The History of African Literature (Part 2: Post-Colonial Literature)| 20th Century African Writers

Summary

This script delves into the history of African literature, focusing on the post-colonial period from the Berlin Conference of 1884 to Africa's independence in 1960. It discusses the impact of colonization and missionaries on traditional African storytelling, the rise of written literature in colonial languages, and the emergence of movements like Negritude that celebrated African identity. The script highlights key literary works and authors who addressed themes of racism, identity crisis, and the struggle for freedom, leading to the era of Pan-Africanism.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the history of African literature, focusing on the transition from pre-colonial to post-colonial literature.
• 🗣️ It highlights the impact of the Berlin Conference of 1884, which marked the beginning of the colonial period and the subsequent influence on African literature.
• 🌍 The script emphasizes the division and occupation of African lands by European colonizers and the resulting oppression and exploitation of African people.
• 🎓 The arrival of Christian missionaries introduced Western languages to Africa, leading to a shift from oral traditions to written literature in colonial languages.
• 📖 The script mentions 'Ethiopia Unbound' by Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford as the first African novel written in English, addressing the issues of colonization and emancipation.
• 💪 The Negritude movement is discussed as a literary and cultural response to demeaning colonial ideas, celebrating African heritage and identity.
• 📚 Post-World War II literature is noted for its strong themes of liberation, freedom, and independence, reflecting the growing awareness and resistance to colonial rule.
• 📖 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe is highlighted as a landmark novel that respectfully and complexly portrays African society, countering racist narratives like Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'.
• 🌐 The script touches on the role of literature in fostering nationalism and the push for independence across African nations.
• 🎉 The script concludes by looking forward to the next installment, which will explore the evolution of literature in the post-independence era of Africa.
• 🌟 The video is part of a series by 'Mimsy Africa', an online brand that explores African art, culture, and history in a modern and engaging way.

Q & A

What is the focus of the second part of the MIMC Africa special on the history of African literature?

The focus of the second part is on post-colonial literature, covering the period from the Berlin Conference in 1884 to the year of Africa in 1960.

Why is the literature from the period after colonization referred to as 'post-colonial' rather than 'colonial' literature?

The term 'post-colonial' is used to signify literature that emerged as a response after the colonization, emphasizing that it came 'after' the colonial period and does not necessarily mean the end of colonial influence.

How did European colonizers treat the lands and people they occupied during the colonial period?

European colonizers occupied and divided African lands without regard for the original inhabitants, often through oppressive means, extracting natural resources, and enforcing their own religious and cultural beliefs.

What impact did Christian missionaries have on the African continent during the colonial period?

Christian missionaries exposed Africans to Western languages, often dismissing local customs and traditions, and promoting Western values and beliefs, which led to the decline of traditional storytelling practices and the rise of written literature in colonial languages.

Can you provide an example of the racial brutality and exploitation during the colonial period as mentioned in the script?

One example is King Leopold of Belgium's rule over the Congo, where he is said to have wiped out around half of the native population through brutal, slave-like governing while claiming to be a civilized, god-fearing Catholic.

What was the significance of the Negritude movement in West African literature?

The Negritude movement was significant as it opposed demeaning ideas about African culture by celebrating the essence, beauty, and magnificence of African traditional ways through poetry and literature.

What is the first African novel written in English and who is its author?

The first African novel written in English is 'Ethiopia Unbound: Studies in Race Emancipation' by Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford.

How did the literature of the post-colonial period address the predicament of African people under colonial rule?

Post-colonial literature often addressed themes of liberation, freedom, and independence, interrogating the negative impacts of colonialism and advocating for the recognition and preservation of African culture and identity.

What is the significance of 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe in the context of African literature?

'Things Fall Apart' is significant as it was a response to Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' and provided a respectful and dignified portrayal of African society, becoming one of the most influential and well-known African novels.

How did literature contribute to the push for African nationalism and independence?

Literature contributed by highlighting themes of identity crisis, Western satire, racism, oppression, cultural clashes, unity, solidarity, spiritualism, black pride, and freedom, which helped to form a collective push for nationalism and independence.

