The publication of "The African Assertion: A Critical Anthropology of African Literature" by Oyekan Owomoyela marked a significant moment in the study of African literary traditions. Rather than treating African literature as solely an artistic output, Owomoyela’s work positions it as a vital site for anthropological inquiry. He argues that literature, in its various forms, serves as a crucial repository of cultural knowledge, historical memory, and evolving social structures across the continent. This essay will explore Owomoyela’s central thesis, demonstrating how he uses an anthropological framework to illuminate the unique characteristics and enduring significance of African literary expressions, particularly in relation to themes of identity, cultural authenticity, and the persistent impact of colonialism.
Owomoyela’s core argument rests on the idea that African literature cannot be fully understood without appreciating the cultural contexts from which it emerges and to which it speaks. He moves beyond purely textual analysis to consider literature’s function within African societies. For instance, in discussing oral traditions, Owomoyela highlights their role not just as entertainment but as vehicles for transmitting moral codes, historical narratives, and communal values. He points to the griot tradition in West Africa, where storytellers act as living archives, preserving genealogies and epic poems that bind communities together. This anthropological perspective reveals how these seemingly simple narratives are, in fact, complex cultural artifacts, shaping collective consciousness and individual identity in ways Western literary criticism might overlook.
Furthermore, Owomoyela critically engages with the concept of "authenticity" in African literature, a notion often imposed by external critics. He argues that rather than searching for a monolithic, pure African voice, scholars should recognize the dynamic and hybrid nature of contemporary African literary production. The influence of colonialism, while disruptive, also led to the adoption and adaptation of new forms and languages. Owomoyela examines how writers like Chinua Achebe, in Things Fall Apart (1958), consciously employ English not as a surrender to colonial dominance, but as a tool to reclaim and represent African experiences on a global stage. Achebe’s masterful depiction of Igbo society before and during the arrival of missionaries and administrators demonstrates this strategic use of language to assert a distinct cultural identity while acknowledging its altered circumstances. The novel, viewed anthropologically, becomes a case study of cultural encounter and the negotiation of self in the face of external pressures.
The assertion of African identity is a recurring theme throughout Owomoyela’s analysis. He suggests that much of African literature, particularly in the post-independence era, functions as a form of cultural re-appropriation and self-definition. Writers wrestle with the legacy of imposed identities, seeking to articulate a sense of belonging that predates and transcends colonial categorization. This is evident in the poetry of Léopold Sédar Senghor, who championed the concept of Négritude not as a retreat into essentialism, but as a conscious affirmation of Black identity and heritage in response to the dehumanizing effects of colonialism. Owomoyela interprets such movements through an anthropological lens, seeing them as collective attempts to reconstruct and validate cultural narratives that were systematically suppressed.
In conclusion, "The African Assertion" provides a compelling framework for understanding African literature not merely as aesthetic objects but as integral components of cultural and social life. Owomoyela’s anthropological approach offers invaluable insights into the historical, social, and ideological forces that shape literary expression across Africa. By situating literature within its lived contexts, he demonstrates its power to articulate, preserve, and negotiate identity, particularly in the enduring shadow of colonialism. The book thus serves as a vital resource for anyone seeking a deeper, more nuanced appreciation of the rich and complex world of African literary traditions.