African Literature
The field of African Literature includes the many rich works of literature of the African continent in both African and European languages.
At Wits, we study African literature written in or translated into English, with an extended focus on the literature of the African diaspora.
The study of African literature includes an exploration of aspects of the history, politics, intellectual traditions and cultural heritage of the diverse societies within which the literature is produced. As South Africa's links with the rest of the world continue to grow, such knowledge is increasingly invaluable. African Literature provides you with useful knowledge not only for a changing South Africa but also for a dynamically changing landscape of global literature and culture.
Do I Need an African Language?
While an African language would be extremely useful, the course focuses on material written in English - which is the only language you will need to enrol in our courses.
The Department was established in 1983 under the leadership of Es'kia Mphahlele. It is the only department of its kind in the country and probably in the world.
Its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes investigate the specificity of local conditions informing the production of knowledge about African literature and cultural practices while, also, remaining aware of and engaging with similar developments in the black diaspora and the rest of the world.