What themes are commonly found in post-colonial African literature?

Common themes include racism, identity crisis, cultural clashes, unity and solidarity, the negritude movement, spiritualism, black pride, and the struggle for freedom and independence.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Post-Colonial African Literature

This paragraph introduces the theme of the video, which is the history of African literature, focusing on the post-colonial period. It sets the stage by referencing the previous discussion about pre-colonial literature and transitions into the impact of colonialism on African storytelling. The speaker emphasizes the shift from oral traditions to written works in colonial languages and the challenges faced by African writers in the late 19th century, particularly around the time of the Berlin Conference in 1884. The paragraph also touches on the broader context of European colonization, including the division of Africa among European powers and the resulting cultural and racial oppression.

05:01

🌍 Impact of Colonization and the Emergence of African Literary Voices

This paragraph delves into the profound effects of colonization on African literature and the emergence of African authors who began to challenge the European narrative. It discusses how Christian missionaries introduced Western languages to Africa, leading to the decline of traditional oral storytelling and the rise of written literature in foreign tongues. The paragraph highlights the oppressive conditions and racial brutality faced by Africans, using the example of King Leopold's rule in the Belgian Congo. It also mentions the first African novel written in English, 'Ethiopia Unbound' by Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford, and the Negritude movement, which celebrated African culture and identity through poetry and literature, as a response to the demeaning stereotypes perpetuated by colonial powers.

10:03

📖 The Rise of Post-Colonial Literature and Themes of Liberation

This paragraph explores the rise of post-colonial literature and the strong themes of liberation, freedom, and independence that emerged as a response to colonization. It discusses the works of various African authors who used literature to address racism, identity crises, and the struggle for self-determination. The paragraph mentions landmark works such as 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe, which countered the racist portrayal of Africans in Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness', and 'The Black Messiah' by Godfrey Mwakikagile, which warned against the divisive tactics of colonial powers. The paragraph also highlights the role of literature in fostering a sense of unity and solidarity among Africans, ultimately contributing to the push for nationalism and independence.

Keywords

💡Post-Colonial Literature

Post-Colonial Literature refers to the body of literary works that emerged as a response to colonialism, particularly after the period of colonization. In the video, this term is central as it sets the stage for discussing literature that was created in the aftermath of European colonization of Africa, reflecting on themes of identity, freedom, and the struggle against colonial oppression. The script mentions that this literature often addressed the predicament of Africans under colonial rule and sought to challenge and reframe the narrative imposed by colonizers.

💡African Literature

African Literature encompasses a wide range of oral and written works from the African continent, reflecting its diverse cultures, histories, and experiences. The script discusses the evolution of African literature from traditional oral forms to written works, especially focusing on the impact of colonialism and the emergence of post-colonial literature that sought to express African perspectives and resist colonial narratives.

💡Oral Tradition

Oral Tradition is a method of passing down stories, history, and cultural practices through spoken word rather than written text. The script highlights the significance of oral tradition in pre-colonial African societies, where storytelling was a vital part of community life and cultural preservation. However, with the advent of colonialism, these practices were often suppressed in favor of written literature in colonial languages.

💡Negritude

Negritude is a cultural movement and philosophical ideology that emerged in the 1930s among French-speaking African and Caribbean intellectuals. It celebrated black identity and African cultural heritage in response to the dehumanizing and derogatory views of colonialism. The script references this movement as a key part of the literary response to colonialism, with writers using their work to affirm the beauty and value of African traditions and identity.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. The video discusses the impact of colonialism on Africa, including the division of the continent by European powers during the Berlin Conference, the exploitation of resources, and the imposition of foreign languages and cultural values, which significantly affected the development of African literature.

💡Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness is a novel by Joseph Conrad that explores the depths of colonial exploitation and the darkness of the human heart. The script uses this novel as an example of the racist and dehumanizing perceptions held by colonizers towards Africans, contrasting it with the works of African writers who sought to challenge and subvert such narratives.

