African Languages and Literatures in the 21st Century

This edited book examines the crucial role still played by African languages in pedagogy and literatures in the 21st century, generating insights into how they effectively serve cultural needs across the African continent and beyond. Boldly positioning African languages as key resources in the 21st century, chapters focus on themes such as language revolt by marginalized groups at grassroots level, the experience of American students learning African languages, female empowerment through the use of African languages in music, film and literary works, and immigration issues. The contributions are written by scholars of language, literature, education and linguistics, and the book will be of interest to students and scholars in these and related areas.

Explores the interplay of language, literature, and education in Africa and beyond Seeks to bridge the gap between the African continent and the rest of the world, including diaspora cultures and literatures Examines multilingual and multicultural Africa in the context of 21st-century neo-colonialism and globalization Foregrounds marginalized groups, female empowerment and immigration issues.

Autorentext

Esther Mukewa Lisanza is Assistant Professor in the Department of African Studies at Howard University, USA. She holds a Ph.D. in language and literacy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA. Her research and publications centre on language and literacy development, politics of language in education, African education, and women empowerment in Africa.

Leonard Muaka is an Associate Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Howard University, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA. He has taught in Kenya, Mexico and USA, and his research focuses on youth language, language and identity, political language, and multilingualism.

Inhalt
Chapter 1: Introduction (Esther Mukewa Lisanza and Leonard Muaka).- SECTION 1: Language and Education.- Chapter 2: 21st Century North Africa: Nationalism, Globalization and the Struggle for Tamazight Language (Ali Alalou).- Chapter 3: Appropriation of Orature for Pedagogy by Early Yorùbá Christians (Damola Adesina and Sola Olorunyomi).- Chapter 4: Swahili Learning in the United States: What Does it Mean? (Esther Mukewa Lisanza).- Chapter 5: Learning that Brings Joy in an African Language Class: The Power of Reflection and Service Learning (Dainess Maganda).- Chapter 6: Linguistic Commodification and Africa's Linguistic Identities: Creating a Nexus! (Leonard Muaka).- SECTION 2: Language and Literatures.- Chapter 7: Voicing the Silenced Through African Tongues: An Examination of Moolaadé and Tumaini (Rose Sau Lugano).- Chapter 8: Racism and Identity crisis of a Muslim immigrant in Ahmed's Mhanga Nafsi Yangu (Mohamed Mwamzandi).- Chapter 9: An Examination of Okot P' Bitek's Song of Lawino as a Mega Metaphor for the African Indigenous Languages (Martha Michieka).- Chapter 10: Black-Islamic Feminism in 21st Century Senegalese Women's Pop Songs (Samba Camara).- Chapter 11: Conclusion (Leonard Muaka and Esther Mukewa Lisanza).