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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Literature and religious discourse in West Africa
Author:Shehu, Halima
Year:2014
Periodical:Okike: an African Journal of New Writing (ISSN 0331-0566)
Issue:51
Pages:104-125
Language:English
Geographic terms:West Africa
Nigeria
Senegal
Subjects:literature
Islam
literary criticism
Abstract:This study focuses on the dynamics between Islam and literature in West Africa (in particular Nigeria and Senegal), looking at two Islamic approaches of prose/fiction: the one 'scripturalist' (literal and formalistic), found typically among Sunni muslims in Nigeria, the other more mystical, found typically among Sufi muslims in Senegal. The scripturalist approach - learned, esoteric - discourages the interrogation of the Quran, the Sufi approach - popular, exoteric - encourages the same. Analyzing factors that drive canon formation and looking at critical reactions that determine the survival of literary texts, the article addresses the marginalization of 'other' cultures and experiences in West African literature. Bibliogr, sum [ASC Leiden abstract]
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