💡Independence

Independence in the context of the script refers to the political autonomy and self-governance achieved by African nations after their liberation from colonial rule. The video mentions that literature played a significant role in the push for independence, with themes of liberation and freedom becoming increasingly prominent as writers expressed their desire for self-determination.

💡Cultural Clash

Cultural Clash refers to the conflict that arises when different cultural values, beliefs, and practices come into contact and compete for dominance. The script discusses how African literature often depicted the struggle between traditional African cultures and the imposed values of the colonizers, reflecting the tension and challenges faced by individuals and societies during the colonial era.

💡Pan-Africanism

Pan-Africanism is a political and cultural movement that emphasizes the unity, shared history, and common goals of people of African descent, particularly in opposition to colonialism and racism. The script concludes by mentioning the emergence of Pan-Africanism as a result of the collective struggle for independence and the desire for a unified African identity in the post-colonial era.

💡Identity Crisis

Identity Crisis refers to a situation where an individual or group struggles with their sense of self, often due to conflicting cultural influences or societal pressures. In the script, the concept is used to describe the internal conflicts experienced by African characters in literature, who grapple with their authentic African identities and the modified versions shaped by colonial influences.

💡Solidarity

Solidarity is the unity and agreement of beliefs or actions, often in pursuit of a common goal. The script highlights the importance of solidarity among African people in the face of colonial oppression, with literature often promoting unity as a means to resist and overcome the divide-and-rule tactics of the colonizers.

Highlights

Introduction to the history of African literature, focusing on the transition from pre-colonial to post-colonial literature.

Discussion of the Berlin Conference of 1884 and its impact on the division of Africa among European colonizers.

The introduction of Western languages and the decline of traditional African storytelling due to colonization.

The oppressive and brutal conditions faced by Africans during the colonial period, exemplified by King Leopold's rule in the Congo.

The role of Christian missionaries in promoting Western languages and dismissing African cultural practices.

The emergence of the first African novel written in English, 'Ethiopia Unbound' by Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford, addressing colonization.

The Negritude movement, celebrating African culture and identity in opposition to colonial demeaning views.

The influence of European literature, such as Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness,' on the perception of Africa.

The rise of African authors writing about themes of liberation, freedom, and independence post-World War II.

The significance of 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe, a landmark novel responding to colonial narratives.

The exploration of internal conflicts within African characters due to colonization in various novels.

The role of white authors in Africa who empathized with the black majority and critiqued dehumanization.

The importance of African literature in the push for nationalism and independence.

The预告 of the third and final installment of the series, focusing on post-independence literature.

Introduction of the Mimc Africa brand, exploring African art, culture, and history in a modern and engaging way.

