HL2032: African Literature
This module explores a diverse range of African literatures – including
works from Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. It will offer an historical
account of the emergence and development of these national literatures, while
also focusing on some of the major social and political issues they address. Of
particular interest will be the transformative encounter with colonial
modernity, the profound socioeconomic consequences of apartheid, and the
various challenges faced by the postcolonial nation-state. We will also be
discussing the significance of the oral tradition in African literature, and
the controversy surrounding its use of English, the language of the colonizer. Although literature will be our primary
focus, the course will include an analysis of the South African film Tsotsi, and will introduce students to a
number of important theoretical concepts within the field of postcolonial studies.
Primary Sources
FICTION
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
(Anchor 1994)
J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace (Vintage 2000)
Naguib Mahfouz, Midaq Alley
(Anchor 1992)
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, A Grain of
Wheat (Penguin 2002)
Ben Okri, Selected Stories (Available on NTU Learn)
FILM
Tsotsi (dir. Gavin
Hood; 2005)
Secondary Sources
Simon Gikandi, Reading the African
Novel
Gareth Griffiths, African
Literatures in English: East and West
Tejumola Olaniyan and Ato Quayson (ed.), African Literature: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory
Class participation 10%
Coursework essay 40%
Examination 50%
Lecturer
Dr. Bede Scott
HSS–03–60
|
Week |
Topics |
Readings |
|
1 19 Aug |
Introduction |
|
|
2 26 Aug |
Colonial Encounters I |
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart |
|
3 2 Sept |
Colonial Encounters II |
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart |
|
4 9 Sept |
Tradition and Modernity I |
Naguib Mahfouz, Midaq Alley |
|
5 16 Sept |
Tradition and Modernity II |
Naguib Mahfouz, Midaq Alley |
|
6 23 Sept |
Independence I |
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, A Grain of
Wheat |
|
7 |
Recess |
|
|
8 7 Oct |
Independence II |
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, A Grain of
Wheat |
|
9 14 Oct |
Postcolonial Narratives I |
Ben Okri, ‘In the Shadow of War,’ ‘In the City of Red Dust,’ ‘When the
Lights Return’ |
|
10 21 Oct |
Postcolonial Narratives II |
FILM: Tsotsi |
|
11 28 Oct |
Truth and Reconciliation I |
J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace |
|
12 4 Nov |
Truth and Reconciliation II |
J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace |
|
13 11 Nov |
Conclusion/Revision |
|