Postsecular Poetics: Negotiating the Sacred and Secular in Contemporary African Fiction

This book is the first full-length study of the postsecular in African literatures, bringing debates in religious and postsecular studies to bear on African literatures and postcolonial studies. It focuses on how postsecular negotiations manifest in postcolonial African settings and how they are represented and registered in fiction, revealing how African and African-diasporic authors radically disrupt the epistemological and ontological modalities of globalized literary production.

Format: Hardback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book is the first comprehensive exploration of the postsecular in African literatures. It delves into the profound interplay between religion, secularism, and the complex negotiations between these two forces, a phenomenon widely recognized as postsecularism. While these concerns have been extensively addressed in social science disciplines, they have largely been overlooked in postcolonial and literary studies. To rectify this oversight, this monograph brings together four critical areas of study, merging debates in religious and postsecular studies with African literatures and postcolonial studies. The central objective of this interdisciplinary endeavor is to understand the ways in which postsecular negotiations unfold in the context of postcolonial African societies and how they are portrayed and recorded in fiction. By focusing on this specific lens, the book unveils how African and African-diasporic authors challenge the epistemological and ontological frameworks of globalized literary production, often characterized as secular, and envision alternative worlds that incorporate the sacred into a postsecular realm.

The book opens by situating the postsecular within the broader context of globalized modernity. It argues that the emergence of postsecularism is closely linked to the processes of globalization, which have led to the intensification of religious and secular conflicts worldwide. The author emphasizes the need to understand these conflicts not only from a social science perspective but also from a literary and cultural one.

In the subsequent chapters, the book delves into the various manifestations of postsecularism in African literatures and postcolonial studies. It explores how postsecular negotiations are played out in different historical, social, and cultural contexts, including the aftermath of colonialism, the emergence of new religious movements, and the challenges of globalization. The author employs a rich array of literary and cultural theories, including postcolonialism, secularism, and religious studies, to analyze the texts and provide a nuanced understanding of the postsecular landscape.

One of the key themes of the book is the representation of the sacred in a postsecular world. The author argues that the postsecular era has witnessed a resurgence of the sacred, both in popular culture and in artistic expressions. However, this resurgence is often characterized by a tension between traditional religious practices and secular norms. The book explores how African and African-diasporic authors navigate this complex terrain, employing various strategies to incorporate the sacred into their narratives and create alternative worldviews that challenge the dominant secular discourse.

Another important aspect of the book is its consideration of the role of fiction in shaping postsecular negotiations. The author argues that fiction provides a unique space for the exploration of complex ideas and the representation of marginalized voices. Through the analysis of fictional texts, the book demonstrates how African and African-diasporic authors use fiction to challenge the epistemological and ontological assumptions of globalized literature and imagine alternatives that incorporate the sacred into a postsecular world.

The book also pays close attention to the ethical and political dimensions of postsecularism. It explores how postsecular negotiations intersect with issues of power, justice, and social inequality, and how fiction can be used to address these concerns and promote social change. The author argues that postsecularism offers a valuable framework for analyzing the complexities of contemporary society and for imagining alternatives that are more inclusive and equitable.

In conclusion, this book is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of African literatures and postcolonial studies. It offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of the postsecular, shedding light on the complex negotiations between religion, secularism, and the sacred in postcolonial African societies. Through its rich analysis of literary and cultural texts, the book demonstrates how African and African-diasporic authors challenge the epistemological and ontological frameworks of globalized literature and envision alternatives that incorporate the sacred into a postsecular world. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of African studies, postcolonial studies, religious studies, and literary theory, as well as anyone who is interested in the complexities of contemporary society and the role of literature in shaping our understanding of the world.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032231655