REPRESENTATIVE

AUTHORS AND TEXT

FROM AFRICA
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD
 Lesson Outline

Students will be able to identify:

• Background
• Representative Authors and
• Representative Texts of Africa
 Guide Questions:
1. What is African Literature?
2. How many nations are there in Africa?
3. What is African Diaspora?
4. What are the two forms of African Literature?
5. What are the common theme of African
Literature?
FUN FACT

Africa, the "Cradle of the Humankind"

according to scientists, has a literature that
is filled with the human spirit, desiring for
freedom and contentment. African
literature consists of oral tradition and
written literature ranging from local
languages brought by the colonizers
(English, Portuguese, and French). The
experiences of the colonization and post-
colonization shape the African literature
 The oral literature of Africa such as
myths, stories, riddles, proverbs, and
dramas document the exploits of the
heroes of the communities, remind the
people about their culture and traditions,
entertain and educate the youth. It
flourishes across the continent in the 15th
century CE until the interaction of Africa
with Europe and Asia, their trade and
cultural partners, serves as the main
contributor to the African literature growth
 In the 19th century, European countries
compete for the colonization of the African
territory to gain political and economic edge. The
colonization and slave trade has awaken the
African psyche (the soul and mind) incredibly.

The literary works are the vehicle, specifically

the newspaper, in exposing the psychological
social impact of colonization.
 African writers express their cry for freedom
from oppression through their poetry and
narrative works. Though they use the European
language to produce their literary works, the cry
for independence has reached to the climax, so
strong and effective, with the embodiment of the
spirit of nationalism, gained worldwide acclaim.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

He was a Nigerian novelist, poet,

critic, and professor and was honored
as Grand Prix de la Memoir of the
2019 edition of the Grand Prix of
Literary Associations. His first novel
and masterpiece, "Things Fall Apart",
is the most widely read book in CHINUA ACHEBE
modern African literature. It concerns
the traditional Igbo life at the time of
the advent of missionaries and the
colonial government in his homeland.
 THINGS FALL APART

DESCRIPTION:
 Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a novel about a Nigerian
warrior named Okonkwo whose life is disrupted by European
colonization.

THEME:
 The novel explores the theme of tradition, colonialism, and thee
clash between cultures.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Okonkwo: A respected wrestler and the warrior in the lgbo tribe
 Nwoye: Okonkwo’s son who is drawn to the Christian faith
 Ezinma: Okonkwo’s daughter who is considered a “female child”
but is highly intelligent and resourceful.
SETTING:
 The novel is set in pre-colonial Nigeria, specifically in the lgbo
village of umuofia

CONFLICT:
 The main conflict in the novel is the clash between the
traditional lgbo culture and the western culture brought by
European missionaries

PLOT:
 Okonkwo, a respected warrior, faces a clash between tradition
and western influence when European missionaries arrive in his
village. His resistance ultimately leads to his downfall.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

He was the first black African to

be awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize for
Literature. One of his famous works
is his first important play "A Dance of
the Forests" which was written for
the Nigerian independence
WOLE SOYINKA
celebrations. It parodies the
emerging nation by stripping it of
romantic legend and by showing that
the present is no more a golden age
than it was before.
 A DANCE OF THE FOREST
DESCRIPTION:
 A dance of the forest by wole Soyinka is a play that explores themes of
colonialism, cultural identity, and the power dynamics between colonizers
and colonized

THEME:
 The clash between tradition and colonialism. The play explores how
European influence challenges African customs, leading to conflict.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Adewale: A young man who is torn between his traditional Yoruba culture
and the Western values imposed by the colonial authorities.
 The Elesin: A legendary warrior who is tasked with leading a ritual
sacrifice to appease the gods.
 Iyaloja: A powerful woman who represents the traditional Yoruba culture.
SETTING:
 The play is set in a fictional Yoruba village in Nigeria during the
colonial era.

CONFLICT:
 The play is set in a fictional Yoruba village in Nigeria during the
colonial era.

PLOT:
 The play revolves around a traditional ritual sacrifice that is
disrupted by the arrival of a colonial officer, leading to a conflict
between tradition and modernity.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

He was a Ghanaian novelist and poet

who wrote "This Earth, My Brother", a cross
between a novel and a poem. It was told on
two levels each representing a distinct
reality. The first level is a standard narrative
which details a day in the life of an attorney
KOFI AWOONOR
named Amamu. The second level is a
symbol-laden mystical journey filled with
biblical and literary allusions
 THIS EARTH, MY BROTHER

DESCRIPTION:
 This Earth, My Brother by Kofi Awoonor is a collection of short
stories that explore themes of African identity, colonialism, and
the search for meaning in life.

