Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-g4j75 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-27T17:52:17.611Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ecoing the Other(s): The Call of Global Green and Black African Responses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2020

William Slaymaker
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Global production of literature and criticism about the environment has increased dramatically in the past decade, but black African writers and critics have not participated fully in this new approach. Literary green globalism, broadcast from metropolitan centers East and West, has inspired suspicion among some black African anglophone writers, while gaining acceptance among others, who with their Euro-American counterparts have begun to examine the relations of humanity and nature in sub-Saharan environments.

Type
Talks from the Convention
Information
PMLA , Volume 116 , Issue 1: Special Topic: Globalizing Literary Studies , January 2001 , pp. 129 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Works Cited

Adams, Anne, and Mayes, Janis, eds. Mapping Intersections: African Literature and Africa's Development. Trenton: Africa World, 1998.Google Scholar
Amuta, Chidi. The Theory of African Literature: Implications for Practical Criticism. London: Zed, 1989.Google Scholar
Appadurai, Arjun. “Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Economy.” Public Culture 2.2 (1990): 2–23.Google Scholar
Asante-Darko, Kwaku. “The Flora and Fauna of Negritude Poetry: An Ecocritical Re-reading.” Jaccomard.Google Scholar
Attridge, Derek. “Innovation, Literature, Ethics: Relating to the Other.” PMLA 114 (1999): 20–31.Google Scholar
Aderemi, Bamikunle. “The Development of Niyi Osundare's Poetry: A Survey of Themes and Technique.” Research in African Literatures 26.4 (1995): 121–37.Google Scholar
Bell, Nigel, and Cowper-Lewis, Meg, eds. Literature, Nature and the Land: Ethics and Aesthetics of the Environment. N.p.: U of Zululand, Dept. of English, 1993.Google Scholar
Beney, Guy. “‘Gaia’: The Globalitarian Temptation.” Global Ecology: A New Arena of Political Conflict. Ed. Sachs, Wolfgang. London: Zed, 1993. 179–93.Google Scholar
Buell, Lawrence. The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1995.Google Scholar
Carruthers, Jane. “Nationhood and the National Parks: Comparative Examples from the Post-imperial Experience.” Griffiths and Robin 125–38.Google Scholar
Cazenave, Odile. Rebellious Women: The New Generation of Female African Novelists. Boulder: Rienner, 2000.Google Scholar
Chapman, Michael. Southern African Literatures. London: Longman, 1996.Google Scholar
Chinweizu, Onwuchekwa Jemie, and Madubuike, Ihechukwu. Toward the Decolonization of African Literature. Washington: Howard UP, 1983.Google Scholar
Cope, Michael. “Three Degree Ecosutra.” Scenes and Visions. 15 Feb. 1999 <http://www.cope.co.za/scenes/s&v.htm#ecosutra>..>Google Scholar
Davies, Ioan. “Negotiating African Culture: Toward a Decolonization of the Fetish.” Jameson and Miyoshi 125–45.Google Scholar
Dehon, Claire L., ed. Africa: Literature and Politics. Spec. issue of Studies in Twentieth Century Literature 15.1 (1991): 7–184.Google Scholar
Derrida, Jacques. “From Psyche: Invention of the Other.” Acts of Literature. Ed. Attridge, Derek. New York: Routledge, 1992. 310–43.Google Scholar
Diawara, Manthia. In Search of Africa. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1998.Google Scholar
Diawara, Manthia. Reader's report for PMLA. 1999.Google Scholar
Diawara, Manthia. “Toward a Regional Imaginary in Africa.” Jameson and Miyoshi 103–24.Google Scholar
Dimock, Wai Chee. “A Theory of Resonance.” PMLA 112 (1997): 1060–71.Google Scholar
Ecocriticism. Spec. issue of New Literary History 30.3 (1999): 505–716.Google Scholar
“Forum on Literatures of the Environment.” PMLA 114 (1999): 1089–1104.Google Scholar
Griffiths, Tom, and Robin, Libby, eds. Ecology and Empire: Environmental History of Settler Societies. Seattle: U of Washington P, 1997.Google Scholar
Harvey, David. Justice, Nature and the Geography of Difference. Oxford: Blackwell, 1996.Google Scholar
Harvey, David. “What's Green and Makes the Environment Go Round?” Jameson and Miyoshi 327–55.Google Scholar
