African Literature

Beginnings

The first work of African Literature appeared approximately during the years 2300 - 2100 B.C in Egypt and these were burial texts written in papyrus using jerogliphics language.

"Memphite Declaration of Deites" was the first written account of creation.

In the Sub-Saharan, the Literature was by oral form and some types of lit were:

Proverbs, riddles, epic narratives, oration, songs, chants, stories, legends and folktales. 

These were usually told by Griots and traveling performers.

The first written piece of lit in this part of Africa was in 1520 and it had Islamic influence, its name was "Anonymous history of Kilwa Kisiwani."

First African History "History of Sudan" written by Abd-Al-Rahman al-Sadi (written in Arab.)

Colonization times

• Christian beliefs threatened African Literature.
• Attempts to destroy the pagan and primitive culture for easier slavery.
• Islam lost influence in Swahili poetry and returned to Bentu forms.
• Europeans helped in the development through journalism and education.
• Oliver Scheiner was a European writer that wrote about Africa in his book “Story of an African Farm"(1883).
• negritude movement in Paris in the 1920 and 1930's

1.     French speak Afrikaans in search for identity

2.     create a conscience of black identity, history, culture and civilization

• African writers became political figures for a change.
• African lit was world known thanks to "Cry of the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton in 1948.