THEME:
 This Earth, My Brother by Kofi Awoonor is a collection of short
stories that explore themes of African identity, colonialism, and
the search for meaning in life.

MAINCHARACTER:
 A variety of characters: The stories feature a diverse cast of
characters, including farmers, students, and intellectualsiqni.
SETTING:
 The stories are set in various locations in Africa, including Ghana,
Nigeria, and South Africa.

CONFLICT:
 The stories often explore the conflict between traditional African
values and the Western influence of colonialism.

PLOT:
 The stories often explore the conflict between traditional African
values and the Western influence of colonialism.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

East Africa's leading novelist, a

Kenyan writer who wrote the famous novel
"Weep Not, Child". It was the first major
novel in English by an East African. It deals
with the Mau-Mau Uprising, a war in the NGUNGI WA THIONG’O
British Kenya Colony (1920-1963) between
the Kenya Land and Freedom Army.
 WEEP NOT, CHILD

DESCRIPTION:
 Weep Not, Child by Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a novel that explores the impact of
colonialism on Kenyan society.

THEME:
 The novel explores themes of colonialism, nationalism, and the struggle for
independence.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Mwangi: A young boy who witnesses the injustices of colonialism
firsthand.
 Mumbi: Mwangi's sister, who is forced to become a domestic servant.
 Njoroge: A student leader who becomes involved in the Mau Mau uprising.
SETTING:
 The novel is set in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising against
British colonial rule.

CONFLICT:
 The main conflict in the novel is the struggle between the
Kenyan people and the British colonial authorities.

PLOT:
 The novel follows a young Kenyan boy's experiences during the
Mau Mau uprising against British colonialism. It explores the
hardships of colonial rule and the struggle for independence.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

He was a Ugandan poet, novelist, and

social anthropologist who wrote the three
verse collections - Song of Lawino (1966),
Song of Ocol (1970), and Two Songs (1971).
He achieved international recognition for
Song of Lawino, a long poem dealing with
the tribulations of a rural African wife whose OKOT P’ BITEK
husband has taken up urban life and wishes
everything to be westernized. It was
followed by the husband's reply, the Song of
Ocol.
 THE SONG OF LAWINO (1)

DESCRIPTION:
 Is a powerful exploration of the clash between traditional African culture
and Western modernity.

THEME:
 The novel delves into the impact of Westernization on traditional African
cultures, focusing on the erosion of indigenous beliefs and values.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Lawino: A traditional Acholi woman who is deeply rooted in her culture.
 Ocol: Lawino's husband, who has been influenced by Western education
and culture.
SETTING:
 The novel is set in Acholiland, a region in northern Uganda.

CONFLICT:
 Lawino and Ocol's differing perspectives on culture and
modernity clash, leading to tension and conflict.

PLOT:
 Lawino's songs express her concerns about the erosion of
traditional values in her community due to Western influence,
particularly through her husband Ocol's embrace of Western
ideas.
 SONG OF OCOL (2)

DESCRIPTION:
 Is a sequel to his previous work, Song of Lawino. It continues the
exploration of the clash between traditional African culture and Western
modernity, but this time from the perspective of Ocol, Lawino's husband.

THEME:
 Similar to its predecessor, the novel delves into the impact of
Westernization on traditional African cultures, focusing on the challenges
faced by individuals caught between the old and new ways of life.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Ocol: The protagonist of the novel, Lawino's husband, who represents the
younger generation embracing Western ideals.
 Lawino: Ocol's wife, a traditional Acholi woman who is deeply rooted in her
culture.
SETTING:
 The novel is set in Acholiland, a region in northern Uganda,
providing a rich cultural backdrop for the story.

CONFLICT:
 Ocol struggles to reconcile his Western education with his
traditional upbringing, facing challenges in navigating the
complexities of cultural transition.

PLOT:
 Ocol, Lawino's husband, reflects on his experiences and
challenges as he navigates the clash between Western
modernity and traditional African culture.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

A South African writer and the

recipient of the 1991 Nobel Prize in
Literature. She wrote the joint winner of
the Booker - McConnell Prize novel "The
Conservationist". The story is a character
study of a successful South African NADINE GORDIMER
industrial executive and, by extension, a
critique of South Africa.
 THE CONSERVATIONIST

DESCRIPTION:
 Is a novel by Nadine Gordimer that explores themes of colonialism, race,
and the changing landscape of South Africa.

