African Literature

This book examines African literature and society addressing visual language as stylistic and narrative technique in isiZulu editorial cartoons, translation evaluation in television adaptations, and social issues in novels. It covers use of humour to expose political issues, syntactic analysis of poetic texts, and family and marital issues in music, and it also:

• Provides comprehensive analysis of African literature and society examining visual language as stylistic and narrative technique in isiZulu editorial cartoons, translation evaluation in television adaptations, and social issues in novels addressing nation and devastation themes.

• Examines use of humour in various texts to expose political issues in South African society including syntactic analysis and interpretation of poetic texts and family and marital issues in music with emphasis on literary techniques and social commentary.

• Addresses representations of African women in poetry and novels including expression of the importance of the role of women in selected Zulu poems, female representation in contemporary literature, and gender-based violence in Sesotho novels.

• Discusses masculinist critique of images of men in novels including deconstruction of depiction of boys as heroes and strong individuals in isiZulu folktales with emphasis on gender representation and identity construction in African literature.

• Examines chronicles of the law of marriage in Xhosa as depicted in drama addressing cultural practices, legal frameworks, and gender relations in African societies through literary analysis and interpretation.

This title has been co-published with UKZN Press. T&F does not sell or distribute the print versions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nogwaja S. Zulu is Professor of African Literature at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He has published widely in African literature. He writes novels and short stories in isiZulu and Sesotho. His research focuses on African literary traditions, language, and cultural studies.

Thulani Mkhize is Senior Lecturer in English Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus, South Africa. She specializes in African literature. She serves as Academic Leader for Literary Arts and Postgraduate Coordinator in English Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her research focuses on African literary studies and literary arts.