Transcripts

i knew that something

needed to be done something needed to be

done

yes and what was that that was

my place in the world my story

the story of myself

the story of my people

welcome to this part two mimc africa

special on the history of

african literature last time we

discussed the pure traditional

african art of pre-colonial literature

in their untouched

form from oral tradition to even dance

they were prominent in many ethnic

groups

if you missed it you can totally check

it out and then come back

so as promised our attention in part two

of these series would tend to

post colonial literature around the

period of 1884 around that period of the

dreaded berlin conference to the year of

africa in 1960

and please note some scholars may call

this the colonial period

but for better arrangement of this

theology we called it post-colonial

literature since post means after

we're looking at it in the context of

literature that came as a response

after the white men came after we got

colonized from the late 19th century

besides post doesn't necessarily mean

something has ended

it just means after something has

happened

but if you still want to call it

colonial literature it's you okay hey

whatever floats your boat a period well

lane was occupied and divided

amongst the european colonizers such as

britain portugal france

germany with no regard of who

owned it before how do you think your

ancestors got these

you think they paid a fair price or did

they take it like they took everything

else

and note since the independent dates

vary a lot

in this section we will not necessarily

look at the period though

but more of the texts that were written

before a particular nation

reached its independence much like

slavery in the usa

the african natives in countries like

mozambique rwanda zambia nigeria

south africa togo senegal were being

oppressed and faced

severe brutality they took out lands

while many africans were being screwed

about how jesus died for them on the

cross

the rest of the europeans extracted

natural resources like gold

timber coal and took the land and not to

mention

there was incredible racial brutality

and slavery while they did it too

one notorious example is that of king

leopold of belgian congo

this guy wiped out around half of the

natives in the gold coast

during the brutal slave-like governing

yet

still claiming to be a civilized

god-fearing catholic

the coming of the missionaries had a

huge impact on the continent the

christian missionaries exposed

africans who were in their colonized

territory to western languages which

were mainly

french in such countries like cameroon

senegal burundi

portugal in mozambique and of course

english

zambia nigeria south africa since most

of these missionaries immediately

dismissed basically everything about

africans to even their names when i went

to school

the lady teacher miss dingani

asked what is your name i told you my

african name

says no i don't want that one you must

have a christian

so i say no i don't have one she says

you and from today you're going to be

nursing

it meant historically sacred

storytelling practices like oral

tradition

and folktales and other african

traditions were forced to take a

backseat as written literature in

colonial languages simultaneously

rose to take its place since the

europeans were teaching many africans to

read and write in these foreign

languages

as africa was being colonized also in

this period these christian missionaries

labeled most of the traditional customs

we discussed

in the last video as being called and

civilized

backward demonic

and of course savage who can forget the

word

savage especially if you have read

joseph conrad's 1902 novel based on

africa

heart of darkness they were called

criminals

and the outraged law like the bursting

shells had come to them

an insoluble mystery from the sea

all their meager breasts panted together

the violently

dilated nostrils quivered the eyes

stared stonely uphill they passed me

within six inches

without a glass with that complete

death-like

indifference of unhappy savages

exquisitely oh

sorry about that had tripped over some

emotion i'm all right i'm alright

as you can see heart of darkness could

have either been really accurate on the

white men's biased perception of

africa or just an over-the-top pile of

racist but one thing is for sure it is a

classic example of just how little these

settling europeans understood afghans

and even worse

understanding them as human beings at

that time

thus much of the literature written in

this era was written to address

this serious predicament in 1911 joseph

ephraim casely hayford

of the gold course published what is

recorded as the first african novel

written in

english ethiopia unbound studies in race

emancipation

which interrogated colonization from the

angle of an

educated black man and solutions to

battle it and assuring his native

phantom people

that one day they would see independence

and get their freedom

this was one of the earliest works to

discuss

these new issues of agitation for black

freedom

with the bad rep african culture was now

getting

many emerging authors real reason to

uphold african art

history and culture such as thomas munoz

when he wrote shaka

published in 1925 in susutru in

similar traditional aesthetic fashion in

1935

the girl who killed to save nontrau said

the liberator

it was a spiritual south african story

about tulsa prophetess

but perhaps from 1934 a more prominent

movement

was that of the negritude in west

african countries such as senegal

which was defined as this paved a way

for a movement that

opposed these demeaning ideas by writing

poetry that showed the essence

the beauty the magnificence and the

glory of

african traditional ways led by

prominent

west african french writers like leopold

senior

leo dama and i mean in 1948 leopold

seducing your fate antology of french

poetry written by an

african anthology

this movement also included the poetic

masterpiece

black woman with such classic lines like

naked woman black woman covered with

your skin that is life

with your phone that is beauty the light

of the mind the glitting of the red gold

against your watered skin

under the shadow of your hair my k is

enlightened

by the neighboring sounds of your eyes

your beauty that passes

the form that i fixed in the eternal

before the jealous fate

turn you to ashes to feed the roots of

life

so beautiful

[Applause]

