BSEd English 2B

EM 8 – Survey of Afro-Asian Literature TTH 10:30-12:00

Introduction
African Literature

Literature is an art painted on a black canvas, so it is defined based on one's concept. "A social
institution, using as its medium language, as a social creation-Literature represents life and life is in
large measure, a social reality, even though the natural world and the inner or subjective world of the
individual have also been objects of literary imitation" (Wellek and Warren 1968). It implies that life
present in literature represents the real world and real-life that the author finds in society. Thus, meaning
that the life that appeared in literary works is inspired by real life. As stated by Peony (2017), "It means
that life in literature can be a representation of the real-life, which exists in a society that might be found
by the author. By the creative process, the author who cannot be separated from his society in his process
of making literature will make a new life by his language and his point of view about the phenomenon to
be a literary work.". As literature functions as a mirror of a society containing aesthetic meanings
combined with the writer's idea. Furthermore, Berthoff defines literature stating that "literature itself has
its purpose and determinants… never wholly autonomous it draws its prime motives from deep within the
common culture, the life experience of its producers in their time… but it never speaks for the totality of
that culture," suggesting that these literary works are not independent or self-sufficient in terms of
characterization, plot, setting, etc., they are reflected and is linked to the political, socio-cultural, religious
conditions and economic issues from where it came from. Such as in Africa, where mostly, their literature
is heavily linked with society. And since social problems are bodywide, society produces literature to
solve or rather, unfold societal issues by constantly overwhelming these issues and proposing simple
remedies to the social impediments.

In the past decades, African literature has increasingly played a significant role in education
worldwide. Shaarma claims that the study of literature trains our minds to grasp and understand all fully.
It is a refinement of our perception, depth of insights, assurance of understanding, the broadness of
outlook, keenness of appreciation that are all necessary and essential to all professional and life. Though,
even if we can't fully comprehend and experience what would have been to live in a specific time of war,
apartheid's, oppression, racial segregation, and colonization from the past, however, literary works that
were and written about this time helps to achieve a better and a more intense comprehension for other
culture's value systems, mindsets, culture, and tradition. Moreover, it holds true for the past, and today,
schools use literature for students to gain more insights into the people's world, though it may be fiction
or not. "African subjects asking themselves what it means to be African...which Chinua Achebe asked
many years ago, when you see a black person, what do you think about?" Gikandi (2020) said. In this
context, we can say that reading a book, e.g., a Nigerian author will give readers the heart to change their
perspective, to view African people different on how they see their selves and what media and other
literary works from others continent represent them, by reading their works we learn of the self-concept
of Nigerian people as opposed to own view of them, their ethnicity and their culture. Literature has
always been a resource for cultural learning; teaching alongside literature aims to motivate students to
interpret and analyze the story their own way, to have the critical thinking, and to reconsider the nation's
established beliefs that are mishap and outdated modern world.

Studying African literature may be challenging where learners have to struggle with often so hard
and demanding literary works as it believed to help these learners to foster necessary competences and
language skills and also learn complex abilities such as their intercultural awareness. African and all
writers around the globe ask modern students to broaden their perspectives in reading and studying
contemporary and classic works from various countries in order to be prepared for nowadays evolving
and progressing world community where it vital to learn the ages of African and global works of literature
to fully understand the progressing, development and evolution of their literature that is shaped by their
history and people.
 BSEd English 2B
EM 8 – Survey of Afro-Asian Literature TTH 10:30-12:00

Characteristic of African Literature

Dating back thousands of years ago, from Ancient Egypt and hieroglyphs, or writing which uses
pictures to represent words to Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Adichie, Africa experienced tons of
hardships in its long, rich and vast history which impact the themes of their literature. One of the very
hardships of African people was the African Diaspora, where they are brought and spread in various
places to be slaves to other nations due to the Western Colonization. In the 19th and 20th century, African
developed a written literature resulting to missionaries coming to their place thus building shools and
churches that lead them in writing in European and their indigeneous languages. Thus, from their is
started, writers begun coming out but not until 1950, with the note worthy Things Fall Apart by Chinua
Achebe catalyzed and paved the way for more African writers. Literature from Africa has many
characteristics and here are some highlighted characteristics:

Captivity Literature

Commonly known as “Slave Narrative” follows a general simple yet powerful a plot. It usually
starts from the basic situation where the slave is in his master's home, where he finds a way and escapes
into the nothingness of the land the are in. It narrates the slave’s struggle for survival after escaping
throughout his ambivalence journey to freedom.

Protest Against Colonization

Many books aroung the globe often present the Africass history from a colonial point of view.
The African realize that it's time to tell Africa's history from an African perspective and many writers
starting to argue against colonial stereotypes of them as being primitive, saveages And that they lacked
distinctive polotical and cultural systems of their own. The writers aimed to reveal the wrongness of
colonial rule and advocate the African readers to have a sense of being an African.

Cries for Independence

This form of narrative in Africa camapaigns for indepence against the other countries trying to
control their nation. In the book of Tukufu Zuberi “African Independence: How Africa Shapes the
World” is a collection of stories from other Africans who shares their sentiments on them gaining
independence. The writers arguably succeeded on being able to frame ideas of equality and nationalism
and has reached the masses that resonated throughout their nation and abroad,

Socio-cultural, political Dissent

In this narrative, authors shades and expresses their different opinions through their writings like
in poems, novels, etc. in which the characters have a very profound message to these certain issues
circulationg in their nations, such as racial segration and women oppression.
 BSEd English 2B
EM 8 – Survey of Afro-Asian Literature TTH 10:30-12:00

References

Mushakavanhu, Tinashe “The Genealogies of African Literature: An Interview with Prof. Simon
Gikandi”. Brittle Paper, Brittle paper, Sep 2020. www. brittlepaper.com/2020/09/the-
genealogies-of-african-literature-an-interview-with-prof-simon-gikandi/
Peony, Preeti. “How do art and literature reflect culture?”. Qoura, Literature learner, Oct 2017.
https://www.quora.com/How-do-art-and-literature-reflect-culture#:~:text/
Sharma, Girish. “Essay On The Place of Literature In Education”. Amblesideschools,
Publishyourarticles.org. www.amblesideschools.com/main/library/essay-place-literature-
education

Wellek, R, & Warren, A. (1968). The

theory of literature.
London, Penguin Books
Wellek, R, & Warren, A. “The theory of literature. London”, Penguin Books, 1968.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Literature#:~:text/