Head, Dominic. “The (Im)Possibility of Ecocriticism.” Kerridge and Sammells 27–39.Google Scholar
Hochman, Jhan. Green Cultural Studies: Nature in Film, Novel, and Theory. Moscow: U of Idaho P, 1998.Google Scholar
Hélène, Jaccomard, ed. Ecologie, écocritique et littérature / Ecology, Ecocritic and Literature. Spec. issue of Mots pluriels 11 (1999). 2 Nov. 2000 <http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/motspluriels/MP1199kad.html>..>Google Scholar
Jameson, Fredric, and Miyoshi, Masao, eds. The Cultures of Globalization. Durham: Duke UP, 1998.Google Scholar
Jeyifo, Biodun. “Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Hour of the Ogoni.” Foreword. Na'Allah, Ogoni's Agonies xxiii-xxxii.Google Scholar
Jeyifo, Biodun. Personal interview. 3 Sept. 1999.Google Scholar
Jones, Eldred D., ed. Critical Theory and African Literature Today. Trenton: Africa World, 1994.Google Scholar
Jones, Eldred D. “Land, War, and Literature in Zimbabwe: A Sampling.” Jones, New Trends 50–61.Google Scholar
Jones, Eldred D., ed. New Trends and Generations in African Literature. Trenton: Africa World, 1996.Google Scholar
Kerridge, Richard, and Sammells, Neil, eds. Writing the Environment: Ecocriticism and Literature. London: Zed, 1998.Google Scholar
Karl, Kroeber. Ecological Literary Criticism: Romantic Imagining and the Biology of Mind. New York: Columbia UP, 1994.Google Scholar
Lazarus, Neil. Resistance in Postcolonial African Fiction. New Haven: Yale UP, 1990.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindfors, Bernth. “African Literature Inquiry.” E-mail to the author. 18 Dec. 2000.Google Scholar
Lindfors, Bernth. “African Literature Request.” E-mail to the author. 15 Apr. 1999.Google Scholar
Lindfors, Bernth. Black African Literature in English, 1987-1991. London: Zell, 1995.Google Scholar
Loflin, Christine. African Horizons: The Landscapes of African Fiction. Westport: Greenwood, 1998.Google Scholar
Larry, Lohman. “Resisting Green Globalism.” Global Ecology: A New Arena of Political Conflict. Ed. Sachs, Wolfgang. London: Zed, 1993. 157–69.Google Scholar
Maathai, Wangari. “Foresters without Diplomas.” Ms. Mar.-Apr. 1991:74–75.Google Scholar
Martin, Julia. “Long Live the Fresh Air! Long Live Environmental Culture in the New South Africa!” Murphy 337–43.Google Scholar
Mazrui, Ali A. The Africans. PBS. WETA, Washington. 1986.Google Scholar
Mazrui, Ali A. The Africans: A Triple Heritage. Boston: Little, 1986.Google Scholar
Mazrui, Ali A. Cultural Forces in World Politics. London: Currey, 1990.Google Scholar
Mazrui, Ali A. “From Sun-Worship to Time-Worship: Toward a Solar Theory of History.” Oruka, Philosophy 165–76.Google Scholar
McMurry, Andrew. “Figures in a Ground: An Ecofeminist Study of Olive Schreiner's The Story of an African Farm.” English Studies in Canada 4 (1994): 431–48.Google Scholar
Milton, Kay. Environmentalism and Cultural Theory: Exploring the Role of Anthropology in Environmental Discourse. London: Routledge, 1996.Google Scholar
Murphy, Patrick, ed. Literature of Nature: An International Sourcebook. Chicago: Fitzroy, 1998.10.4324/9780203969182CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Na'Allah, Abdul-Rasheed, ed. Ogoni's Agonies: Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Crisis in Nigeria. Trenton: Africa World, 1998.Google Scholar
Na'Allah, Abdul-Rasheed. “Ogoni, the Eagle Birds' Agony in the Delta Woods.” Na'Allah, Ogoni's Agonies 101.Google Scholar
Newell, Stephanie. “Anatomy of Masculine Power.” Newell, Writing 170–90.Google Scholar
Newell, Stephanie, ed. Writing African Women: Gender, Popular Culture and Literature in West Africa. London: Zed, 1997.Google Scholar
Ngũgĩ wa, Thiong'o. Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature. London: Currey, 1986.Google Scholar
Ngũgĩ wa, Thiong'o. Matigari. Trans. Wangũwa Goro. London: Heinemann, 1989.Google Scholar
Ngũgĩ wa, Thiong'o. Moving the Centre: The Struggle for Cultural Freedoms. London: Currey, 1993.Google Scholar
Ngũgĩ wa, Thiong'o. Penpoints, Gunpoints, and Dreams: Towards a Critical Theory of the Arts and the State in Africa. Oxford: Clarendon, 1998.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nixon, Rob. “Pipedreams: Ken Saro-Wiwa, Environmental Justice, and Micro-minority Rights.” Black Renaissance 1.1 (1996): 39–55.Google Scholar