THEME:
 The novel explores the complexities of race relations, environmental
degradation, and the search for meaning in life during apartheid-era South
Africa.

MAINCHARACTER:
 John Morrie: The protagonist, a wealthy white landowner who is struggling
to come to terms with the changing times and his own sense of emptiness.
 Hans Smidt: Morrie's black gardener, who represents the marginalized
and oppressed black population of South Africa.
SETTING:
 The novel is set on Morrie's sprawling farm in South Africa, which
is a microcosm of the broader social and political changes taking
place in the country.

CONFLICT:
 The protagonist, a wealthy white landowner, struggles to
reconcile his privileged lifestyle with the realities of racial
injustice and environmental degradation in apartheid-era South
Africa.

PLOT:
 The novel follows the landowner's journey as he grapples with
guilt, alienation, and a sense of purposelessness amidst the
changing times.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

He was a Malagasy playwright and

poet and one of Madagascar's most
prominent writers. He wrote and published
his play "Les dieux Malgaches", the first
modern Malagasy play in French. This play JACQUES
dealt with the pre-colonial past and with RABEMANANJARA
the coup that unseated King Radama II in
1863.
 LESS DIEUX MALGACHES BY JACQUES RABEMANAJARA

DESCRIPTION:
 Is a powerful exploration of the clash between traditional Malagasy culture
and French colonialism.

THEME:
 The novel delves into the themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and the
impact of Westernization on indigenous cultures.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Ramose: The protagonist, a young Malagasy man who is struggling to
reconcile his traditional beliefs with the influence of French colonialism.
 Fara: Ramose's fiancée, who represents the traditional Malagasy way of
life.
SETTING:
 The novel is set in Madagascar during the colonial era, providing
a rich historical and cultural backdrop for the story.

CONFLICT:
 Ramose, a young Malagasy man, struggles to reconcile his
traditional beliefs with the French colonial values that are being
imposed on him.

PLOT:
 The novel follows Ramose's journey as he navigates the
complexities of cultural transition and decides whether to
embrace Western values or hold onto his traditional heritage.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

He wrote the South African classic

autobiography "Down Second Avenue"
about the story of a young man's growth
into adulthood with penetrating social
criticism of the conditions forced upon black ES’KIA MPHALELE
South Africans by a system of
institutionalized racial segregation.
 DOWN SECOND AVENEU BY ES’KIA MPHAHLELE

DESCRIPTION:
 Is a semi-autobiographical novel that explores the experiences of a young
black man growing up in apartheid-era South Africa.

THEME:
 The novel delves into themes of racial discrimination, social inequality, and
the search for identity in a society marked by prejudice and oppression.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Moroka: The protagonist, a young black man who is struggling to navigate
the complexities of life in apartheid South Africa.
 His parents: Moroka's parents, who represent the traditional African values
and beliefs that he is trying to reconcile with the realities of his modern life.
SETTING:
 The novel is set in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the
apartheid era. The city's segregated neighborhoods and racial
tensions provide a powerful backdrop for the story.

CONFLICT:
 Moroka, a young black man, struggles to overcome racial
discrimination and social inequality in apartheid-era South Africa.

PLOT:
 The novel follows Moroka's journey as he grows up and faces
challenges in education, employment, and social acceptance.
 REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORS

He was the greatest writer from the

Sotho people in Africa. He created the first
Western-style novels in the Basotho
language. His novel "Chaka" became a
classic.
THOMAS MAFOLO
It was a historical novel about the
story of the rise and fall of the Zulu king
Shaka. Dennis P. Kunene translated the
novel from Sotho to English.
 CHAKA BY THOMAS MAFOLO

DESCRIPTION:
 Is a historical novel that chronicles the life of Shaka Zulu, a powerful Zulu
king who unified much of southern Africa in the early 19th century.

THEME:
 The novel explores themes of leadership, power, war, and the impact of
colonialism on traditional African societies.

MAINCHARACTER:
 Shaka Zulu: The protagonist, a charismatic and ruthless Zulu king who
becomes a legendary figure in African history.
 Nandi: Shaka's mother, who plays a significant role in his upbringing and
political career.
 Dingiswayo: A powerful Zulu chief who becomes Shaka's mentor and ally.
SETTING:
 The novel is set in southern Africa, primarily in the Zulu
kingdom, during the early 19th century.

CONFLICT:
 Shaka Zulu, a powerful Zulu king, faces challenges in unifying
the Zulu nation and asserting his dominance over neighboring
tribes.

PLOT:
 The novel chronicles Shaka's rise to power, his military
conquests, and his impact on southern Africa.