The Columbia Guide to West African Literature in English Since 1945

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Columbia's critically acclaimed series on postwar literatures and literary cultures continues to expand with this comprehensive reference. Written by one of the world's premier scholars of African literature, the volume covers the works and traditions of five distinct countries connected by their experiences with colonialism: Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria. Oyekan Owomoyela begins with a comprehensive overview of the subject as a whole, identifying the significant authors, texts, and historical events that shaped the development of postwar Anglophone literatures in West Africa. He explores shifts in theme and the role of foreign sponsorship, and he addresses recent debates regarding the language, identity, gender, and social commitment of authors and their works. The introduction concludes with a bibliography of key critical texts.The second half of the volume is an alphabetical guide to major authors, works, concepts, genres, events, movements, and institutions of West African literature, with suggested readings for further research. Entries focus primarily on fiction but also touch on drama and poetry. Authors discussed include Chris Abani, Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Cyprian Ekwensi, Uzodinma Chukuka Iweala, Helen Oyeyemi, and Wole Soyinka. Topics include the development of an "African personality, " the European origins of African literature, the West African diaspora, the establishment of a regional publishing industry, and the global literary marketplace. Influences discussed include the postwar emergence of Onitsha Market Literature, the Mbari Club, and the importance of the Noma Award.