on African societies.
Such literature not only addresses the immediate effects of

colonization but also explores its long-term consequences on
identity, culture, and autonomy.
In the context of colonial rule in Africa,
literature has often served as a powerful
medium for protest.
Writers have used various forms of literary
expression—such as novels, poetry, essays,
and plays—to critique, resist, and respond
to the impacts of colonialism on African
societies.
NOTABLE EXAMPLES OF AFRICAN LITERATURE PROTESTING
AGAINST COLONIZATION:
Chinua Achebe’s Things Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-

Fall Apart (1958) Wine Drinkard (1952)
Wole Soyinka’s A Dance of Ousmane Sembène’s God’s

the Forests (1963) Bits of Wood (1960)
Bessie Head’s When Rain

Clouds Gather (1969)
3. AFRICAN PRIDE
African pride is a central theme in
African literature, celebrating the
continent’s rich cultural heritage,
historical achievements, and
resilience in the face of adversity.
This characteristic reflects a deep sense of identity and self-worth

that contrasts with the often negative portrayals imposed by
colonial and post-colonial narratives.
NOTABLE EXAMPLES OF AFRICAN LITERATURE
SHOWCASING AFRICAN PRIDE:
Chinua Achebe’s "Things Wole Soyinka’s plays,

Fall Apart" "Death and the King's
Horseman”
presents the Igbo society explore and celebrate Yoruba
with depth and respect, rituals and philosophies,
countering the stereotypical reflecting the complexity and
and demeaning depictions of richness of African spiritual
African cultures common in and social practices.
colonial literature.
4. HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE
Hope for the future is a defining
characteristic of African literature,
reflecting the continent’s resilience
and optimism despite historical and
ongoing challenges.
This theme underscores the belief in the potential for positive

change and progress, and it often serves as a counterbalance to
the struggles and adversities depicted in the literature.
SHOWCASING HOPE FOR THE FUTURE:
Chinua Achebe’s "No

Wole Soyinka’s "A Dance of
Longer at Ease" and
the Forests"
"Things Fall Apart"
Nadine Gordimer's
Ama Ata Aidoo’s "Changes"
"Burger's Daughter,"
Ben Okri’s "The Famished

Road"
5. DISSENT
Dissent is a prominent
characteristic of African literature,
reflecting the continent’s rich
history of resistance, critique, and
the quest for social justice.
This theme involves challenging established norms, questioning

authority, and advocating for change, and it manifests in various
forms across African literary works.
African literature’s engagement with dissent is deeply
rooted in the continent’s colonial and post-colonial history.
The colonial period was marked by the imposition of

foreign rule, which led to the suppression of indigenous
cultures, exploitation of resources, and systemic
inequalities.
In response, African writers have used their works to resist
oppression, critique colonial and post-colonial governance,
and advocate for social and political reform.
SHOWCASING DISSENT:
Chinua Achebe’s "Things

Fall Apart"
Wole Soyinka’s "The Man

Died" and "Death and the
King’s Horseman"
Buchi Emecheta’s "The

Joys of Motherhood"
AFRICAN
POETS AND
WRITERS
Notable Works:
Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease,
Arrow of God
Contribution:
Achebe is often regarded as the father
of African literature in English. His works
critically examine the impact of
HINUA ACHEBE colonialism
(1930– on African societies and
explore themes of cultural conflict and
2013)
identity.
Notable Works:
Death and the King’s Horseman, The
Man Died, A Dance of the Forests
Contribution:
Soyinka, a Nobel Laureate, is known for
his plays, poetry, and essays. His
writing often addresses political and
social issues in Nigeria and reflects his
WOLE SOYINKA engagement with traditional African
culture and mythology.
Notable Works:
A Grain of Wheat, The Devil on the
Cross, Decolonising the Mind
Contribution:
Ngũgĩ is a prominent Kenyan writer and
scholar who writes primarily in Kikuyu.
His work focuses on the effects of
NGŨGĨ WA THIONG'O colonialism and the importance of
indigenous languages and cultures.
Notable Works:
The Joys of Motherhood, The Bride
Price, Second-Class Citizen
Contribution:
Emecheta’s novels often explore
themes of gender, family, and the
immigrant experience, particularly
BUCHI EMECHETA focusing on the struggles of women in
Nigerian and British contexts.
Notable Works:
Burger’s Daughter, The
Conservationist, July’s People
Contribution:
Gordimer was a South African writer and
Nobel Laureate whose works address
the complexities of apartheid and post-
NADINE GORDIMER apartheid South Africa, focusing on the
impact of political and social injustice.
Notable Works:
Changes: A Love Story, The Dilemma
of a Ghost, Our Sister Killjoy
Contribution:
Aidoo’s works often highlight the
experiences of women in Ghana and
critique the intersections of tradition,
modernity, and gender roles.
AMA ATA AIDOO
Notable Works:
The Famished Road, Songs of
Enchantment, Dangerous Love
Contribution:
Okri’s novels, often categorized as
magical realism, explore themes of
political struggle, social change, and the
mystical aspects of African life.
BEN OKRI
Notable Works:
Chants Élus, Négritude and the
Existential Experience, The Collected
Poems
Contribution:
Senghor was a Senegalese poet and
philosopher who was also a key figure in
the Negritude movement, which
celebrated African cultural heritage and
OPOLD SEDAR SENGHOR identity.
Notable Works:
Nervous Conditions, The Book of Not,
This Mournable Body
Contribution:
Dangarembga’s works offer insights into
the challenges faced by women in
Zimbabwe, focusing on themes of
colonialism, post-colonial identity, and
TSITSI
gender.
DANGAREMBGA
Notable Works:
Song of Lawino, Song of Ocol, The
Horn of My Love
Contribution:
p'Bitek’s poetry and essays are known
for their use of traditional African oral
forms and their critique of the impact of
colonialism on African cultures.
OKOT P'BITEK
Notable Works:
The Concubine, The Great Ponds,
ECHOES
Contribution:
Amadi’s novels often depict traditional
Nigerian life and explore themes of fate,
cultural conflict, and societal norms.
ELECHI AMADI
Notable Works:
The Yellow Banana, Land Without
Thunder, The Other Woman
Contribution:
Ogot’s short stories and novels are
notable for their portrayal of Kenyan
life, especially women's experiences
and traditional values.
GRACE OGOT
These writers and poets have
significantly influenced not only African
literature but also the broader literary
world, offering nuanced and powerful
perspectives on the complexities of
African life and culture.
THANK YOU!

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EL 114- SURVEY ON

Share your answers:

These narratives are personal accounts written by individuals

Historically, slave narratives emerged prominently in the 18th

The transatlantic slave trade was a large-scale and brutal system

Such literature not only addresses the immediate effects of

Chinua Achebe’s Things Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-

Wole Soyinka’s A Dance of Ousmane Sembène’s God’s

Bessie Head’s When Rain

This characteristic reflects a deep sense of identity and self-worth

Chinua Achebe’s "Things Wole Soyinka’s plays,

This theme underscores the belief in the potential for positive

Chinua Achebe’s "No

Ben Okri’s "The Famished

This theme involves challenging established norms, questioning

The colonial period was marked by the imposition of

Chinua Achebe’s "Things

Wole Soyinka’s "The Man

Buchi Emecheta’s "The

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