West African Literature Flashcards
(13 cards)
The most iconic African novel, depicting pre-colonial Igbo life and its collapse under colonial rule.
Things fall apart by chinua achebe
Sequel to Things Fall Apart, exploring postcolonial disillusionment and corruption.
No longer at ease by chinua achebe
Magical realist novel that blends myth, politics, and spirituality, narrated by a spirit child, Azaro.
The famished road by ben okri
Set during the Biafran War, it highlights ethnic identity, war, and love in postcolonial Nigeria.
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Feminist novel exploring the burdens placed on Nigerian women under both traditional and modern pressures.
The joys of motherhood by buchi emecheta
Complex political allegory by Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, tackling themes of freedom, morality, and political decay.
Season of anomy by wole soyinka
- Father of modern African literature.
- Celebrated for portraying African societies before and after colonization with nuance and dignity.
Chinua Achebe
- First African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1986).
- Known for plays, poetry, and novels addressing tyranny, culture, and spirituality.
Wole Soyinka
Global literary icon known for feminist writing, postcolonial themes, and accessible prose.
Works include Purple Hibiscus, Americanah, and Dear Ijeawele
Chimmanda Ngozi Adichie
Pioneer of African feminist literature, emphasizing the challenges faced by women in both patriarchal and colonial systems.
Buchi Emecheta
Known for magical realism and spiritual depth; author of The Famished Road.
Ben Okri
Contemporary voices in global Nigerian fiction addressing diaspora, identity, and politics.
Sefi Atta, Helon Habila, and Teju Cole
a seminal postcolonial novel that introduced African literature to the global stage.
Set in pre-colonial Nigeria among the Igbo people, it chronicles the life of Okonkwo, a proud warrior whose world unravels as British colonialism and Christianity take hold.
Things fall apart by chinua achebe
