ABSTRACT

This reference book surveys the richness of postcolonial African literature. The volume begins with an introductory essay on postcolonial criticism and African writing, then presents alphabetically arranged profiles of some 60 writers, including Chinua Achebe, Nadine Gordimer, Bessie Head, Doris Lessing, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Tahbar Ben Jelloun, among others.

Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of major works and themes that appear in the author's writings, an overview of the critical response to the author's work, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. These profiles are written by expert contributors and reflect many different perspectives. The volume concludes with a selected general bibliography of the most important critical works on postcolonial African literature.

chapter |18 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|13 pages

Chinua Achebe (1930– )

chapter 2|8 pages

Ama Ata Aidoo (1942– )

chapter 3|5 pages

Zaynab Alkali (1950– )

chapter 4|7 pages

Ayi Kwei Armah (1939– )

chapter 6|16 pages

Mariama BÂ (1929–1981)

chapter 9|9 pages

Driss ChraÏbi (1926– )

chapter 10|6 pages

J. P. Clark-Bekederemo (1935– )

chapter 11|7 pages

Mia Couto (1957– )

chapter 13|6 pages

Nafissatou Diallo (1941–1982)

chapter 14|6 pages

David Mandessi Diop (1927–1960)

chapter 15|9 pages

Assia Djebar (1936– )

chapter 17|16 pages

Buchi Emecheta (1944– )

chapter 18|7 pages

Femi Euba (1941– )

chapter 19|4 pages

Aminata Sow Fall (1941– )

chapter 20|6 pages

Nuruddin Farah (1945-)

chapter 21|6 pages

Athol Fugard (1932– )

chapter 22|14 pages

Nadine Gordimer (1923– )

chapter 23|5 pages

Mafika Gwala (1946– )

chapter 24|15 pages

Bessie Head (1937–1986)

chapter 26|6 pages

Francis Imbuga (1947– )

chapter 28|12 pages

Tahar Ben Jelloun (1944– )

chapter 30|5 pages

Ungulani Ba Ka Khosa (1957– )

chapter 32|7 pages

Alex La Guma (1925–1985)

chapter 33|7 pages

Camara la Ye (1928–1980)

chapter 34|14 pages

Doris Lessing (1919– )

chapter 35|4 pages

Muthoni Likimani (1926– )

chapter 36|5 pages

Dambudzo Marechera (1952–1987)

chapter 38|6 pages

Peter Nazareth (1940– )

chapter 39|14 pages

NgŨgĨ Wa Thiong'o (1938– )

chapter 40|5 pages

Lewis Nkosi (1936– )

chapter 41|8 pages

Flora Nwapa (1931–1993)

chapter 42|7 pages

Molara Ogundipe-Leslie (1941– )

chapter 43|8 pages

Gabriel Okara (1921– )

chapter 45|10 pages

Ben Okri (1959– )

chapter 46|8 pages

Femi Osofisan (1946– )

chapter 47|5 pages

Ferdinand Oyono (1929– )

chapter 48|4 pages

Essop Patel (1943– )

chapter 49|5 pages

Alan Paton (1903–1988)

chapter 50|4 pages

Okot P'bitek (1931–1982)

chapter 52|5 pages

Tijan Sallah (1958– )

chapter 53|7 pages

Olive Schreiner (1855–1920)

chapter 54|5 pages

LeÏla Sebbar (1941– )

chapter 55|13 pages

LÉopold SÉdar Senghor (1906– )

chapter 56|17 pages

Wole Soyinka (1934– )

chapter 58|6 pages

Sony Labou Tansi (1947–1995)

chapter 59|5 pages

Mositi Torontle (1964– )

chapter 60|6 pages

Amos Tutuola (1920– )