Nwachukwu-Agbada, J. O. J. “Lore and Other in Niyi Osundare's Poetry.” Jones, New Trends 73–86.Google Scholar
Ndezhda, Obradovic, ed. African Rhapsody: Short Stories of the Contemporary African Experience. New York: Bantam, 1994.Google Scholar
Olafioye, Tayo. “Ogoni People, the Oil Wells of Nigeria.” Na'Allah, Ogoni's Agonies 99–100.Google Scholar
Ombaka, Christine. “War and Environment in African Literature.” Murphy 327–36.Google Scholar
Oruka, H. Odera. “Ecophilosophy and the Parental Earth Ethics.” Oruka, Philosophy 115–29.Google Scholar
Oruka, H. Odera, ed. Philosophy, Humanity and Ecology: Philosophy of Nature and Environmental Ethics. Nairobi: ACTS, 1994.Google Scholar
Osofisan, Femi. “Reinterpreting the Ancestor's Lore.” Program for Many Colors Make the Thunder-King, by Osofisan. Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis. Feb.-Mar. 1997. N. pag.Google Scholar
Osundare, Niyi. The Eye of the Earth. Ibadan: Heinemann, 1986.Google Scholar
Owomoyela, Oyekan, ed. A History of Twentieth-Century African Literatures. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P. 1993.Google Scholar
Ramphele, Mamphele. “New Day Rising.” Ramphele, Restoring 1–12.Google Scholar
Ramphele, Mamphele, ed. Restoring the Land: Environment and Change in Post-apartheid South Africa. London: Panos, 1991.Google Scholar
Robin, Libby. “Ecology: A Science of Empire.” Griffiths and Robin 63–75.Google Scholar
Ruether, Rosemary, ed. Women Healing Earth: Third World Women on Ecology, Feminism, and Religion. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1996.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, Ken. “Africa Kills Her Sun.” Obradovic 290–303.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, Ken. Basi and Company: A Modern African Folktale. Port Harcourt: Saros, 1987.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, Ken. A Forest of Flowers. Port Harcourt: Saros, 1986.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, Ken. Genocide in Nigeria: The Ogoni Tragedy. Port Harcourt: Saros, 1992.Google Scholar
Saro-Wiwa, Ken. A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary. London: Penguin, 1995.Google Scholar
Schipper, Mineke. Beyond the Boundaries: African Literature and Literary Theory. London: Allison, 1989.Google Scholar
Serote, Mongane Wally. Come and Hope with Me. Cape Town: Philip, 1994.Google Scholar
Serote, Mongane Wally. “National Liberation Culture, Environment and Literature.” On the Horizon. Johannesburg: COSAW, 1990. 79–85.Google Scholar
Smith, Eric Todd. “Dropping the Subject: Reflections on the Motives for an Ecological Criticism.” Reading the Earth: New Directions in the Study of Literature and Environment. Ed. Branch, Michael, Johnson, Rochelle, Patterson, Daniel, and Slovic, Scott. Moscow: U of Idaho P, 1998. 29–39.Google Scholar
Soyinka, Wole. The Burden of Memory, the Muse of Forgiveness. New York: Oxford UP, 1999.Google Scholar
Soyinka, Wole. The Open Sore of a Continent: A Personal Narrative of the Nigerian Crisis. New York: Oxford UP, 1996.Google Scholar
Stratton, Florence. Contemporary African Literature and the Politics of Gender. London: Routledge, 1994.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas-Slayter, Barbara, and Rocheleau, Dianne. Gender, Environment, and Development in Kenya: A Grassroots Perspective. Boulder: Rienner, 1995.Google Scholar
Wallace, Aubrey. Eco-heroes: Twelve Tales of Environmental Victory. San Francisco: Mercury, 1993.Google Scholar
Wilentz, Gay. Binding Cultures: Black Women Writers in Africa and the Diaspora. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1992.Google Scholar
Williams, Joy. Postscript. The Eggs of the Eagle. By Raymond Williams. London: Chatto, 1990. 318-23. Vol. 2 of People of the Black Mountains.Google Scholar
Williams, Raymond. The Country and the City. New York: Oxford UP, 1973.Google Scholar
Williams, Raymond. Resources of Hope: Culture, Democracy, Socialism. London: Verso, 1989.Google Scholar
Winkler, Karen. “Inventing a New Field: The Study of Literature about the Environment.” Chronicle of Higher Education 9 Aug. 1996: A8+.Google Scholar
Wright, Derek, ed. Contemporary African Fiction. Vol. 42. Bayreuth: Bayreuth African Studies Breitinger, 1997.Google Scholar
Yearbook of Comparative and General Literature 43 (1995): 5–136. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1995.Google Scholar