CUR/F001
MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Department of Linguistics and Languages
COURSE OUTLINE
Course Code: ALT401 Course Title African Literature Credit Hours 3 Semester1:
2025/2026
Instructor: Gladys Mbithe
Contact:
gladysjohn79@gmail.com
Contact Hours:
Unit Description
The unit studies creative writers of the African continent, particularly the West, North and
South African regions (the East African region have been covered in ALT 200). The unit
is basically focused on how, through their novels, poems and short stories, African writers
have explored, responded to and evaluated the numerous social, political, economic and
cultural changes and events that have occurred on the continent during precolonial, and
post-colonial times.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
a. Evaluate the main themes and styles in African Literature
b. Describe the nature of African literature
c. Apply theory to explain critical aspects of African theory
d. Examine the role of writers in the African democratic space
Teaching Methodology
Lectures, audio-visual displays, small group discussions, guest speakers, student
presentations, case studies, practical student assignments.
ISO 9001:2015 Certified …………….……..….....Soaring Heights in Transforming Industry and
Economy
Instructional Materials
Selected novels (novellas and short stories), chalkboard/whiteboard, overhead projector,
LCD projector, textbooks, magazine/blog articles, features, poetry
Assessment
Continuous assessment tests - 30%
Term Paper - 30%
Final examination - 70%
TOTAL - 100%
Course Requirement
a) Students are expected to attend 99% of the lectures and to participate fully in group
discussions.
b) Students are expected to read all primary texts in the list before the commencement of
the class, and secondary reading later
c) Assignments must be handed in punctually
Primary Texts
1. Selected Poems from Africa
2. Selected short stories from the continent
3. The Trials of Brother Jero or The Lion and the Jewel
- Wole Soyinka
4. In the Fog of the Seasons’ End - Alex La Guma
5. The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born - Ayi Kwei Armah
6. Arrow of God - Chinua Achebe
7. The Concubine - Elechi Amadi
8. Nervous Conditions - Tsitsi Dangarembga
9. Behold the Dreamers - Imbolo Mbue
10. Maru - Bessie Head
11. Season of Crimson Blossoms - Abubakar Ibrahim
12. Purple Hibiscus - Zukiswa Wanner
13. The Blood Knot - Athol Fugard
14. The Black Ass - Igoni Barrett
15. I am an African - Thabo Mbeki (Speech)
16. The African Child - Camara Laye
ISO 9001:2015 Certified …………….……..….....Soaring Heights in Transforming Industry and
Economy
Secondary Reading List
a. Hopes and Impediments Chinua Achebe
b. Art and ideology in the African Novel Emmanuel Ngara
c. Tasks and Masks Lewis Nkosi
d. Reading the African Novel Simon Gikandi
e. Styan J. L. (1960) The Elements of Drama: New York
f. Weales, G. (1964) A play and its parts: New York: Basic books, Inc.
g. Burts B. B. (1990) Types of Drama. Plays and Essays, New York: Scott
and Foreman.
h. Gardner, H. C. (1953) Norms for the Novel, New York: The American Press
i. Hawthorm, J. (1985) Studying the Novel, London. Edward Arnold.
j. Forster, E. M. (1962) Aspects of Novel, Harmondsworth: Penguin
k. Bailey, T. (eds) (2000) On Writing Short Stories, New York: Oxford University
press.
l. Brooks C. and Warren, R. P Understanding Poetry
m. Nowottony, W. (1962) The Language Poets use, London: Athlane Press.
n. Simon Gikandi, Ngugi wa Thiong’o: Cambridge Studies in African and
Caribbean Literature
o. http://larryndivo.blogspot.co.ke/ A webpage on book reviews from the region that
may interest you as a student of literature
p. Frantz Fanon: The Wretched of the Earth
WK TOPICS AND CONTENT
1 TOPIC I: Definition – the problematics of defining African literature
2 1. The historical genesis of African Literature – the traditional/cultural
background
3 2. Slavery and Transatlantic Trade – the construction of the railway
4 Colonialism and Decolonization: The coming of Christianity, new
modes of governance, cultural values, and the response and
resistance to colonial invasion
5 CAT 1
6 TOPIC II: Colonialism and Self-representation
1. Political, social and economic factors inspiring literary works
7 TOPIC III: The Writer in Modern Africa:
ISO 9001:2015 Certified …………….……..….....Soaring Heights in Transforming Industry and
Economy
The emergence of neocolonialism, class-society, urbanization and broken
dreams
8 TOPIC IV: Writing Against Neo-colonialism
(Decolonizing the mind and the language politics of African Literature)
9 TOPIC V: Ideology and the Critic –
Negritude Poetry
10 CAT TWO
11 TOPIC VI: The Role of the African Writer in National Liberation and
Social Reconstruction –
the black consciousness movement and Lusophone Poetry
12 TOPIC VII: Afropolitanism and emergent issues in African Literature
women and youth
13 TOPIC VIII: Globalization and the challenges thereof
immigrant African Literature
14 Course wrap and revision
ISO 9001:2015 Certified …………….……..….....Soaring Heights in Transforming Industry and
Economy
