African Literature

The beginnings of African literature started at the years of 2300 and ended on the 2100 before Christ. The first written called the "the memphite declaration of deltes" was from North Africa and egypt. The literature in africa not only took place in Africa, meanwhile the tribes were starting to learn about literature, people from other countries started writing also about africa and its literature. 

The sub-saharan african-oral culture used the proverbs and riddles, also the epic narratives, oration and personal testimony, praise poetry and songs, chants and rituals, among a lot of other things. The earliest sub-saharan literature(1520) had a heavy islamic influence and it was about the history of kulwa Kisiurani. The first recollection of african history was named "History of sudan" by Al-Raham and Al-Sadi. Their main language was Swahili, and the first work of this language was about muslim traditions by Utendi Watambuka. 

While the period of colonization was taking place, oral traditions and written works were threatened because christianism was taking the power. They tried to destruct the Pagan and Primitive cultures so slavery would be easier. The first slave narrative was published in 1789 named "The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano" or "Gustava Vassa". 

After this period, the Swahili poetry lost influence of Islam and returned to believe the Bantu which was their real african tradition. Thanks to europeans, the rough education and journalism developed. 

The first author who wrote about africa analyzing and criticizing the situation was Oliver Schriener who wrote in 1883 "The story of an african farm".

Between the 1920s and the 1930s the Negritude movement was taking place in Paris. While that was happening, everyone spoke french, and every colored people in Europe desired to establish an identity due to the rejection the were managing in this times. After years of fighting for what they wanted, they created a counciousness of their black identity, history, culture and most of all their values as contribution to the world. 

After this miracle happened, everyone started to write about Africa and their traits including african people, in fact some writers wrote excellent works like Mongo Beti and Ferdinard Oyono. "Black skin, white masks" by Franz Fanon which was an analysis of racism, "The dark child" by Camara Laye, and finally and most important "The cry of the beloved country" by Alan Paton. Other very important persons who took place in this period were: Chinua Achebe, Flora Nwapa, Wole Soyinka, Naguib Mahfouz, Koji Awoonor, and Leopold Sedar Senghor.

Chinua Achebe, known for his incredible novels, poems and literary critics. He has played a very important role in the part of developing and founding the African literature. He continues to be considered among the most significant world writers. Is a nigerian writer from english literature. He was born in Ogidi, the 16th of november of 1930. This incredible writer practiced the culture of the tribe Igbo were his parents were protestants and in consequence named their son Albert. He was the son of a teacher of a misioner school. His name from pila Chinụalụmọgụ had a very beautiful meaning. "God will fight in my favor". Achebe resigned to be called by his christian name, so he demanded to be called as nowadays we know him. He studied medicine in the Ibadán university and later literature. Also worked in the nigerian radio station. With 3 other guys he founded the "Mbari Club" where cultural debates were praticed. Also founded the colection "African Writers" where he picked the most important works of the English literature.   

His most important work of literature, "Things fall apart", where white men haven't arrived at the interior of the country. This novel concentrates on the warrior Okonkwo's personal tragedy, who due to a series of unfortunate coincidences, destroys his own existence and ends up killing himself. 

During the Civil war Chinua, was in favor of the Biafra meaning his own town, and he destroyed himself by doing that. Later he no longer writed and continued his life teaching literature in the University of Massachusets and some others. 

For the world, Chinua Achebe has been not only a men who founded the Nigerian literature, but also one of the most known and most important African wirters in the world. A creator of a new style of languages, proverbs and rythms who is leaving a great mark in this world. 

To Read more about Chinua Achebe and his achivements> http://www.gradesaver.com/author/chinua-achebe/

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."

C.S. Lewis  

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/literature.html#LYgVkBMavtZXIttM.99 

Literature is the art of writing words implementing your feelings, thoughts or ideas. As this quote of Lewis said, literature is one of the most important things in life to take advantage, and mostly enjoy. A very important part of literature would be the connection with the educational system, the question that a plenty of people ask is: Why we need literature in education? What is the difference between having it or not? Well, this are very good questions that can be very easily answered. There are 4 very important points Matthew DeCoursey said: Literature offers a very good way of teaching on reading skills, thanks to books we can learn how to write and also read, what this teach us is that the visual learning is a very good way to learn. Another point would be that literature is a very good way to link the intellectual part and the emotional part, In that way children can be interested in learning. The 3rd point would be that literature teaches values that the students learn during reading books and of what force do things are. The last point is that Literature is a very powerful way to change people's mind in many ways and send men to reality, to know what is happening right now and what would happen if the continue doing things. 

Read more about Mathew DeCoursey: http://open.salon.com/blog/matthew_decoursey