as you can see these points were

dedicated to glorifying praising and

celebrating the very things europeans

despised

such as our dark skin our thick hair the

shape of our women the nature the dance

the rhythm

the life that is african

so later in 1948 the late colonial

period

as the racial tensions and wars

intensified this was in part because

especially for the black french citizens

who realized they could fight for their

own independence

in the medias of fighting for their

colonial settlers in world war

ii the mindset is the barbarians are

backward and inferior and for their own

benefit we have to uplift them

and civilize them and educate them and

so on

i don't know when you've got your boot

on someone's neck

and you're crushing them you can't say

to yourself

i'm a son of a and i'm doing it for my

own benefit

so what you have to do is figure out

some way of saying i'm doing it for

their benefit as more african writers

became

enlightened and educated they started to

see further and further through this

hypocrisy

of colonization after world war ii

recently

written literature rose sharply again

and it progressively showed

strong themes of liberation freedom and

independence

as big as africa is from even early on

the fascinating thing is most of the

strongest themes discussed in the books

were

quite consistent such as the theme of

racism

became a prominent theme in such books

such as south africa's cry

the beloved country which interrogated

the same topic

osmani wrote in his first french novel

le doka noir about dial an

african stevie doll who faced racism on

the docks of

marseille it is also important to know

there were white authors in africa who

empathize with

with the black majority in the light of

the dehumanization they were going

through

such as legendary writers nadine goddima

of south africa

and nobel prize winner doris lessing of

zimbabwe

whose ass actually got deported for a

racially liberal writing shenanigans

it would further set the pace for black

pride and other talented enlightened

novelists

who would soon follow novels that would

offer more detailed descriptions of

internal conflicts of their black

characters

faced usually at the hands of

colonization

these included internally conflicted

characters such as tau

only from house boy by ferdinand oyono

and

merza from mission to color by mongol

bet

which portrayed lead native characters

who had trouble reconciling their true

african south

with their colonially tempered versions

of themselves

in 1958 became a landmark here for

african literature as nigerian

chinguaches

in 1958 published it then i claimed

things fall apart

which was included in new york times 100

best english language novels from

1923 to 2005 and one of the most

influential

and well-known african novels of all

time

the book was written as a response to

joseph conrad's racist

novel heart of darkness that portrayed

afghans to be little more than

savage animals the hurt [ __ ] moaned

feebly somewhere nearby

and then fetched a deep side that made

me mend my pace away from there

okay okay i heard you the first time it

was told the story of a textured and

complex main character okonkwo

whose traumatic experiences as a child

influenced

his bad decisions in his adulthood

as well as detailing the negative impact

colonization he had on his igbo family

community and natural way of life on top

of having a fascinating plot with

fascinating characters

the book comprehensively dealt with

african society in a respectful and

dignified way

that was rare before in 1962 is when

legendary kenyan writer google wrote the

first east african drama the black emit

a cautionary tale

that discusses on top of racism

tribalism

this warned afghans about the white

man's poe to divide

and conquer therefore encouraging black

solidarity

to fight the colonizer some express the

physical struggles of colonized black

men

both in poetry a great example is that

of lucifer poetry

of antonio jacquinto in the classic poem

letter from a contract worker though

written in angola

it strangely pinpointed the experiences

and feelings of

alienation black south african miners

faced

or charles mugoshi is hugely

metaphorical waiting for the rain

that followed the suffering both

mentally and physically of

a native family that has been alienated

from their ancestral land with a dry and

barren one

further works that were more direct in

their messages like googies the trap of

tida and kemati

postman

had black heroes leading the struggle in

directly fighting against colonization

as you can see afghanistan in this age

was very important it helped open the

door to early independence of states

like

ghana benin mauritiana rwanda

burundi malawi because it spread the

message

of solidarity collectively all these

literal themes and movements such as

identity crisis western satire racism

oppression cultural clashes unity

solidarity

the negritude spiritualism black pride

and freedom as i discussed before would

fuse

together to form a final push for

nationalism and

independence and welcome a new era to

africa

the era of pan-africanism

so thank you for watching our take on

the history of post-colonial literature

be sure to join us on our third and

final installment which will be the

history of post independence literature

where we will discuss the evolution and

forms of literature that came when

and after african nations eventually

freed themselves

from the bondage of colonization see you

there

and as always thanks for watching

mimsy africa

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