African literature is literature that goes beyond the borders of nationality, ethnicity and geography but one that is universal yet appealing to the personal depths of inner self. In this definition,I therefore set aside the idea of looking and expressing truths from a group perspective but from an individual perspective. An individual who at the sound of these words will make deliberate effort to be vulnerable yet open-minded to view better yet, read literature as an ordinary everyday language in expressing their pessimistic ideologies of life with an optimistic challenge to live freely by reaffirming a sense of self .
Secondly , relevance, the relevance herein connotes to the aspect of one reading literature materials and getting perked up by insights, ideas,thoughts, expressions,feelings,attitudes that are purely and relevantly African,The relevance here is to act as a call to action by embracing,appreciating what is uniquely us and about us.
Lastly, questions of our times; I will try to use some of African literature works either a novel or a poem and enthuse us to picture, imagine , listen, feel or try to get a grip on the issues and concerns about our times. Our times here, signifies ‘this very present time we are living in- the 21st century ! whilst making comparisons of where we have come from and drawing conclusions of what’s next -. I will intentionally single out the young people of Africa today. ( Notably,’young’ in this context is fluid in nature hence immeasurable within the parameters of age)
