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143264 VO Southern African Literatures (2025S)
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Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Details
Language: English
Examination dates
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- N Thursday 06.03. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 13.03. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 20.03. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 27.03. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 03.04. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 10.04. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 08.05. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 15.05. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 22.05. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 05.06. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Thursday 12.06. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
This lecture provides an overview of the literatures of Southern Africa. In this lecture we will learn about important writers from South Africa to Zambia, discuss significant literary works from this region, including different forms of literatures (i.e., oral literature), and explore the cultural, historical, and political contexts of the literary works emerging from the place where all of humankind originates.The aim of this course it to give insights into the literary history and literary output of the ten southern African countries—Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and to trace connections and continuities across borders.
Assessment and permitted materials
Final Written ExamFirst Exam Date: 26 JUNE 2025
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Positive results in the Final Exam
Examination topics
Course content (selected literary texts that are discussed in the lecture and additional secondary texts)
Reading list
Primary Readings (preliminary selection):
Peter Abrahams, Mine Boy (1946),
Taylor and Kentridge, Ubu and The Truth Commission (1997)
Kani, Nshona, and Fugard, The Island (1973)
Antjie Krog, Country of my Skull (1998)
Steve Biko, I Write What I Like (1978)
J.M. Coetzee, Life and Times of Michael K (1983)
Mongane Wally Serote, “For Don M. – Banned” (1973)
Nadine Gordimer, tba
K. Sello Duiker, Thirteen Cents (2000)
Yvette Christiansë, Unconfessed (2006)
Zoë Wicomb, “You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town” (1987)
Njabulo Ndebele, “The Prophetess” (1983)
--, Rediscovery of the Ordinary: Essays on South African Literature and Culture (1991)
Koleka Putuma “Water”, In Collective Amnesia (2017)
Haji Mohamed Dawjee, Sorry, Not Sorry (2018)
Ameera Conrad, The Fall: All Rhodes Lead to Decolonisation (2017)
Zakes Mda, The Heart of Redness (2000)
Doris Lessing, The Grass is Singing (1950),
Yvonne Vera, Butterfly Burning (1998), The Stone Virgins, (2002)
Tsitsi Dangarembga, Tambudzai Trilogy,
NoViolet Bulawayo We Need New Names (2013),
Dambudzo Marechera, The House of Hunger (1978)
Chenjerai Hove, tba
Bessie Head, When Rain Clouds Gather (1968), A Question of Power (1973),
Rémy Ngamije, “Granddaughter of the Octopus”
Namwali Serpell, Old Drift (2019)
Ntsika Kota, “and the earth drank deep”
Mia Coutu, tba
Paulina Chiziane, tbaSecondary Literature (selection):
Chapman, Michael. 2003. Southern African Literatures. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press.
Wessels, Michael. 2010. Bushmen Letters: Interpreting Xam Narratives. Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
Daymond M.J., et al, eds. 2003. Women Writing Africa: The Southern Region. The Woman Writing Africa Project: Volume 1. New York: Feminist Press.
Attwell, David, and Derek Attridge, eds. 2012. The Cambridge History of South African Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Irele, F. Abiola, and Simon Gikandi, eds. 2000. The Cambridge History of African and Caribbean Literature. Volume 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Irele, F. Abiola, and Simon Gikandi, eds. 2000. The Cambridge History of African and Caribbean Literature. Volume 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Peter Abrahams, Mine Boy (1946),
Taylor and Kentridge, Ubu and The Truth Commission (1997)
Kani, Nshona, and Fugard, The Island (1973)
Antjie Krog, Country of my Skull (1998)
Steve Biko, I Write What I Like (1978)
J.M. Coetzee, Life and Times of Michael K (1983)
Mongane Wally Serote, “For Don M. – Banned” (1973)
Nadine Gordimer, tba
K. Sello Duiker, Thirteen Cents (2000)
Yvette Christiansë, Unconfessed (2006)
Zoë Wicomb, “You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town” (1987)
Njabulo Ndebele, “The Prophetess” (1983)
--, Rediscovery of the Ordinary: Essays on South African Literature and Culture (1991)
Koleka Putuma “Water”, In Collective Amnesia (2017)
Haji Mohamed Dawjee, Sorry, Not Sorry (2018)
Ameera Conrad, The Fall: All Rhodes Lead to Decolonisation (2017)
Zakes Mda, The Heart of Redness (2000)
Doris Lessing, The Grass is Singing (1950),
Yvonne Vera, Butterfly Burning (1998), The Stone Virgins, (2002)
Tsitsi Dangarembga, Tambudzai Trilogy,
NoViolet Bulawayo We Need New Names (2013),
Dambudzo Marechera, The House of Hunger (1978)
Chenjerai Hove, tba
Bessie Head, When Rain Clouds Gather (1968), A Question of Power (1973),
Rémy Ngamije, “Granddaughter of the Octopus”
Namwali Serpell, Old Drift (2019)
Ntsika Kota, “and the earth drank deep”
Mia Coutu, tba
Paulina Chiziane, tbaSecondary Literature (selection):
Chapman, Michael. 2003. Southern African Literatures. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press.
Wessels, Michael. 2010. Bushmen Letters: Interpreting Xam Narratives. Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
Daymond M.J., et al, eds. 2003. Women Writing Africa: The Southern Region. The Woman Writing Africa Project: Volume 1. New York: Feminist Press.
Attwell, David, and Derek Attridge, eds. 2012. The Cambridge History of South African Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Irele, F. Abiola, and Simon Gikandi, eds. 2000. The Cambridge History of African and Caribbean Literature. Volume 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Irele, F. Abiola, and Simon Gikandi, eds. 2000. The Cambridge History of African and Caribbean Literature. Volume 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Association in the course directory
ÜAL 1, ÜAL 2, SAL A, SAL B,
MA: SAL.VO.1, SAL.VO.2,
EC-148, EC-647
MA: SAL.VO.1, SAL.VO.2,
EC-148, EC-647
Last modified: Fr 24.01.2025 19:25