Gambian Fiction: An Analytical Study
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Africa World Press
Abstract
Reflections on the singularity of Gambian Fiction in relations to other West African states with English
as the official language have been made by several scholars and researchers. When African literature
pierced through the silence to voice out the horrors of colonialism, engage in the search for identity,
promote African cultural values and advocate for independence, the fervour in which this was carried
out was not proportionate in every country. Colonial Gambia emerged within a shaky period in the
history of the Senegambia region. From early to late 19th century, ethnic and religious wars were
raging in the interior, the French and the British were arguing over the piece of stretched land
meandering around the river, and the liberated Africans were being sent from Sierra Leone to settle in
The Gambia. Bathurst was born and the colonial powers settled there. The Gambia will for long remain
governed from Sierra Leone and so the Christian missionaries were the ones who had the most share
in the colonial setup for propagating their laws and beliefs. Gambia’s resistance to colonialism took
several forms but literature played a much lesser role. Could this be the reason why Gambian Fiction
is not represented in anthologies and other literary fora? Early Gambian fiction took quite a different
angle in relation to the realities of the times and only in the midst of another form of domination, the
Senegambia confederation, would writers emerge strong and united for one purpose: liberate Gambia
from Senegal. This chapter traces the itinerary of Gambian fiction and tries to define the stages and
periods when the stories take a different tone and feeling. This chapter also introduces a comparative
study with those of Anglophone Africa, especially West Africa
Description
Keywords
Citation
Barry, Cherno Omar. "Gambian Fiction: an analytical study." Saine, Abdoulie, Ebrima Ceesay and Ebrima Sall. State and Society in The Gambia Since Independence 1956-2012. New Jersey: Africa World Press, 2013. 361-395