Philosophy, Language, and Literature in an African Context

This book analyzes the deeper philosophical meanings behind selected African poems, novels, and plays to provide new ways of understanding the relationship between philosophy and language. The contributors examine the backgrounds and philosophical worldviews of African literary writers and their use of fiction, myth, and drama to communicate truth.

List 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

About the author

Wilfred Lajul is associate professor of philoshy at Gulu University.

Product details

• Authors: Wilfred Lajul
• Assisted by: Wilfred Lajul (Editor), Wilfred Lajul (Editor)
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 15.01.2025
• EAN: 9781666952100
• ISBN: 978-1-66695-210-0
• No. of pages: 226
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Philosophy of Language, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, PHILOSOPHY / Language, Africa, LITERARY CRITICISM / African, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / African, Politics & government, Literature: history & criticism, Western philosophy from c 1800, Politics and government, Literature: history and criticism