The Languages and Literatures of Africa

Name: The Languages and Literatures of Africa
Brand: James Currey
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

By Alain Ricard

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Description

Expanded and updated from the earlier French edition 'Litteratures d'Afrique noire' (1995), African literatures are presented in a new perspective focusing on the dialogue between languages and literatures. Orality is not always traditional, manuscripts are read aloud, and books have often been written in local languages, as well as in colonial languages. This book examines the dialogue between literatures written in different languages: Thomas Mofolo wrote in Sesotho and Sol Plaatje wrote in English but their novels 'Chaka' (1926) and 'Mhudi' (1931), should be read in counterpoint. The same could be said of Senghor and Soyinka, involved in a conversation on Africa's future that lasted for several decades. Many African writers write in several languages: from Okot p'Bitek (Acoli-English) to Ngugi wa Thiong'o (English-Gikuyu), and from Amadou Hampate Ba (Fula-French) to Alexis Kagame (French-Kinyarwanda). Focusing on linguistic consciousness and the place of language in the writer's consciousness, this book provides an original and comprehensive treatment of the African literary situation. North America: Africa World Press

Product details

Binding:: Paperback
Number of Pages:: 258
Release Date:: 2004-09-23
Publication Date:: 2004-09-23
Publisher:: James Currey
Languages:: Original: English
ISBN10:: 0852555814
ISBN13:: 9780852555811
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:: [email protected]
Weight:: 424 g
Height:: 15.2 cm
Width:: 22.9 cm
Thickness:: 1.6 cm

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