African Literature: An Anthology of Criticism and Theory

In a Nigerian newspaper, more than ten years ago, the distinguished critic, Biodun Jeyifo, lamented what he called the “homelessness” of the writings of African literary theorists and critics. This landmark anthology at long last creates a home for the key texts, bringing together work that otherwise exists only in disparate journals and essay collections, and largely inaccessible texts.

Covering all genres and critical schools of literary theory, the anthology provides the intellectual context for understanding African literature. The material is organized around significant topics in the field, including feminist criticism, postmodernism, and Marxist theory, and reflects the chronological development of African literary criticism. Writings include those written by scholars with often fiercely divergent viewpoints, exemplifying the drama and excitement of debates in the field.