Universal Gratitude to African Literature with its Diaspora Authors

The traumatic after-math of Transatlantic Slave Trade during the age of 16^th to 19^th century has established the historical art of African Diaspora. With the help of which, the literary domain of this region got diversified and globally renowned. The colonial rule in this region has hurtfully transferred the so called slaves to various regions in Europe, Asia and America. These series of humans who were shipped beyond boundaries were the dominating reason for the establishment of Diaspora literature in Africa.  Rather, they are considered as the founder of this genre of literary work, most precisely, the “founding myth”.

The African habitants who were transported beyond their geographical boundaries before 1960s were the actual discoverer of Diaspora literature in Africa. Cultural, social, political, philosophical or even the humanitarian aspects of the then Africa were best expressed by these series of African Diaspora authors. Generation of effective and corrective traditional information about this region has been eased with their paramount literary works. As Africa is known to be related with the Oral form of literature only, Diaspora made the entire platform even more fertile and at the same time diversified. No wonder, they are of total blessing for the entire society and the continent as a whole.

Such is the significance of this literary format that the connection of this genre can also be found at an artistic work of gem like Nigerian writer. Not only the negative consequences of colonization even the difficult course of decolonization in Africa are finely depicted in their indigenous creative work. However, by the end of 1980s, the social and political and various other essential segments in Africa got drastically changed. Those were the time when the continent was victimized with the awful condition of poverty, unemployment, political persecution and many more. Even then, the importance of this Diaspora literature didn’t got reduced. Appreciative attributes of which is directly associated with the contemporary writers, poets and authors of Africa too. 

African Diaspora Literature Rising in Popularity

The African Diaspora is a commonly used jargon these days and was coined around 1990s. It refers to the communities all over the globe those have descended from the historic movement of African people in the past. The African Diaspora community exists across all the continents, including the Americas, Asia – including the Middle East and Europe. Thanks to the flourishing slave trade during the Middle Ages, African community has been subjected to forced migration since the historic times.

Thankfully, this Diaspora community strived hard to retain its indigenous culture. The old tradition of story-telling existed in Africa since a very long time. The dispersed community maintained this age-old practice of oral storytelling even in their new homes across the foreign lands. The themes of these stories invariably revolved around their native land, inherited culture and traditional way of life.

This tradition sustained across time, denying towering adversities. This tradition eventually gifted the world a unique genre of literature from African Diaspora authors. This category of literature, especially at its initial phase, consisted of slave narratives. It is remarkable to note, in a society which was dominated by whites, this genre of books and stories became unbelievably popular almost in no time.

The firsthand descriptions about life under slavery not only exposed the brutality that slaves faced in the hands of so-called civilized society. It also exposed the severe vulnerability in which these people had to lead their lives. In fact, this genre of books and accounts definitely contributed in abolishment of the curse of slavery from the surface of the earth.

However, the struggle for freedom and equality in the adopted nations for these folks was neither easy nor short-lived. In accordance to the striking popularity of African Diaspora writers, famous West African poets are creating huge impact among the fraternity of global booklovers. 

African Diaspora Literature & the Shifting Social, Political, Cultural Norms

African community has been subjected to migration, thanks to flourishing slave trade, since the historic ages. During their forced migration, the Diaspora community maintained its age-old tradition of oral storytelling in their new homes across the foreign lands. The themes of the stories naturally revolved around their native land, abandoned homes and indigenous cultures. This tradition kept itself alive in spite of unbelievable adversities.

 At a later stage, this culture exhibited itself in form of slave narratives. This genre of literature became exceptionally popular across the society dominated by whites. In fact, these slave narratives were the first batch of literature that was ever published by the African Diaspora authors. The range of literature provided firsthand accounts of life under slavery and exposed the brutality and vulnerability that slaves used to face in the hands of so-called civilized society.

However, the range of literature also exhibits the indomitable dignity that at least some of the men and women of black community possessed even in that unbelievably oppressive situation. It is this sense of dignity that enabled those folks to scribe their life’s experiences in words for the future generations to know. In course of time, life changed somewhat for better for these people living in foreign lands. Gradually, the Diaspora community had to wage incessant struggle to gain freedom and equality in their adopted countries. As such, the age of conflict for this people to gain recognition and respect continued for long, stretching across centuries.

This entire period of struggle actually facilitated the growth and maturity of the Diaspora literature of Africa. The genre of literature obviously reflects the changing social norms and the shifting cultural and political realities with the advent of the new age. Interestingly, the fraternity of authors did not lose its inherent bonding with the unique cultural heritage that was inherited from Africa by sheer birthright.