Introduction into African Literature (Spring 2013)


Some Additional Resources for Studying Africa

African Film,  African Art



Introduction into African Literature – Introduction

This series provides my listeners with an introduction into African oral tradition. Things that I will look at and discuss include, how the oral tradition helps us understand the nature of various African communities, the origins of various African cultures, the human disciplanary interests fo these cultures, and who these storytellers are. To aid in addressing these concerns, I draw on the work of Isidore Okpewho, author of African Oral Literature (see image, yes, that is me with the author and an autographed copy of the text).









Introduction into African Literature – The Oral Tradition – Feb. 16, 2013

Story Traditions with James is back! This semester I will explore African literature using Okpewho's African Oral Literature as the background text. Today's episode provides lots of good music along with a working definition of oral literature, what type of stories fall under oral literature, and how these stories are told. In this episode I also provide an introduction into and epic of Mali, namely Sundiata. Other texts I will be looking at include: The Lion and the Jewel (Soyinka), A Grain of Wheat (Thiong'o) among others.
















Introduction into African Literature – Sundiata (Sunjata) I – Feb. 23, 2013

This week's episode focuses on the African epic in general, some of the possible key social customs practiced in Old Mali, and the role of the supernatural in social practices and beliefs of Old Mali. The working definition of the African epic is provided by Dr. Okpewho. In The African Epic he writes:

"The epic in Africa – An oral epic is fundamentally a tale about the fantastic deeds of a man or men endowed with something more than human might and operating in something larger than the human context, and it is of significance in portraying some stage of the cultural or political development of a people."
using this definition, I will eventually show why Sundiata is truly an epic. But, first I look at the role the social practices play, along with the importance of the supernatural, in creating a hero like Sundiata. So, this week the emphasis is placed on social customs I deduced from the text and the role the spiritual realm/supernatural plays in one's destiny.




Introduction into African Literature – Sundiata (Sunjata) II – Conclusion – Mar. 2, 2013

This week I concluded my discussion of Sundiata. I focused more on the role of magic, the importance of the hunter, as he serves as a link between nature and culture, and I also payed close attention to the idea of the totem. Lastly, I looked at what remains as Sundiata's legacy. In my view, his sense of justice is what keeps his story very much alive in various parts of Africa today. Next week I will open a discussion on Thiong'os A Grain of Wheat... Stay tuned










Introduction into African Literature – Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o – Decolonising the Mind – Apr. 6, 2013

This week I opened a discussion on Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'os well know text Decolonising the Mind. An essay, which focuses heavily on the role language plays in colonizing a people. For Thiong'o "language carries culture"...Hear why...Next week I open a discussion on his novel A Grain of Wheat... Stay tuned










Introduction into African Literature – Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o – A Grain of Wheat I – Apr. 13, 2013

This week I opened a discussion on Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'os well know novel A Grain of Wheat. Published in 1967, shortly after Kenya gained its independence from British colonial powers, this novel focuses on a group of individuals at the heart of the Mau Mau Rebellion aka The Emergency. Prior to an introduction into the main characters of the text, I play excerpts from a documentary on the Mau Mau and I provide additional background information on the leading up to the movement. Next week I will wrap up the discussion on A Grain of Wheat... Stay tuned!












Introduction into African Literature – Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o – A Grain of Wheat II/ Intro to African Drama – Apr. 20, 2013

This week I concluded my discussion on Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'os well know novel A Grain of Wheat. My discussion focused on the Kenya Land and Freedom Army's (Mau Mau) inner circle. Ngũgĩ uses key characters, namely, Kahika, Gikonyo, Mugo, Karnanja and Mumbi, to illustrate some of the mindsets that might have complicated the struggle for independence. These include greed, betrayal, fear, and cowardice. After my discussion of A Grain of Wheat, I open a discussion on the various African drama and theater types such as the traditional, folklore, history, adaptations and contemporary drama types along with colonial theater, popular theater, art theater. After a very brief introduction into these African drama and theater types, I present you with Wole Soyinka. More on him next week. Stay tuned...









Introduction into African Literature – Wole Soyinka – Death and the King's Horseman – Apr. 27, 2013

This week I kicked off a discussion on Death and the King's Horseman by Wole Soyinka. While there are many elements of this text to look at, I spend most of the time talking about the function of the five act structure Soyinka's use of language to illustrate the complexities of understanding African culture. I also opened a brief discussion on another one of his plays, The Lion and the Jewel. More on that next week... Stay tuned...









Introduction into African Literature – Wole Soyinka – The Lion and the Jewel – May 04, 2013

With a continued focus on Nigeria's Wole Soyinka, I opened a discussion on The Lion and the Jewel. This comedy played out in three parts, Morning, Noon and Night, highlights the difficulties one of the key characters face as he tries to internalize Western customs and apply them to traditional ways of life. We see that he is incapable of fully adopting foreign customs or being fully accepted by tradtional customs. He is stuck in between. Soyinka uses comedy to share the importance of retaining tradition and growing wise within the framework of tradition when one is surrounded by members and customes of one's own culture. This is the last drama text I will discuss this term. Next week I move into African Poetry. Stay tuned...