Universität Wien

135814 KO KO: Poets of Panglobal Pluridentities: African-Diasporic Literary Voices in Austria (Part I) (2025W)

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 13 - Europäische und Vergleichende Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
Moodle
Do 20.11. 16:15-17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 25 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

The course will alternate between Onsite and Online sessions. The first session on October 9, 2025, will take place Onsite.

Bienvenu.e.s!

  • Donnerstag 02.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 09.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 16.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 23.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 30.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 06.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 13.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 27.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 04.12. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 11.12. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 18.12. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 08.01. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 15.01. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 22.01. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG
  • Donnerstag 29.01. 16:15 - 17:45 Hörsaal 1 Sensengasse 3a 1.OG

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Course summary

Were it a quiz, how many of the following names would ring a bell? Who are Precious Nnebedum (Nigeria-Austria, Birthmarks. Gedichte, 2022), Mihret Kebede (Ein Intimes Exil, 2022), Iroh Njideka (Nigeria, United Kingdom, Austria, Speech-Less, 2015), Ishraga Mustafa Hamid (Sudan-Austria, Gesichter der Donau: Lyrik und Prosa, 2014), Fiston Mwanza Mujila (Après les Alpes, 2023), Tarek Eltayeb (Egypt-Austria, Städte ohne Dattelpalmen. 2020), and Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin (Sudan-Austria, Mind Schrödinger, 2022)?
Until recently, little attention was paid to these influential, yet understudied, authors; hence our interest in examining the cross-genre production (novels, plays, testimonies, autobiographies, poems, slams) of these poets of panglobal pluridentities, who encompass multiple networks in Austria In this conversation, we will explore some of their works to ask: 1. How do they define themselves: ‘Afro-European’ (Brancato, 2008), “Afropean’ (Pitts, 2019), ‘Austrian’ (Mujila & Tchokothe 2022)? 2. Which topics cut across their works, and what genres are dominant in their creative works? 3. How did/do they choose their primary language of writing/performing: English, German, Arabic, Amharic, Igbo, French, etc.? 4. What roles do institutions and initiatives such as the Forum Stadtpark, Weltwortreisende: Transnationale Grazer Literaturtage, and the Grazer Poesieautomaten (Graz), Afri-Eurotext, The Vienna African Writers Club, the PEN platform Literatur*Grenzenlos (Vienna), literary periodicals like Lichtungen, literary competitions, literary prizes and scholarships such as the Grazer Stadtschreiber*in scholarship, the Elias-Canetti scholarship, and the Exilliteraturpreis (can) play in their reception and visibility? 5. What are their strategies to plant African-Diasporic memories in Austria?
This conversation is part of a new research project led by the course instructor.

Goals

1. To design a map of the who is who of the African-Diasporic literary scene in Austria
2. To do comparative case studies of the literary œuvre of selected writers
3. To draw the attention of my co-teachers to the relevance of ‘othered’ voices in the Austrian literary scene
4. To develop a consciousness of the ties between literature and migration, integration, and intercultural communication
5. To foster a reflection on literature festivals, literary institutions, and academic discourse

Content

Reading and in-depth analysis of selected literary works, articles, book chapters, video material, and pieces presented at poetry slam contests in English, French, and translated from Arabic and Amharic; meet the author sessions, and preparation of a literary event in February 2026.

Methods
1. ACTIVE reading of texts, research, and ACTIVE participation in class
2. Group work throughout the semester
3. Group research and oral presentations/reports on selected topics
4. Preparation of a literary event scheduled in February 2026

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Expectations on Students and breakdown of the final grade

1. Regular and ACTIVE participation in class
2. Group research and group oral presentations on an author’s work (30%)
3. Critical reading, thinking, handling, and writing
4. The readiness to go the extra mile
5. Active participation in preparing a literary event (20%)
6. Submission of a 10-page essay at the end of the semester (50%)

Recommendations for the style sheet:
https://complit.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_complit/Curricula/Richtlinien_zur_Abfassung_literaturwissenschaftlicher_Arbeiten.pdf

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Expectations on Students and breakdown of the final grade
1. Regular and ACTIVE participation in class
2. Group research and group oral presentations on an author’s work (30%)
3. Critical reading, thinking, handling, and writing
4. The readiness to go the extra mile
5. Active participation in preparing a literary event (20%)
6. Submission of a 10-page essay at the end of the semester (50%)

Recommendations for the style sheet:
https://complit.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_complit/Curricula/Richtlinien_zur_Abfassung_literaturwissenschaftlicher_Arbeiten.pdf

Prüfungsstoff

Literatur

Reading list (Smile: these are beautiful texts to be read/shared in groups!)

Introductory Reading
Bazuaye,Yomi. 2018. “Afropea – A Map of the African Diaspora in Europe.” http://afropean.com/afropea-a-map-of-the-african-diaspora-in-europe/
(03.01.2023)
Brancato, Sabrina: Afro-European Literature(s): A New Discursive Category? In: Research in African Literatures, 39 (3) 2008, pp. 1-13.
Chevrier, Jacques. 2004. “Afrique(s)-sur-Seine : autour de la notion de ‘migritude’.” Notre Librairie 155–156, 96–100.
Christiansen, Elke / Englert, Birgit: „Zimt duftet in Wien“. Ishraga Mustafa Hamid im Gespräch mit Elke Christiansen und Birgit Englert. In: Stichproben. Wiener Zeitschrift für kritische Afrikastudien 1(2) 2001, pp. 87-95.
Craith, Mairead Nic: ‘Migrant’ writing and the re-imagined community: discourses of inclusion/exclusion. In: German Politics and Society, 33 (1) 2015, pp. 84-99.
Garrido, Felipe Espinoza/Koegler, Caroline/Nyangulu, Deborah/Stein, Mark U. 2020. “Introduction. African European Studies as a Critique of Contingent Belonging.” In. Garrido/Koegler/Nyangulu/Stein (eds.). Locating African European Studies: Interventions, Intersections, Conversations. New York: Routledge.
Grabovszki, Ernst: Österreich als literarischer Erfahrungsraum zugewanderter Autorinnen und Autoren. In: Schmitz, Helmut (ed.): Von der Nationalen zur Internationalen Literatur: Transkulturelle Deutschsprachige Literatur und Kultur im Zeitalter globaler Migration. Amsterdam / New York: Rodopi, 2009, pp. 275-292.
Innes Lyn/Stein, Mark U. (eds.) 2008. African European. Special Issue, Wasafiri: The Magazine of International Contemporary Writing 23/4.
Kebede, Mihret: Die Anhörung des Schweigens. In: Kessé, Emily Ngubia (ed.): Stille Macht. Silence und Dekolonisierung; Silence, Wissen und Machtstrukturen. Berlin: w_orten & meer, 2018, pp. 89-114.
Kieselbach, Sabine: Fiston Mwanza Mujila: "Für mich ist Literatur eine Brücke zwischen Afrika und Europa". Interview. In: DW, 2017, https://www.dw.com/de/fiston-mwanza-mujila-für-mich-ist-literatur-eine-brücke-zwischen-afrika-und-europa/a-39565787 (last access: 03.01.2023.)
Oholi, Jeannette. (ed.) 2025. Schwarze deutsche Literatur Ästhetische und aktivistische Interventionen von den 1980er Jahren bis heute. transcript Verlag, Bielefeld.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

MA M1

Letzte Änderung: Fr 03.10.2025 17:26