This book examines the dialogue between literatures written in different languages: Thomas Mofolo wrote Chaka (1926) in Sesotho and Sol Plaatje wrote Mhudi (1931) in English, but their novels should be read in counterpoint. The same could be said of Senghor and Soyinka, involved in a conversation on Africa’s future that lasted for several decades.

Many African writers use more than one language: Okot p’Bitek (Acoli and English), Ngugi wa Thiong’o (Gikuyu and English), Amadou Hampâté Bâ (Fula and French), Alexis Kagame (French and Kinyarwanda). This book focuses on linguistic consciousness and the place of language in the writer’s consciousness, providing an original treatment of the African literary situation. It expands and updates the original French edition ehich has been so widely welcomed.

Product details