Literature and Decolonisation

Module code: EN3041

The term ‘decolonisation’ is often used to refer to a historical moment – the postwar decolonisation era – when formerly colonised countries became politically independent from the European powers which once governed them. In this context, decolonisation took the form of anticolonial resistance. Today, decolonisation is increasingly viewed as an unfinished and ongoing process which draws on the energies of historical anticolonial movements. This module connects past and present, exploring forms of (neo)colonialism that have continued into the twenty-first century. Focusing on three broad themes – education, environment, and health – you will explore how literary texts engage with some of the most urgent and pressing challenges facing the contemporary world; challenges reflected in the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. The module will introduce you to a range of texts from the Caribbean and the African continent, including Jamaica Kincaid’s Annie John (1997), Tsitsi Dangerembga’s The Book of Not (2006), Helon Habila’s Oil on Water (2010), Esther Figueroa’s Limbo: A Novel About Jamaica (2014), Akwaeke Emezi's Freshwater (2018), and Nanjala Nyabola’s Strange and Difficult Times: Notes on a Global Pandemic (2022). You will consider how these writers innovate with literary form and genre in order to examine and critique the ongoing impact of colonialism on contemporary lives and institutions.