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.