Two favourite themes in Nigérien literature

Abstract

Critics tend to generalise in their analysis of African literature by presenting it from two main angles: anti-colonial literature and the literature of disenchantment focused on a criticism of the political regimes that came out of independence. However, not only did Nigérien literature emerge after independence, but writers from Niger tend to emphasise certain themes addressing practical concerns that are specific to their community; they do not focus on political satire per se. Hence, Niger's novelists pay attention to essential themes like drought and famine, rural exodus and emigration. Such themes, while constituting the originality of their writing, unfortunately also preclude the usual generalisations of which critics are so enamoured.

Keywords: Nigérien novel, drought, famine, rural exodus / migration, emigration

Tydskrif Vir Letterkunde Vol. 42(2) 2005: 113-124