Writers and Social Thought in Africa

Social theory and social theorizing about Africa has largely ignored African literature. Writers are some of the continent’s finest social thinkers, producing works which constitute potential sources for the analysis of social thought, and for constructing social theory, in and beyond the continent. This collection examines the relationship between African literature and African social thought. It explores African writers’ conceptions of power and authority, legitimacy, history and modernity, gender and sexuality, culture, epistemology, globalization, and change and continuity in Africa. It was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies.

Social theory and social theorizing about Africa has largely ignored African literature. However, because writers are some of the continent’s finest social thinkers, they have produced – and continue to produce – works which constitute potential sources for the analysis of social thought, and for constructing social theory, in and beyond the continent.

This comprehensive collection examines the relationship between African literature and African social thought. It explores the evolution and aesthetics of social thought in African fiction, and African writers’ conceptions of power and authority, legitimacy, history and modernity, gender and sexuality, culture, epistemology, globalization, and change and continuity in Africa.

This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies.