The Novelist as Historian: Exploring the Social Commentary, Activism and Politicality of Post-Colonial African Literature.
ABSTRACT
This dissertation focuses on the role of the African writer in the politics and societies of Africa, especially how this role has been reflected in the work of the African writer.
Drawing on the premise set by Chinua Achebe’s 1965 essay “The Novelist as Teacher,” this research establishes the African writer as a continuous function, allowing this description to embrace the dynamic hybridity of African writers from the past, present and future generations.
It is remarkable how the role and focus of the African writer has evolved through the years. This research aims to show that in redefining the African writer as a function, the reader is now equipped to view the turmoil in African writers and their literary works as representative of the turmoil in Africa’s politics and politics of identity.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDMENTS.
ABSTRACT.. 4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. 7
- Statement of the Problem7
- Scope of Research 7
- Method 8
CHAPTER ONE LET’S TELL THIS STORY PROPERLY
CHAPTER TWO THE AFRICAN WRITER IS
- On Being:………. 13
- On Identity………….. 19
CHAPTER THREE THE AFRICAN WRITER IS A VOICE
- Through Language………………. 24
- Through the Language of Contemporary Africa…………. 30
CHAPTER FOUR THE AFRICAN WRITER IS A HISTORIAN
- To the Past……………… 35
- To the Future…… 39
CHAPTER FIVE THE AFRICAN WRITER IS A MOVEMENT
- For Self-representation………… 46
- For the Revolution:…. 50
- For Feminism………… 52
- For Justice:…… 56
- For a New Africa……… 58
CHAPTER SIX
THE STORY IS OUR ESCORT. 61
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
Through the years, African literature has been characterized by a singular, unifying factor: colonialism.
This should not be surprising given that Africa’s history is in itself characterized by colonialism and officially begins only when the West is already in Africa, expunging and exploiting.
However, Africa’s history, in the real sense of the word, surpasses its history of slavery and/or colonialism. This research was started in part, as proof that African societies especially as depicted through African literatures, have, and continue to thrive – and by this I really mean survive in some way – outside of their colonial history.
Unfortunately, this research also falls into the age-old trap of reminding its readers that Africa is the way it is today; that African literature and by extension its writers, are also shaped by its colonial past.
REFERENCES
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Achebe, Chinua. “An Image of Africa.” The Massachusetts Review 18.4 (1977): 782-794.
—. Anthills of the Savannah. London: Heinemann, 1987.
—. “Englsh and the African Writer.” Transtition 18 (1965): 27-30.
—. Home and Exile. New York: Anchor Books, 2001.
—. Morning Yet on Creation Day. London: Heinemann Educational Books ltd., 1982.
—. “The Black Writer’s Burden.” Presence Africaine 59 (1966): 138-139.
—. “The Role of the Writer in a New Nation.” Nigeria Magazine 81 (1964): 157-160.
Adebanwi, Wale. “The Writer as Social Thinker.” Journal of Contemporary African Studies 32.4 (2014): 405-420. 11 November 2017.
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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