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Philosophy, Language, and Literature in an African Context

Edited by Wilfred Lajul - Contributions by Beatrice Abonga Ajok; Gloria Rashid Akello; Sarah Amarorwot; Aloysius Tenywa Malagala; Thaddeus Metz; Dorica Deborah Mirembe; Betty J. Okot; Charles Nelson Okumu and Peace Yikiru

Philosophy, Language, and Literature in an African Context investigates the link between philosophy and language in African literature. Wilfred Lajul and the contributors argue that African literature is more than the desire of literary writers to entertain or provoke thought, but rather a stylistic means through which they convey important information and philosophy. This book also probes into theories, contexts, and moral language in African literature, exploring their implications for language use. The contributors analyze linguistic, philosophical, and cultural worldviews of the African literary writers shown within their poetry, novels, and plays. This book provides new ways of understanding the relationship between philosophy and language in African literature.

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Lexington Books
Pages: 224 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
978-1-66695-210-0 • Hardback • January 2025 • $110.00 • (£85.00)
Subjects: Political Science / World / African, Literary Criticism / African, Philosophy / Language

Wilfred Lajul is professor of philosophy at Gulu University, Uganda.

Preface

Wilfred Lajul

Introduction: Exploring Philosophy and Language in African Literature

Wilfred Lajul

Part I: Language in African Literature

Chapter 1: An African Theoretical Basis of Philosophy and Language in African Literature

Wilfred Lajul

Chapter 2: The Wrongness of Slurs: Harm, Disrespect, and Discord

Thaddeus Metz

Chapter 3: Politics of Language in African Literature: Ngugi w’Thiongo and Chinua Achebe’s Debates

Sarah Amarorwot

Part II: Philosophy and Language in African Poetry

Chapter 4: Protest and Difference in the Poetry of Okot p’Bitek: A Case Study of Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol

Charles Nelson Okumu

Chapter 5: Changing Trends in Poetry of Protest in East Africa: A Case Study of Selected Poems of Susan Kiguli and Jared Angira

Peace Yikiru

Chapter 6: The Concept of Death in Selected Poems of Timothy Wangusa

Dorica Deborah Mirembe

Part III: Philosophy and Language in African Novels

Chapter 7: Anarchy in a State of Harmony: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

Aloysius Tenywa Malagala

Chapter 8: Political and Cultural Revival Discourse in Wole Soyinka’s Novels

Wilfred Lajul

Chapter 9: Ba’s Novel, So Long a Letter: A Glimpse of Women’s Resilience Amidst Cultural and Religious Oppression in Sub-Saharan Africa

Betty J. Okot

Part IV: Philosophy and Language in African Drama

Chapter 10: Language of Freedom in the Trial of Dedan Kimathi and I Will Marry When I Want

Peace Yikiru

Chapter 11: Clash of Values in Wole Soyinka’s Drama, The Lion and the Jewel: A Colonial Lens, and the African as the ‘Other’

Beatrice Abonga Ajok and Gloria Rashid Akello

Conclusion: Significance of Philosophy and Language in African Literature

Wilfred Lajul

About the Contributors

For those who would love to discover African thought and worldview through a creative use of language, Wilfred Lajul and the contributors of Philosophy, Language and Literature in an African Context are providing an incredibly refreshing menu of analytical work. They have excelled in presenting to the reader the expression of profound African values in a manner that is aesthetically enriching.


— Oswald K. Ndoleriire, Kabale University


This volume explores the nature of the relationship between African literatures, languages, and philosophies, or, as the editor, Wilfred Lajul, puts it, ‘the philosophy of language in African literature.’ Using selected examples of African poetry, novels and dramas by outstanding African writers such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Okot p'Bitek, Susan Kiguli, Jared Angira, and Mariama Ba, the contributors shed light on the relationship to the respective (linguistic) context of origin, the rootedness in worldviews and metaphysics as well as the problem of language choice, emphasizing the challenges and potentials within the plurality of African languages and the tension in colonial languages that African literature faces today.


