African Literature

• Africa has a long literary tradition. Little of this literature was written down until the 20th century. It was primarily oral and passed down from one generation to another. Mostly written in European languages.
• Rudimentary forms of writing were developed and used by secret societies and other exclusive groups. It has been influenced by many cultures, including the ancient Romans, Arabs, French and Spanish, as well as its indigenous people. It also contributed to writing in Phoenician, Greek and Latin.
• The first African writing were focused on slavery. Newspapers served as vehicles for expressing nascent nationalist feelings.
• Contemporary African literature reveals disillusionment and dissent with current events.
• Literary compositions were generally copied on papyrus paper. Literature also constitutes an important cultural element in the life of Egypt.
• Forms of Literature of Africa

  Myth

  Legend

  Folktale

  Tricksters Tale

  Epigram, Proverbs and Riddles
• Myth - Typically explain the creation of the universe, the activities of the gods at the beginning of creation, the essence of all creatures of all creatures, and the nature of their interrelationships.
• Legend - describes such heroic human feats as establishing dynasties or preventing disasters and has much in common with epics, both focuses on heroism.
• Folktale - Told for night time entertainment, often employed for social commentary and instruction and served as a potent means of affirming group values and discouraging antisocial behavior.
• Tricksters Tale - Features a small but witty animal that employs its cunning traits to protect itself against much larger and more powerful animals.
• Epigram, Proverbs and Riddles - Effective speech and social success depend on a good command or proverbs. It usually based on principles of analogy that require the listener to decipher the intended meaning.