Theory of African Literature: Implications for Practical Criticism (African Culture Archive)

“This groundbreaking work, first published in 1989, was one of the first to challenge the conventional critical assessment of African literature, and remains highly influential today. Amuta’s key argument is that African literature can be discussed only within the wider framework of the dismantling of colonial rule and Western hegemony in Africa. In exploring the possibility of a dialectical, alternative critical base, he draws upon both classical Marxist aesthetics and the theories of African culture espoused by Fanon, Cabral and Ngugi. From these explorations, Amuta derives a new language of criticism, which is then applied to works by modern African writers as diverse as Achebe, Ousmane, Agostinho Neto and Dennis Brutus. Amuta’s highly original and innovative approach remains relevant not only for assessing the literature of developing countries, but for Marxist and postcolonial theories of literary criticism more generally. The author’s elegance of argument and clarity of exposition makes this a distinguished and lasting contribution to debates around cultural expression in postcolonial Africa.” Cover About the Author Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Foreword by Biodun Jeyifo Preface Introduction 1. Ideological Formations in the Criticism of African Literature Criticism, Ideology and Society: A Dialectical Overview The Class Position of the Critic Aspects of Bourgeois Criticism Notes 2. Traditionalism and the Quest for an African Literary Aesthetic The Intellectual Climate An African World View: Illusion or Reality? Pitfalls of Traditionalist Aesthetics Notes 3. Marxism and African Literature Marxist Aesthetics: An Open-ended Legacy Politics and Ideology in African Literature African Literature and the National Question The Class Question: African Literature or Literature of the African People? Beyond Orthodox Marxism: The Framework for a Post-Marxist Theory of African Literature and Culture Notes 4. A Dialectical Theory of African Literature: Categories and Springboards Dialectics and Cultural Theory Categories for a Dialectical Theory of African Literature Springboards for a Dialectical Theory of African Literature and Culture Notes 5. Issues and Problems in African Literature: A Dialectical Revision African Literature: Beyond Definition African Literature and its Audience The Language Question Commitment and Alignment Continuities from the Past Aesthetics and Critical Values The Limits of Literature Implications for Practical Criticism Notes 6. History and the Dialectics of Narrative in the African Novel Problems in the Sociology of the African Novel The Materialism of Cultural Nationalism: Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God Proletarian Consciousness and the Anti-Colonial Struggle: Ousmane's God's Bits of Wood Class Struggle and the Socialist Vision: Ngugi's Petals of Blood Notes 7. Drama and Revolution in Africa Politics and Ideology in Contemporary African Drama: Theoretical Observations Historical Reconstruction and Class Struggle in Anti-Imperialist Drama: The Trial of Dedan Kimathi and I Will Marry When I Want Contemporary Contradictions and the Revolutionary Alternative: Once Upon Four Robbers and Morountodun Notes 8. Poetry and Liberation Politics in Africa Poetry and Politics: The Dialectic of Commitment The Poetic Essence of National Liberation: Agostinho Neto's Sacred Hope Poetry as Political Polemic: Odia Ofeimun's The Poet Lied Notes 9. Beyond Decolonization Select Bibliography Index This Groundbreaking Work, First Published In 1989, Was One Of The First To Challenge The Conventional Critical Assessment Of African Literature, And Remains Highly Influential Today. Amuta's Key Argument Is That African Literature Can Be Discussed Only Within The Wider Framework Of The Dismantling Of Colonial Rule And Western Hegemony In Africa. In Exploring The Possibility Of An Alternative Critical Base, He Draws Upon Both Classical Marxist Aesthetics And The Theories Of African Culture Espoused By Fanon, Cabral And Ngugi. From These Explorations, Amuta Derives A New Language Of Criticism, Which Is Then Applied To Works By Modern African Writers As Diverse As Achebe, Ousmane, Agostinho Neto And Dennis Brutus. Amuta's Innovative Approach Remains Relevant Not Only For Assessing The Literature Of Developing Countries, But For Marxist And Postcolonial Theories Of Literary Criticism More Generally. The Author's Elegance Of Argument And Clarity Of Exposition Makes This A Distinguished And Lasting Contribution To Debates Around Cultural Expression In Postcolonial Africa.--back Cover. Ideological Formations In The Criticism Of African Literature -- Traditionalism And The Quest For An African Literary Aesthetic -- Marxism And African Literature -- A Dialectical Theory Of African Literature: Categories And Springboards -- Issues And Problems In African Literature: A Dialectical Revision -- History And The Dialectics Of Narrative In The African Novel -- Drama And Revolution In Africa -- Poetry And Liberation Politics In Africa -- Beyond Decolonization. Chidi Amuta ; With A New Foreword By Biodun Jeyifo. African Culture Archive--cover. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 200-203) And Index. This groundbreaking work was one of the first to challenge the conventional critical assessment of African literature, and, it remains as highly influential on our understanding of African literature as when it was first published. In it, Chidi Amuta argues that African literature is best approached within the wider framework of the dismantling of colonial rule and Western hegemony in Africa. Amuta draws upon both classical Marxist aesthetics and the theories of African culture espoused by Frantz Fanon, Amilcar Cabral, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o in order to establish a new language of criticism, which he then applies to a diverse array of works by modern African writers such as Chinua Achebe, Ousmane Sembène, Agostinho Neto, and Dennis Brutus. Amuta’s highly original and innovative approach remains relevant not only as a way to assess the literature of developing countries, but for Marxist and postcolonial theories of literary criticism more generally. __Theory of African Literature__ is a distinguished and lasting contribution to debates around cultural expression in post-colonial Africa. A classic work that overturns conventional assessments of African literature, offering a unique contribution to literary criticism.