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| Africa's 100 Best Books |
| These are the initial titles, in
alphabetical order of author, submitted for consideration in the
compilation of the list of Africa's 100 best books, as at 28 June 2000. If you would like to nominate titles to add to this list, please see the instructions here. Abou Khouzaam, Ibrahim Al-Arab wa
Tawazen Al-Kowaa Fi Al-Karn al Bâ, Mariama Fortunes of Wangrin Bâ, Mariama Un Chant Écarlate [Scarlet Song] Badian, Seduo Caught in the Storm Balogun, F. Odun Adjusted Lives: Stories of Structural Adjustments Barry, Boubacar Senegambia and the Atlantic Slave Trade Bekerie, Ayele Ethiopil, An African Writing System: Its History & Principles Bemath, Abdul Samed Mazruiana Collection: A Comprehensive Annotated Bibliography of the Published Works of Ali A. Mazrui, 1962-1997 Beti, Mongo Mission Terminée Bhebe, Ngwabi ZAPU and ZANU Guerrilla Warfare and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe Biko, Steve I Write What I Like Blackman, Michael "Companies", In The Law Of South Africa, First Reissue, Vol 4, Parts 1, 2 And 3 Bole Odaga, Asenath Endless Road Bole Odaga, Asenath Secrets Bond, Patrick Uneven Zimbabwe: A Study of Finance, Development & Under-Development Brink, André Imaginings of Sand Brink, André Looking on Darkness Browder, Anthony T. Nile Valley Contribution to Civilization Brutus, Dennis A Simple Lust Campbell, Julie Anno's Kite Dangarembga, Tsisti Nervous Conditions Darmani, Lawrence Stories from Afirca Book 2 Day, Jenny Vanishing Waters De La Harpe, Roger and Pat Zulu Diop, B. Les Contes D'amadou Koumba Diop, Cheikh Anta Nations nègres et culture: De l'antiquité nègre égyptienne aux problèmes culturels de l'Afrique Noire d'aujourd'hui Diop, Cheikh Anta Djebar Diop, Cheikh Anta Assia Doo-Kingue, Michel Quelle Démocratie Afrique? Echewa, T. Obinkaram I Saw the Sky
Catch Fire Fagunwa, D. O. Forest of One
Thousand Daemons Gado, Boureima Alpha Histoire des Famines au Sahel Gaidzanwa, Rudo Images of Women in Zimbabwean Literature Gakaara Wa Wanjau Mwandiki wa Mau Mau Ithamirio-Ini Giorgis, Dawit Wolde Red Tears: War, Famine & Revolution in Ethiopia Godwin, Peter Mukiwa Gombe, Jairos Tsika Dzavashona Gurnah, Abdulrazak Paradise Hadland, Adrian and Rantao Jovial:
The Life and Times of Thabo Mbeki Ide, Adamou La Camisole de Paille Jabavu, Noni Ochre People Kambikambi, Clement Gem for the
Pasha Laye, Camara Radiance of the King Lendrum, Peggy Visit to Africa Lessing, Doris Grass Is Singing Lewin, Hugh Bandiet Lisimba, Mukumbuta Kongo Proverbs & the Origin Bantu Widsom Logan, Cathol Sandbird MacGoye, Marjorie Oludhe Coming to
Birth Nasson, Bill Abraham Esau's War Ndlovu, Bernard Dima Umvuzo Wezinyembezi Ndondo, Lassie Qaphela Ingane Ngcope, Nomvuyo Voice from SOMAFCO Ngcope & Nxopo, Dinah & Thobeka Nqaphela Ndikhule Ngcope-Masabelala, Dinah Mhca Ngengqawule Ngemu, Lubabalo Amadona La Afunani Ezintsaneni Ngugi wa Thion'go Grain of Wheat Ngugi wa Thion'go River Between Ngugi wa Thion'go Petals of Blood Ngwane, George Settling Disputes in Africa Nkrumah, Kwame Africa Must Unite Nkrumah, Kwame Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism Nnameka, Obioma Sisterhood, Feminism and Power: From Africa to the Diaspora Nyaba, Peter Adwok Politics of Liberation in Southern Sudan Ocwinyo, Julius Fate of the Banished p'Bitek, Okot Song of Lawino Pepetala A Geração da Utopia Plaatje, Solomon Mhudi Pongweni, Alec Songs that Won the Liberation War Prah, Kwesi Kwaa Beyond the Colorline: Pan-Africanist Disputations, Selected Sketches, Letters, Papers and Reviews Rajeb Guerfaal/Banaani, Ibrahim/Sawzia Kiraat
Fi Illm Annafss Wa Attarbia Sabiq, El-Sayyed Fiqh Et Sunnah Tesfagiorgis, Abeba Painful Season & A Stubborn Hope: The Odyssey of an Eritrean Mother Tibebu, Teshale Making of Modern Ethiopia, 1896-1974 Tingay, Paul Wildest Africa Tuma, Hama Case of the Socialist Witchdoctor and Other Stories Tutuola, Amos Palm-wine Drinkard Unene, Hudson Ounce of Love van Onselen, Charles Seed is Mine Wague Diakite, Baba Hunterman and
