Writing in English by Africans goes back to the 1700's, although a genuine African literature in English did not emerge until the mid-twentieth century.
African countries with notable English language literatures include Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. African authors writing in English have also come from other African countries, such as Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Morocco, Somalia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
GETTING STARTED with Reference Sources To begin your library research, consult reference sources for a general overview or summary of your topic. You can test your main concepts or keywords. If you haven't decided on a point of view, an overview will help you focus your research and provide a context. It often includes a list of books and articles for further reading.
A reference book, such as a specialized encyclopedia or dictionary, provides:
A brief overview of a topic
Significant names and dates associated with the topic
Terminology specific to the topic
Related subjects and terms which might be used when searching for books and articles
Other sources where more information might be found
SELECTED REFERENCE SOURCES: Here are selected reference materials in the following categories: Biographical Sources, Literary Criticism, Research & Bibliographies and a Language Dictionary. Each of these works contains substantial sections on English language literature by African authors.
Biographical Sources
African authors;;a companion to Black African writing / Herdeck, Donald E., 1924- • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .H38
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NOTE: Bio-bibliographies of African writers. Volume one covers 1300 to 1973.
NOTE: A bio-bibliographic dictionary including references and index.
The companion to African literatures • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR9340 .C65 2000
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Dictionary of children's fiction from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and selected African countries : books of recognized merit / Helbig, Alethea. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR9084 .H45 1992
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NOTE: Bio-bibliographies of Commonwealth authors of children's stories written in English. Includes index.
Encyclopedia of African literature • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .E63 2003
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The Penguin companion to classical, Oriental & African literature • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN41 .P43 v.2
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NOTE: Part of a world literature series. Provides bio-bibliographic entries.
South African writers • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v. 225
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NOTE: One of the Dictionary of Literary Biography series. A bio-bibliographic dictionary of South African authors, including those writing literature in English.
Twentieth-century Caribbean and Black African writers • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN451 .D54 v. 157
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NOTE: Third in the Dictionary of Literary Biography series on Twentieth-century Caribbean and Black African Writers. First series is volume 117; second series is volume 125. Each series collects biographical and critical essays on major writers from Africa and the Caribbean. Included is a chronology of works and a list of references for each author.
NOTE: Provides brief biographical sketches with bibliographies and portraits. Includes indexes of languages and authors grouped by language.
Literary Criticism, Research & Bibliographies
African history and literatures;;classification schedule, classified listing by call number, chronological listing, author and title listing • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .H37
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NOTE: The Harvard University Widener Library shelflist provides an excellent bibliography of African literature originally written in English. Included are general works, bibliographies, history, and collections by countries and authors.
African literature and its times / Moss, Joyce, 1951- • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .M65 2000
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NOTE: Volume 2 of the series World Literature and its Times. Covers history and criticism of African literature. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Bibliography of African women writers and journalists : ancient Egypt-1984 / Berrian, Brenda F. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .B47 1985
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NOTE: Bibliography of women authors in African literature, including those who have written original works in English.
A bibliography of neo-African literature from Africa, America, and the Caribbean / Jahn, Janheinz. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .J322
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Black Africa : literature and language / Klíma, Vladimír. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .K54
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NOTE: History and criticism of African literature. Offers sections on West African literature in standard English and South African writing in English. Includes references and indexes.
Black African literature in English, 1992-1996 / Lindfors, Bernth. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR9340 .L5 2000
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NOTE: Continues Black African literature in English, 1987-1991 and its predecessors Black African literature in English, 1982-1986, Black African literature in English, 1977-1981 supplement and Black African literature in English, a guide to information sources. Includes indexes.
Black African literature in English : a guide to information sources / Lindfors, Bernth. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PR9340 .L5
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Black literature criticism : excerpts from criticism of the most significant works of Black authors over the past 200 years • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PS153.N5 B556 1992
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NOTE: International in scope, this three volume work covers American, English and French literature by Black authors. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. A Supplement was published in 1999.
European-language writing in sub-Saharan Africa • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PL8010 .E86 1986
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A new reader's guide to African literature / Zell, Hans M. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN849.A35 Z44 1983
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A reader's guide to African literature / Zell, Hans M. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PN849.A35 Z44
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Language Dictionary
A dictionary of Africanisms : contributions of sub-Saharan Africa to the English language / Dalgish, Gerard M. • Location: Haggard 2 -Reference PE3401 .D3 1982
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Find Books and more in our Library Use the Library Catalog to locate materials within our collection. The Library Catalog provides location, call number and bibliographic information for the books, journals, newspapers, selected government documents, microforms and other media, as well as online or electronic resources owned or accessed by the Western Libraries.
