African Studies

Works of Criticism

The Cambridge history of African and Caribbean literature / edited by F. Abiola Irele and Simon Gikandi. New York : Cambridge University Press, 2003.

African theatre for development: art for self-determination / edited by Kamal Salhi. Exeter : Intellect, 1998.

Facts, fiction, and African creative imaginations / edited by Toyin Falola and Fallou Ngom. New York : Routledge, 2009.

Companion encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African film / edited by Oliver Leaman. London ; New York : Routledge, 2001.

Language and Literature

African Language Materials Archive -- Literary works

African Language Materials Archive -- Language learning materials, including video

Texts in the Literature Online collection:

South African Poetry Collection 

African Dramatists include:

Aidoo, Christina Ama

Bandele-Thomas, Biyi

Imbuga, F.D.

Ngugi Wa Thiong'o (James Ngugi)

Onwueme, Osonye Tess

For a complete list of African dramatists in the Literature Online collection, click "Texts," then "Drama," and select the appropriate country from the Nationality search box.

Choose Advanced Search. From the drop-down menu on the left, change Any Field to the Subject field. Try following subjects, to search as a phrase. Click Search.

Nigeria [South Africa, etc.]-- Literary collections
South African Literature
Nigerian Drama
South African Poetry
South African literature (English)--Women authors
Women--South Africa--Literary collections

Choose Advanced Search. From the drop-down menu on the left, change Any Field to the Subject field. You can search an author's name (last name, first name", followed by Criticism and interpretation.

For example, a subject search for:

Achebe, Chinua -- Criticism and interpretation

This will only search for books about the works of Chinua Achebe, not the works he wrote.

You will also want to use subject headings such as:

African literature -- 20th century [or 21st century, etc.] -- History and criticism
African literature (English) --  20th century -- History and criticism
Authors, Nigerian [South African, etc.] -- 20th century -- biography
Mozambican literature (Portuguese) -- 20th century -- History and criticism