the Crocodile Zenzo-Shand, Sekai Song of a
Zimbabwean Sunset |
| African Children's Literature by Lillian Temu Osaki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Children's
authors treated on this web site A
few links to other web pages on African children's literature Select
Re Bibliography from the University of Florida Libraries Other
African Children's Literature Authors Available At UF Libraries Introduction What do we mean by "African children's
literature"? A quick definition is "literature written for
African children by African authors either in the vernacular or in a
foreign language" (Meniru 1992:43). This simple definition failed
me as I began reing the biographies of authors whose books I had
selected, read, and appreciated as suitable for African children. Some
of these books (e.g. Who's in Rabbit's House? A Maasai tale
retold; Why Mosquitoes buzz in peoples ears: A West African tale
retold; Tales of Temba; and Kyekyekulee, Grandmothers
tales) were written by non-African authors. Verna Aardema, Peggy
Appiah, and Kathleen Arnott are not Africans, but does the ethnic origin
of an author disqualify her books as culturally African? The purpose of this web page is to introduce scholars
interested in African children's literature to a variety of material
that is available for re in this area. I hope that what I have
gathered here will serve as a useful starting point to anyone else
interested in studying or doing re in African children's
literature.* Pre-colonial literature African children's literature may be categorized as
pre-colonial, colonial or post-colonial. Pre-colonial literature was
basically oral. It was valued as "one of the major means by which
societies educated, instructed, and socialised their younger
members" (Odaga 1985:1). With the introduction of formal education,
most of that which previously would have been considered oral
literature--proverbs, riddles, tales, taboos, legends--is now available
in print. Despite this, oral literature is not a thing of the past. In
many African societies it is still alive and active. Much of it is still
created daily, it is constantly being adjusted to new developments and
continues to take on new dimensions. Colonial period During the colonial period African children in government
and missionary schools were introduced to children's literature that was
alien to their experience. Books like Black Beauty, Sleeping
Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, and
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves are a few examples. These books
have a western background and are based on western values. While some of
them present moral teachings, I would argue that African children would
have benefited more if they had read these books alongside books that
had an African background with African cultural values. Those who regard
oral and written literature as having equal values might argue that this
was achieved because the African child despite being introduced to
western literature was at the same time still listening to stories and
proverbs at home. This was not the case. The introduction of formal
education emphasized written literature as mature, civilized, and
conscious of its art, and considered oral literature as primitive and
lacking in technique. Post-colonial literature The books by the authors that I selected for this web page
represent the literature produced for African children after
colonialism. This material is now available to children in African
schools and around the world. Despite having an African background it
can be and is read by children from many different backgrounds. *Note
also that the African Studies
Association announces a children's
book award at its annual meetings. Another resource is the Cooperative
Children's Book Center at the University
of Wisconsin (Ginny Moore Kruse, Librarian). Children's authors treated on this web site Verna Aardema.
