Focuses on the notion of African literature in education.

1. African Literature
Introduction to African Literature and the use of Literary Devices

2. Aims & Objectives
Learn
- Learn the rich
cultural heritage and
literature present in
Africa
Acknowledge
- Acknowledge the
role of diversity in
African Literature
Appreciate
- Appreciate learning
the cultural heritage
of Africa as an
important tool for
understanding
African Literature,
Understand
- Understand the
importance of using
literary devices in
literature
Understand
- Understand the
underlying themes in
African literature

3. “African literature is the body of traditional oral
and written literatures in Afro-Asiatic and
African languages together with works written
by Africans in colonial languages namely
English, French & Portuguese”
- RACQUEL P. LACTAOTAO

4. History of African Literature
- African Literature dates back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt
and hieroglyphs or writing which uses pictures to represent words.
- Most countries in Africa have two distinct kinds of literature:
 Traditional oral poetry and folklore that date back to the early
days of various tribal cultures.
 Written literature that emerged in the 18th century but is mostly
the phenomena of the 20th century.
- Modern African literatures originated in the educational system
imposed by colonialism with reference drawn from Europe rather
than existing African traditions.
- - African oral traditions exerted their own influence onto various
pieces of literature.

5. History: South African Context
- Literary Studies in South Africa is seen as a colonial adventure,
- The first fictional work to emerge from South Africa were written by colonial writers whose style of
writing was indigenous to South Africa and was at first considered to be rather hostile.
- This was primarily seen in adventure type of stories where colonial heroes were constantly
romanticised and the role of black people in the country was reduced to that of an enemy or a
servant.
- A prominent example in literature is the popular novel ‘Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad.

6. Characteristic of African
Literature
- African literature aims to preserve the
culture and tradition that exist in various
African communities.
- They stem from a range of myths and oral
takes which explain the creation of the world,
the way of living at the beginning of creation
and the essence of existence.
- Typically oral literature that includes a range
of stories, dramas, histories, myths, songs,
proverbs and other expressions.

7. Themes of African Literary Work
- Most literary pieces written in Africa address controversial issues such as racial discrimination,
political conflict, gender dynamics, power dynamics and human rights issues.
- Some literary pieces serve to remind society of their ancestors heroic deeds, past and the
precedents of their customs and traditions.
- Various forms of African literary discuss colonialism and the effect it has on smaller communities
and tribes with the continent. A prominent example is the novel “Things fall Apart” by Chinua
Achebe which discusses the impact of Christianity within an Igbo community of Umofia.
- Some pieces of literature are heavily influenced by the theme of art and showcasing it as an act
performed on behalf of a larger community.

8. Examples of African Literature
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.
- Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Mine Boy by Peter Abrahams
- Disgrace by J.M Coetzee
- Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
- The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong’o
- Maru by Bessie Head

9. Popular South African Poetry
- South African Poets cover a range of themes,
forms and styles in their writing that are
fundamentally shaped by the political evolution
that the country underwent.
- South African Poetry flourished the most in the
1950s through Drum magazine that allowed black
author to depict a pulsating urban black culture for
the first time despite the violent oppression and
censorship that came with Apartheid.
- Famous poets such as Ingrid Jonker, Keorapetse
Kgostitsile, David Wright & Ingoapele Madingoane
are frequently studied in school across the country
allowing South African poems to remain relevant.

10. Writing
Techniques
• African Literature uses storytelling
techniques that are centered around oral
traditions that explore complex moral
codes.
• They also use literary devices which are
words and phrases that are placed in a
rhetorical or deliberate arrangement of
words to achieve something poetic, or
imagery as in the use of language to
suggest an image or idea.
• Poets use literary devices as a
fundamental writing technique to
improve writing.
• It makes it easier for readers to not only
connect with the characters in the story
but also understand the underlying

11. Reference List
Lactaotao, R.P. (2016). Characteristics of African Literature. Slideshare. Available at: Characteristics of
african literature report (slideshare.net)
Lachia, T. (2016). English Grade Nine: Figures of Speech. Slideshare. Available at: Eng9 figures of
speech (slideshare.net)
Motwani, S. (2021). African Literature. Slideshare. Available at: African Literature (slideshare.net)
Punsalang, C.J. (2015). African Literature. Slideshare. Available at: African Literature (slideshare.net)
Salvador, H. (2013). South African Culture and Literature. Slideshare. Available at: South African
Culture And Literature (slideshare.net)