ALT 38 Environmental Transformations - African Literature Today

This special issue explores how African writers convey the impact of climate transformation and environmental change through fiction and poetry. It examines the literary strategies adopted by creative writers to address environmental issues, including colonialism, nationalist political activism, urbanization, and postcolonial migration. The issue also includes a Literary Supplement and seeks to define African environmental writing and its role in mediating the specificities of climate change in an era of global capitalism and technological transformation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2020
Publisher: James Currey

This special issue delves into the captivating realm of African literature, exploring the profound ways in which it grapples with the urgent challenges posed by climate transformation and environmental change. Through a comprehensive examination of fiction and poetry, it seeks to unravel the intricate tapestry of environmental consciousness and its implications in the context of global environmental transformations. The central question at the heart of this issue is whether environmentalist literature holds the potential to offer fresh perspectives on critical thinking about the future. What defines environmentalist fiction and poetry, and what kind of texts, themes, and topics does climate writing encompass? Do any texts featuring the environment open themselves up to the scrutiny of environmentalist criticism?

In their engagement with a diverse range of genres, themes, and frameworks, contributors to this special issue contribute to the definition of African environmental writing. They examine the literary strategies employed by creative writers to convey the devastating impact of environmental transformation in narratives that are intricately woven with historical influences, including colonialism, nationalist political activism, urbanization, and postcolonial migration. How does environmental literature intervene in these complex histories? Can creative writers, with their visionary powers of post-human and cross-species imagination, fulfill the ethical responsibilities demanded by contemporary climate science?

From the poignant portrayal of environmental decimation in Tanure Ojaide's and Helon Habila's narratives to the imaginative cross-species encounters in Nnedi Okorafor's and Kofi Anyidoho's works, this special issue raises thought-provoking questions about how literature mediates the unique aspects of climate change in the era of global capitalism and technological transformation. It explores the boundaries of creative writing and literature, seeking to understand their potential to inspire and catalyze action toward a more sustainable and resilient future.

Through its insightful analysis and compelling narratives, this special issue offers a valuable contribution to the field of African literature and environmental studies. It sheds light on the ways in which creative writers can harness their artistic powers to raise awareness, foster empathy, and inspire transformative change in response to the urgent challenges of our time. As we navigate the complex terrain of climate change, this issue serves as a reminder of the power of literature to shape our collective imagination and drive us toward a more sustainable and just world.

Weight: 358g
Dimension: 147 x 223 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847012289