United States (1911-) A few links to other web pages on African
children's literature Africa Access
includes information on African children's book awards and
"contains reviews and annotations of over 900 materials on
Africa." The Centre for
International Re in Childhood at the University of Reading
provides a good starting point. The Africa Access Review
Of Children's Materials on Africa, edited by Brenda Randolph. The University of South
Africa Children's
Literature Re Unit (CLRU) includes academic publications,
children's book awards, a bio-bibliography of Joan Rankin and the CLRU
archives/book collection. The South
African Children's Literature Collection at UCT
[see the same page for their historical Children's Literature
Collection]: "Books published in South Africa from 1989 and
exhibited annually by the Children's Book Forum of the Western Cape make
up the core of this collection, apparently the only one of its kind in
the country. The Children's Book Forum was founded in 1987, its aim
being to encourage the writing, illustration, publishing and reading of,
and re into, children's books in South Africa. The National
Library of South Africa's Centre
for the Book in Cape Town refers reers to this collection. The
Centre's mission is to "contribute toward the development of
reading, especially among children...", most appropriate, in this,
"Masifunde sonke" the Year of the Reader." N.B. The Centre for the Book hosts an active e-group on
South African Children's Literature. To join, email cln@nlsa.ac.za
or find out more at https://www.nlsa.ac.za/cb "The collection
contains many useful texts used in the study of South Africa's
languages. It is consulted by reers in a number of disciplines
such as English, Afrikaans, African Languages and Education, others
reing the sociology of South African childhood as portrayed in
children's books, as well as educators, book illustrators, writers and
publishers. The University Libraries' Manuscripts & Archives
Department holds original artwork by South Africa's premier children's
book illustrator, Niki Daly, whose books are housed in this
collection." Jacaranda
Designs "offers a unique blend of images from Africa's past and
present. They continue to publish international award-winning children's
books as well as adding a wider pan-African list to express optimism
about Africa." One of their many bilingual (English and Swahili)
publications for children is Mchesi
goes to school. "Started seven years ago by the Foundation for the
Promotion of Children's Science Publications in Africa (CHISCI), the Pan-African
Children's Book Fair (PACBF) is a fair with a difference. At the
core of CHISCI's concern in initiating this activity was the African
child and the need to stimulate a learning environment that captures and
nurtures the child's inherent qualities of imagination, curiosity and
creativity. The PACBF therefore is not merely an exhibition of books but
has a dynamic atmosphere built around it deliberately to enhance the
precious centre that books occupy in the learning life of a child"
(Bellagio Publishing Newsletter, Number 23. October, 1998). Sam Mbure is a Kenyan
author who writes poetry and children's books among other things. Works cited Odaga, Asenath Bole. Literature for children and young
people in Kenya. Nairobi: Kenya literature Bureau, 1985. Meniru, Teresa. "Children's Literature: Progress and
Problems." in Children and Literature in Africa. Ed. Ernest
N. Emenyonu. Ibadan: Heinemann, 1992. Select Re Bibliography from the
University of Florida Libraries Odiase, J. O. U. African Books for Children and Young
Adults (A select Bibliography and check list). Benin: Nationwide
Publication, 1986. Heale, Jay. SACBIP 95 : All South African Children's
Books in print 1995. Grabow: Bookchat, 1995. Johnson, James P. Africana for Children and Young
people. A Current Guide for Teachers and Librarians. Westport:
Greenwood Periodicals, 1971. Jones, Eldred D. and Marjorie Jones (eds.) Childhood in
African literature : a review. Trenton, N.J. : Africa World Press,
1998. (African literature today ; 21). Khoran, Meena. Africa in Literature for Children and
Young Adults: An Annotated Bibliography of English-Language Books.
Westport: Greenwood Press, 1994. Mills, Joyce White. The Black World in Literature for
Children: A Bibliography of Print and Non-Print Materials. Vol 2. Atlanta:
Atlanta University School of Library, 1976. Proceeding, Papers, and Summaries of discussions of the
Seminar on Creative Writing and Publishing for Children in Africa today
12th- 14th January 1983. Freetown: Sierra Leone Central Library, 1983. Schmidt, Nancy J. Children's Books on Africa and their
authors: An Annotated Bibliography. New York: Africana Publishing
Co, 1975. -----. Supplement to Children's Books on Africa and
their authors. An Annotated Bibliography. New York: Africana
Publishing Co, 1979. Yenika-Agbaw, Vivian. 1998. "Images of West Africa in
children's books: Replacing old stereotypes with new ones?" New
Advocate 11:3 (203-218). [Reprinted with permission in Alternative
library literature : a biennial anthology 1998/99]. Other African Children's Literature Authors
Available At UF Libraries |
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