Overview

The book provides novel perspectives towards conceptualisation of African Potentials. It explores diverse and dynamic aspects of linguistic communications in Africa, ranging from convivial multilingual practices to literal and musical arts. The book reflects the diversity and ever-changing dynamism in the African sociolinguistic sphere, that is, metalinguistic discourse in East Africa, sociolinguistic dynamism in Angola, conflict reconciliation speech performed in Ethiopia, and syncretic urban linguistic code called Sheng in Kenya. The volume also explores multi-dimensional relationships between literary arts and the society by investigating such topics as traditional Swahili poetry, publication of children books in Benin, and transformation and reconstruction of Yoruba popular music. The book elucidates dynamic process of creation through mixing of traditional and foreign elements of culture.

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9789956551699

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Reviews

This volume challenges current worldviews on humanity, language, society and history. 'African Potentials' are open, dynamic, not fixed or static. They are founded on pluralism, tolerance and openness - not imposed unity. One reiterated theme of the book's chapters is that some of the world's problems and conflicts can be resolved using African experiences and values. A valuable contribution to the argumentation for the potentiality of Africa's linguistic and cultural dynamism by respected African and Japanese scholars. Chege Githiora, Emeritus Professor, SOAS, University of London, UK Professor, Kenyatta University, Kenya Africa had long been deprived of her voice and pen, the tools needed to articulate her dreams and hopes, to define her total experiences. But during the last century Africa managed to recover her initiative and began to talk in her own voice and write with her own pen. Now, we know that 21st century Africa has begun to liberate herself, where the potentials of her languages and literatures are enabling a new portrait of Africans to emerge. - Masaoki Miyamoto, Emeritus Professor, Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Japan This volume is a collection that has been innovatively and interestingly written to combine a variety of topics from and on different parts of Africa, focusing on the culture, inbuilt in Africa's rich linguistic heritage. Drawing on lived accounts from scholars from different parts of Africa and Japan, the collection makes an inviting choice to exciting topics, ranging from Africa's multilingualism, literary creativity, and the use of the Africa's languages in dealing with the continent's diverse phenomena. Simply put, this is a superb collection! - Gastor Mapunda, Professor, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania My warmest greetings to all who have contributed to this work which I am sure will be a major contribution to African studies. It will help to take a fresh look at understanding Africa by lifting the veil on topical issues and challenges. Studies on Africa still have interesting prospects to exploit fruitfully. - Mamadou CISSE, Professeur et Enseignant-Chercheur, Faculte des Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

Author Information

Keiko Takemura is Professor at the Graduate School of Language and Culture, Osaka University, Japan. Francis B. Nyamnjoh is Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

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