— Anke Graness, University of Hildesheim


Philosophy, Language, and Literature in an African Context

Cover Image
Hardback
Summary
Summary
  • Philosophy, Language, and Literature in an African Context investigates the link between philosophy and language in African literature. Wilfred Lajul and the contributors argue that African literature is more than the desire of literary writers to entertain or provoke thought, but rather a stylistic means through which they convey important information and philosophy. This book also probes into theories, contexts, and moral language in African literature, exploring their implications for language use. The contributors analyze linguistic, philosophical, and cultural worldviews of the African literary writers shown within their poetry, novels, and plays. This book provides new ways of understanding the relationship between philosophy and language in African literature.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 224 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
    978-1-66695-210-0 • Hardback • January 2025 • $110.00 • (£85.00)
    Subjects: Political Science / World / African, Literary Criticism / African, Philosophy / Language
Author
Author
  • Wilfred Lajul is professor of philosophy at Gulu University, Uganda.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Preface

    Wilfred Lajul

    Introduction: Exploring Philosophy and Language in African Literature

    Wilfred Lajul

    Part I: Language in African Literature

    Chapter 1: An African Theoretical Basis of Philosophy and Language in African Literature

    Wilfred Lajul

    Chapter 2: The Wrongness of Slurs: Harm, Disrespect, and Discord

    Thaddeus Metz

    Chapter 3: Politics of Language in African Literature: Ngugi w’Thiongo and Chinua Achebe’s Debates

    Sarah Amarorwot

    Part II: Philosophy and Language in African Poetry

    Chapter 4: Protest and Difference in the Poetry of Okot p’Bitek: A Case Study of Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol

    Charles Nelson Okumu

    Chapter 5: Changing Trends in Poetry of Protest in East Africa: A Case Study of Selected Poems of Susan Kiguli and Jared Angira

    Peace Yikiru

    Chapter 6: The Concept of Death in Selected Poems of Timothy Wangusa

    Dorica Deborah Mirembe

    Part III: Philosophy and Language in African Novels

    Chapter 7: Anarchy in a State of Harmony: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

    Aloysius Tenywa Malagala

    Chapter 8: Political and Cultural Revival Discourse in Wole Soyinka’s Novels

    Wilfred Lajul

    Chapter 9: Ba’s Novel, So Long a Letter: A Glimpse of Women’s Resilience Amidst Cultural and Religious Oppression in Sub-Saharan Africa

    Betty J. Okot

    Part IV: Philosophy and Language in African Drama

    Chapter 10: Language of Freedom in the Trial of Dedan Kimathi and I Will Marry When I Want

    Peace Yikiru

    Chapter 11: Clash of Values in Wole Soyinka’s Drama, The Lion and the Jewel: A Colonial Lens, and the African as the ‘Other’

    Beatrice Abonga Ajok and Gloria Rashid Akello

    Conclusion: Significance of Philosophy and Language in African Literature

    Wilfred Lajul

    About the Contributors

Reviews
Reviews
  • For those who would love to discover African thought and worldview through a creative use of language, Wilfred Lajul and the contributors of Philosophy, Language and Literature in an African Context are providing an incredibly refreshing menu of analytical work. They have excelled in presenting to the reader the expression of profound African values in a manner that is aesthetically enriching.


    — Oswald K. Ndoleriire, Kabale University


    This volume explores the nature of the relationship between African literatures, languages, and philosophies, or, as the editor, Wilfred Lajul, puts it, ‘the philosophy of language in African literature.’ Using selected examples of African poetry, novels and dramas by outstanding African writers such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Okot p'Bitek, Susan Kiguli, Jared Angira, and Mariama Ba, the contributors shed light on the relationship to the respective (linguistic) context of origin, the rootedness in worldviews and metaphysics as well as the problem of language choice, emphasizing the challenges and potentials within the plurality of African languages and the tension in colonial languages that African literature faces today.


    — Anke Graness, University of Hildesheim


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