Universität Wien

141069 VO Literatures of East Africa (2023W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikawissenschaften, Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismusk
Moodle

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Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

1. Prüfungstermin: 26.01.2024, 11-13 Uhr SR 1 Afrikawissenschaften

  • Friday 06.10. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 13.10. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 20.10. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 27.10. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 03.11. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 10.11. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 17.11. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 24.11. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 01.12. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 15.12. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Friday 12.01. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This lecture presents cultural forms, contexts, and debates in the East African region in the field of literature. Conceptually, the lecture follows the approach to decolonizing African literature put forward by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Taban lo Liyong, and Henry Owuor-Anyumba, three authors, literary scholars, and cultural activists who taught at the University of Nairobi in the 1960s, and their manifesto on the abolition of the English Department, a seminal statement which has remained relevant in light of contemporary debates. The lecture addresses written cultures in African languages (Ge'ez, Amharic, and Swahili), oral forms, and modern literature in African and European languages, and provides insight into the literary history of the East African region through selected themes, authors, literary networks, and debates.

Assessment and permitted materials

Written exam. In the written exam, you can choose two out of a total of five questions on aspects of East African literary history covered in the lecture.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Independent reading of course literature; ability to discuss the literary texts covered in the lecture in the context of cultural debates and literary critical approaches in/to the East African region.

Examination topics

Lecture contents (lecture, discussions and powerpoints), selected course literature and selected literary texts.

Reading list

Basisliteratur

- Diegner, Lutz, und Frank Schulze-Engler. „Habari ya Contact Zone? East African Literature Revisited“. In Habari ya English? What about Kiswahili?: East Africa as a Literary and Linguistic Contact Zone, herausgegeben von Lutz Diegner und Frank Schulze-Engler, 46:1–22. Matatu 12. Leiden; Boston: Brill Rodopi, 2015.

- Gikandi, Simon. „East African literature in English“. In The Cambridge History of African and Caribbean Literature, herausgegeben von Abiola Irele und Simon Gikandi, 2:425–44. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

- Gikandi, Simon, und Evan Mwangi, Hrsg. The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English since 1945. The Columbia guides to literature since 1945. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007.

- Lihamba, Amandina, Hrsg. Women Writing Africa: The East Africa Region. 1st ed. The women writing Africa project, v. 3. New York: The Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 2007.

- Musila, Grace. „East and Central Africa“. The Journal of Commonwealth Literature 43, Nr. 4 (1. Dezember 2008): 75–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021989408099564.

- Ngugi, James, Henry Owuor-Anyumba, und Taban lo Liyong. „On the Abolition of the English Department“. In African Literatures, herausgegeben von Frank Schulze-Engler und Geoffrey V Davis, 156–59. Trier: WVT, 2013.

- Wanjala, Alex Nelungo. „Introduction: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of East African literature as an academic discipline“. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde 58, Nr. 1 (2021).

Literary texts and more in-depth literature on the individual units will be provided through moodle.

Association in the course directory

ÜAL 1
ÜAL 2
SAL/A
SAL/B
SAL.VO1
SAL.VO2

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 11:02