What defines African American literature?
In broad terms, African-American literature can be defined as writings by people of African descent living in the United States. It is highly varied. African-American literature has generally focused on the role of African Americans within the larger American society and what it means to be an American.
What can you say about African American literature?
Some of the characteristics one will find in African American literature are:
- Concern for identity, freedom and independence.
- Concern with position in a dominant society.
- Use of religious imagery, songs, settings and the dominance of the black church in the Southern black community.
What makes African literature different?
Language of the African novel is highly enriched with some aspects of oral literature such as songs, proverbs and narratives. The other aspect which makes African novel unique from other novels is characterization. In the novel, characterization is achieved by reporting the thoughts of the characters.
Why is African literature important?
African literature is not important only because of its relevant setting and relatable storylines. It also increases our social consciousness, and raises awareness of social, political, and economic crises that the African continent is facing.
What influences African literature?
To be sure, the Arabic, English, French, and Portuguese literary traditions along with Christianity and Islam and other effects of colonialism in Africa also had a dynamic impact on African literature, but African writers adapted those alien traditions and made them their own by placing them into these African …
What is colonial African literature?
Literature in colonial Africa is synonymous with writing about life shaped by the colonial experience of direct rule and domination by imperialist powers. From most definitions of ‘postcolonial literature’, literature in colonial Africa is postcolonial.