"The darkest thing about Africa, has always been our ignorance to it" - George Kimble

When it comes to literature, we must think that there is much more to it than some paper pages inside a hard cover. All forms of literature are a projection and representation of either someone’s life, culture, ideas, feelings, thoughts, imagination, but most importantly, every story (whether mentioned or not), gives us clues about the author’s past or where he comes from perhaps. Therefore, in literature, where you are born does matters, wherever you spend your childhood, whatever traditions you’re taught will determine your personality. Since Africa is one of the biggest continents, I’d like to tell you some facts about its literature, for you to understand its diversity in writing more deeply.

The first forms of African literature belong to the years 2300 to 2100 BC. In the beginning, Africa was divided in regions, (South, North and Sub-Saharan area). Each region had different influences from other countries and different knowledge degrees. It is in Egypt where we find the first written account (Memphite Declaration), and the first text in papyrus (burial texts found in tombs), while in the Sub-Saharan Africa they had more of an oral culture (made use of proverbs, riddles, poetry, rituals, legends, folktales, epic narratives). The earliest Sub-Saharan literature was written in 1520, Kilwa Kiswani, which shows heavy Islamic influences.

Traveling performers, known as griots, were also present during the beginnings. The first African history was called “History of the Sudan”, while the earliest Swahili work talks about Muslim traditions. During colonization period, European countries (Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and Britain), established in what was for them a completely different world. Therefore, colonizers threatened African traditions with their Christian ethics and beliefs. This led to slavery, having the first slave narrative in 1789 by Gustava Vassa. Ironically, as European influence begins to grow stronger, Swahili starts loosing Islamic influence, returning to their Bantu traditions.

Once Europeans were part of Africa’s countries, they helped development through education. Oliver Scheiner in 1883 is the first European writing and analysing Africa’s situation (“Story of an African Farm”). Then, during the 1920’s and 30’s, the “Negritude Movement” is born in Paris. It consisted of French-speaking Africans in search of their black identity, their history and culture (mainly due to inferiority they’d suffered). Senegal’s president, Leopold Sedal Senghor was leader of this movement.

African literature becomes world known when Alan Paton writes “Cry of the Beloved Country”  (a portrayal of Africa). Since then, African literature continued to develop and increase as well as become more constant. Among famous African books we can find “Black Skin, White Masks” (1967) by Franz Fanon, “The Dark Chira” by Camara Laye, “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, and many others. The first African female who wrote was Flora Nwapa and the first Africans to obtain a Nobel Prize were Wole Soyinka and Naguib Manfouz.

Bibliography:

Holtz, E. (2013), African Literature Presentation, Edo. de México.

African Literature’s Father, Chinua Achebe

About a few months ago, Nigerian novelist and essayist, Chinua Achebe, published his latest work. “There Was a Country”, a memoir about the three-year Biafran war. After forty years of remaining silent about his war experiences, this last October, he gave us yet another reason why to value and cherish his writing. Now, Chinua Achebe… you might think writer perhaps, African literature, Things Fall Apart, but really, how much do we know about this cultural leader? Do we even know where he comes from and what type of works he’s done? I’m betting most of us don’t, which makes it really a pity, having his presence still between us and simply ignoring whom this man is.

Born in the village of Ogidi (eastern Nigeria), on 1930, Albert Chinualumogo Achebe, came to the world as a member of the Igbo ethnicity. He was raised by his father, who taught him both their traditional culture and Christianism. Received early education in English, (being this mainly the reason why he writes in English), and he studied medicine and then literature in the University of Ibadan. Fascinated by African religion, tradition and culture, he began writing as a university student. Later on, he changed his name, adopting indigenous name, Chinua.

After graduating (1954), Achebe has worked until now, (currently professor of Africana Studies at Brown University). He first worked in a Nigerian Broadcast Company, and then founded and directed many projects such as magazines (Okike: A Nigerian Journal of New Writing), recompilations of African works (African Writers), a cultural space (Mbari Club) and editorials (Heinemann African Writes Series). He has also worked as editor and as professor in several universities: University of Nigeria, University of Massachusetts and Connecticut, University of Ibadan and Bard College.   

It is in 1958, when Achebe publishes the first volume of his trilogy, Things Fall Apart, (examines the Igbo culture), which became his most famous work, selling over twelve million copies and translated into more than fifty languages. In 1964, he publishes the second volume: Arrow of God, and a third volume, No Longer at Ease (1960). It is also in the 1960’s, when Chinua married Christie Chinwe Okoli (with whom he had four children) and when he involves himself in politics (supported Biafra to gain its independence, serving as ambassador of the new nation).

Among his famous works we can find: A man of the People (a satire), Soul Brother (a poem), Morning Yet on Creation Day (a series of essays) and Girls at War (short stories). He has also won many awards such as “The Nigerian National Merit Award” (1987). Being Achebe “one of the founders of Nigerian literature’s renaissance”, I hold the job to transmit just a small piece of his words: “It’s not difficult to identify with somebody next door who looks like you. What’s more difficult is to identify with someone you don’t see (…) who’s a different colour (…). When you begin to do that, then literature is really performing its wonders.” 

Bibliography:

A+E Networks, (2013), Chinua Achebe.biography. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/chinua-achebe-20617665?page=2 [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].

Biografías y Vidas, (2004), Chinua Achebe. Available from:  http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/a/achebe.htm [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].

Fisher, D. Fisher, M. , (2010), Chinua Achebe, . Available from: Brown University, Africana Studies: http://brown.edu/Departments/Africana_Studies/people/achebe_chinua.html [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].

Goodreads Inc., (2012), Chinua Achebe. Available from: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8051.Chinua_Achebe [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].

Grade Saver, (2007), Biography of Chinua Achebe. Available from: http://www.gradesaver.com/author/chinua-achebe/ [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].

Ike, A. (2012), Nigeria is haunted by Biafran war. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/10/chinua-achebe-biafra-review [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].

Thomson, G., (2006), Chinua Achebe Biography, . Available from: http://www.bookrags.com/biography/chinua-achebe/ [Accessed: Jan 20, 2013].