Latest articles on African Literature

On language, power and privilege in tertiary education

Education Mandla Makhanya - 9 Jul 2020

Advocates of retaining Afrikaans as a language of instruction are blind to their own prejudices

Five must-read books by Ghanaian writers

Friday Sylvia Arthur - 3 Jul 2020

Sylvia Arthur, the founder of the Library of African and the African Diaspora in Accra, selects five works by her favourite Ghanaian authors

Meet the founder of Accra’s one-woman library

Friday Theresa Mallinson - 3 Jul 2020

Sylvia Arthur founded the Library for Africa and the African Diaspora to house her collection and share it with other readers

Afrolit Sans Frontières: Stories and writers in the comfort of your living room

Article Kwanele Sosibo - 23 Mar 2020

Zukiswa Wanner has organised a virtual literary festival, from March 23 to 30, to help readers and writers struggling with self-isolation

Achieving the litmus test of social relevance

Article Staff Reporter - 24 Feb 2020

The HSS Awards honours scholarly works based on their social relevance and contribution to the humanities and social sciences

Humanities Awards 2020 Long List Collection Inspiring …

Article Anele Ngcoya - 20 Dec 2019

Activists, poet and animals are explored in fascinating detail

Historical novel tests notion of nation

Article Lily Saint - 22 Nov 2019

The past explains the present but not the future because ‘that tiny chaos’ makes the future opaque

The Portfolio: Khulile Nxumal

Article Khulile Nxumalo - 25 Oct 2019

"Writing poetry requires you to reach a level of clarity and enjoyment of your voice."

Vignettes on our lives and dreams

Article Theresa Mallinson - 2 Aug 2019

The Jamaican-Nigerian writer explores living between cultures in her first short story collection

The science of writing fiction

Article Zaza Hlalethwa - 26 Jul 2019

Masande Ntshanga uses his imagination to create plausible relationships in his genre-bending novels

Jo’burg festival shines literary light on the youth

Article Suraya Dadoo - 19 Jul 2019

Although book festivals are generally perceived as adult events, this one is family-centred and includes specific programmes for children.

Binyavanga Wainaina dies, aged 48

Article Aaisha Dadi Patel - 22 May 2019

The Kenyan writer and activist died on Tuesday night after suffering a stroke

Book fair turns the page for literature in Somaliland

Africa Staff Reporter - 24 Jul 2018

The book fair has been a key factor in Somaliland's embrace of literature

Another Nigerian star emerges

Article Idowu Omoyele - 17 Nov 2017

Ayòbámi Adébáyò summons Yoruba folklore and a longstanding literary tradition in her debut novel

The President’s Keepers and state capture: black intellectualism needs to focus

Article Staff Reporter - 15 Nov 2017

South Africa has an undernourished literary tradition, where even among the sophisticated one may find confusion over written work and writers.

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