Why has Africa become the Darling of World Literature in Recent Years?
The Year 2021, also known as: The Year of African Literature. African writers and literary works with African themes, have successively won the Nobel Prize and the Booker Prize. African literature has suddenly become a focus of attention in the world's cultural field, with its strong regional characteristics and unique customs - deeply loved by world literature fans.
Qinjian Wu, a senior Chinese Media Professional in South Africa, was born in Shanghai and graduated from Nanchang University. Now he is the Editor-in-Chief of the South African 365 news website. He is well respected within the South African media industry, especially in Chinese-language media. In addition to reporting on hard-hitting news stories and local customs in Africa and South Africa, Qinjian Wu has been focusing on the development of African culture for many years, especially African literature, and has published a number of related research articles. He is one of the few African literature experts of Chinese descent in the world today.
As the most influential Chinese African literature expert, Qinjian Wu’s main focus has been on the development of African culture in recent years, especially the research and promotion of African literature. He recently accepted an exclusive interview with the China News Agency’s East Meets West, where they discussed the development of African literature and the relationship between Chinese and African literature.
Please briefly introduce the development and characteristics of African literature in recent years.
Different from European and American literature - the linguistic characteristics of African literature and its unique national culture have become its brightest highlight, along with distinct regional characteristics. Modern African literature was born under the colonial rule of European and American countries, and gradually developed with the awakening of African people's national consciousness. It is an indispensable part of world literature.
Visitors at the Zeitz Museum of African Contemporary Art in Cape Town, South Africa. Credit: China News Agency, Xi Wang
The development of modern African literature has gone through four stages. Stage one came around in the first two decades of the 20th century, when African literature was inspired by and often referred to European and American literature - coexisting with local oral literature and storytelling. On one hand, the collection of native African myths, legends, epics, and fables were the main focus. On the other hand, there were a group of local writers, imitating the language and narrative style of the suzerainty literature to tell African stories.
The second stage occurred within the 1940s, during which, a group of African intellectuals continued to excavate the local history and culture through literary means, in order to awaken the African people's sense of national pride and identity. During the third stage, the movement was surging; countries had declared independence from one after another and writers had also written stories of the African people's heroic resistance to colonizers and national independence. The fourth stage dated back from the 1970s to the present day, is known as the "post-colonial stage" by academic circles, where the main themes within modern African literature focus on social commentary on post-colonial life.
Why has Africa become the darling of world literature in recent years?
Post-colonial literary themes have always been in the spotlight of the world’s cultural field. Although themes such as "post-colonial" and "diaspora" are not emerging themes - the physical and spiritual harm caused by "colonialism" continues to affect the people of Africa and other regions today. Furthermore, reflection on social issues within the post-colonial stage, have continued to be the ongoing themes within modern literature.
Recent years in particular, have focused on the living conditions of African ethnic groups, resulting in literary creations on such topics such as "just in time", which are more likely to resonate with contemporary audiences. For example, Gourner, the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature, has written with a focus on issues such as the post-colonial stage, focusing on the living conditions of human beings, and telling a distant story of diaspora for a more compassionate world. Stories like this are both fascinating and thought-provoking.
Namibian Himba women. Credit: China News Agency, Xi Wang
Secondly, African writers are often able to examine the current situation of Africa from a world perspective and discover its unknown side. Especially in the form of artistic expression, most African writers can boldly innovate on the basis of traditional ethnic characteristics and actively integrate other cultural elements together, thus presenting a unique sense of abundance.
In addition, the strong characteristics and local customs of African literature are more novel and interesting than traditional classic literary works. These unique elements make African literature unique to the world, attracting more readers, eager to learn more about Africa, thus becoming an important window for the outside world to understand Africa and its culture.
The "Ostrich Market" on the streets of Oudtshoorn, South Africa's "Ostrich Town". Credit: China News Agency, Xi Wang
Please enlighten us on the current situation and prospects of Sino-African literary exchanges.
Sino-African literary exchanges have a long history. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, during a period of significant social change - China introduced literary works from Egypt, South Africa and other countries, integrating new literary blood into China. After the founding of the People’s Republic, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, China and Africa also maintained a high degree of compatibility in literature due to their similar historical experiences of eradicating colonial ruling and striving for national independence. During this period China introduced African literary works including: The Old Man and the Medal. Most of these works served as ideological propaganda, and the exchange of visits between Chinese and African leaders became the main driving factor for Sino-African literary exchanges. After China’s reform and opening-up, China introduced African literary works mainly by African writers such as Kuche, Soyinka, Mahafouz and other African writers who have won the Nobel and Booker Literature Prizes. South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and others, also became influential countries for translating African literature.
In August 2018, the Blossoming Flowers of the theme parterre of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation attracted the public. Credit: China News Agency, Tianyong Jia
Since the beginning of the 21st century, with the successive advent of platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese and African writers have been able to communicate on a newer and broader platform. Compared with previous periods, the horizon of Sino-African literary exchanges in this period, have been greatly expanded and the types of translation are also more abundant. African authors and their works have continuously been introduced into China.
In fact, literary exchanges have now become one of the important drivers of Sino-African cultural exchanges, and will play an increasingly significant role in the future as Sino-African relations continue to develop in depth.
What are the main problems in current Sino-African literary exchanges?
African literature is complex, with works written in English, French, Portuguese, as well as in African languages such as Arabic and Swahili. With the exception of Egyptian writer Mahfouz, who became the first Arabic writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature - literary works written in local African languages are hardly known to the world. For example, in South Africa alone, there are 11 official languages other than English, each with their own literature works. The same issue exists for Sino-African literary exchanges. In particular, there are too few talents who master non-universal African languages such as Xhosa and Zulu, which has affected further understanding of African literature for Chinese literature lovers.
On the central square of Rosebank, the financial center of Johannesburg, South Africa, local art groups perform traditional African folk songs and dances on the street. Credit: China News Agency, Xi Wang
In recent years, driven by platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, a deep understanding of African literature is no longer out of reach. However, in addition to major languages such as English, French, and Arabic, enhancing the understanding of African languages will be the key to future Sino-African literary exchanges.
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