This work covers all the key historical and cultural issues in the study of African literature, including criticism and theory, development as a field of scholarship, and studies both of established and lesser-known writers. While the greatest proportion of literary work in Africa has been a product of the twentieth century, the encyclopedia also covers the literature back to the early eras of story-telling and oral transmission, making this a unique and valuable resource for students in the social sciences as well as the humanities. Key features: The first in-depth A-Z encyclopedia on African Literature, edited by a leading specialist in the field Over 600 entries ranging from 200-2,000 words in length, written by an international team of leading scholars Answers the need for a comprehensive, authoritative reference for students of African Studies, Post-Colonial Studies, Comparative Literatures, and a wide range of other disciplines Bibliographies at the end ofeach entry, cross-references, index Selected entries: Cawal, Faarax Maxamed Jaamac; Central Africa, Literatures in English; Central Africa, Literatures in French; Chakaipa, Patrick; Chedid, Andree; Cheney-Coker, Syl; Chidzero, Bernard; Children's Literature; Chimenti, Elisa; Chimombo, Steve; Chinodya, Simmer; Chinweizu; Chipasula, Frank; Choto, R.; Choukri, Muhammad; Chraib, Driss; Christianity and Christian Missions; Cisse, Ahmed-Tidjani; Clark, J. P.; Coetzee, J. M.; Colonialism; Conde, Maryse; Couto, Mia; Craveirinha, Jose; Criticism; Cronin, Jeremy; Cugoano, Ottobah; Culture and Society; Dadie, Bernard; Dakeyo, Paul; Dance; Dangerembga, Tsitsi; Dangor, Achmat; Danquah, J. B.; De Graft, Joe; Debeche, Djamila; Dei-Anang, Michael Francis; Deng, Francis; Dhlomo, H. I. E.; Dhlomo, Rofles Reginald; Diabate, Massa Makan; Diakhate, Lamine; Diallo, Koumanthio Zeinab; Diallo, Nafissatou; Diaspora; Dib, Mohammed; Dieng, Mame Younousse; Diescho, Joseph; Dike, Fatima;Diop, Birago; Ethics; Eyasu, Gorfu; Eybers, Elizabeth; Fagunwa, D. O.; Fall, Khadi; Fall, Malick; Fanon and Fanonism; Fantoure, Alioum; Farag, Alfred; Farah, Nuruddin; Fare, Nabil; Fassi, Nouzha; Feminist Criticism; Feraoun, Mouloud; Ferreira, Manuel; Fikre, Tolossa; Film; Finbert, Elian-Juda; Fodeba, Keita; Fugard, Athol; Gabre-Medhin, Tsegaye; Galaal, Muusa H. I.; Gallaire, Fatima; Garmadi, Salah; Gasarabwe, Edouard; Gatheru, Mugo; Gbadamosi, Bakare; Gbadamosi, Rasheed; Gender; Genres; Ghachem, Moncef; Ghalem, Ali; Ghalem, Nadia; And many more...