Philosophy, Language, and Literature in an African Context

Philosophy, Language, and Literature in an African Contextinvestigates 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.

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