Books Books are the most comprehensive and easiest to obtain sources of information. In the WWU Library Catalog, look up any books cited in your overview. To find additional materials, search by clicking on the subject headings listed in the record. Also, browse on the bookshelves in relevant call number areas.
Keyword searching Another way to search for books and other materials is by Keyword. Select the Keyword search option from the Online Catalog. Break down your search by key concepts. For example, the Keyword search Africa and poetry will retrieve the following book:
Ojaide, Tanure and Tijan M. Sallah, eds. The new African poetry : an anthology. Boulder, CO : Lynne Reinner, 2000. Call # PL8013.E5 N478 2000
Use broader terms to expand your search. For example, the keyword search Commonwealth and literature will find books on English language literatures in countries that were part of the British Empire, including some African countries. Try narrower terms to focus your search, depending on your topic. For example, try the keyword search Africa and women and authors, or search by country name and genre, such as Nigeria and drama.
Subject searching Western Libraries Catalog uses Library of Congress Subject Headings. The library assigns subject headings to all materials listed in the online catalog. The following are selected subject headings relating to topics on African literature in English:
African Literature English Use African Literature English as the main subject heading for works by African authors originally written in English.
Some subheading examples: African literature English -- 20th century | African literature English -- Black authors | African literature English -- History and criticism | African literature English -- Women authors
Examples of related subjects: Africa in literature | African fiction English -- History and criticism | African poetry English | African prose literature English | Children's literature, African English | English literature -- Africa, Sub-saharan | Exiles' writings, African English | Literature, Comparative -- English and Afrikaans | Nigerian literature (English) | Protest literature, African English | Short stories, African English | South African literature (English) -- Black authors | West African literature (English) -- Women authors | Young adult literature, African English
Find articles For information about using specialized periodical indexes and databases to find articles on world literatures in English, go to World Literatures in English: Find Articles.
Here are two journals providing articles on topics about African literature in English:
Guides to Selected Works Included in these guides are seminal and recent works. Most can be checked-out. Be sure to consult the Western Libraries Online Catalog for location and availability.
Africa South of the Sahara: Literature Features a directory of Web sites that focus on Sub-Saharan African literature, presented as part of an online social science resource of Stanford University. Includes information on magazines and associations and contains biographical sketches of authors. Links to electronic discussion groups.
Africa Speaks: West African University Students Write About Their Lives A collection of English-language essays by West African university students in which they write about growing up and living in West Africa on the fault line between traditional and western cultures. The students wrote the texts from 1990 to 1992 at the University of Niamey in the Niger Republic in English Writing and Literature courses taught by Patricia Stoll, Fulbright Professor of Writing and Literature.
African Literature: Bibliographies The Africana Collection within the George A. Smathers Libraries of the University of Florida in Gainesville provides a bibliography of African literature written in English, as well as reference books and bibliographies on African literature housed within the collection. To locate any of these titles, check our catalog and Summit, then try interlibrary loan.
African Literature on the World Wide Web An Adelaide University, Australia, Library Guide to web resources created and maintained by Alan Keig, the Research Librarian for English, as part of his English Literature resources website.
African Postcolonial Literature in English A part of Contemporary Postcolonial and Postimperial Literature in English, "a collection of materials on recent postcolonial and postimperial literature in English," compiled by George P. Landow, Professor of English and Art History, Brown University. This section is an overview of recent literature in English from African authors. Provides sections on individual countries, including Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, as well as specific authors.
Voice of the Shuttle: English Literature: Other Literatures in English: Africa Extensive site created and maintained by Alan Liu and a development team at the University of California, Santa Barbara English Department. Might be the most comprehensive Humanities resource. Presents links to general resources in African literature, literary criticism, and collections of sites on important individual African authors writing in English. Offers access to sites on other literatures written in English.
Summit Summit is the combined library catalog of Pacific Northwest academic libraries. Use Summit to locate and request materials like books and videos which are not available from Western Libraries. To access Summit, search our library catalog first, then choose the option to “Repeat search in Summit”.
Jeanne Armstrong Reference and Instruction
Deptartments and Programs: American Cultural Studies, Anthropology, English, International Studies,Sociology and Women Studies
Office: Haggard Hall 227
Phone: 360-650-7667
Email: Jeanne Armstrong
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Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3-4 p.m. or by appointment
