Old age in African literary and cultural contexts / edited by Pepetual Mforbe Chiangong.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Chiangong, Pepetual Mforbe, editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African literature--History and criticism.

African literature.

Old age in literature.

Old age in mass media.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (166 pages)

Place of Publication:

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK : Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021.

Summary:

Through a wide range of indigenous, postcolonial, gender and racial lenses, African writers have provided perspectives on various aspects of old age in the context of African literatures and cultures. This book illustrates how African literary and linguistic representations, ranging from short stories, novels and film to drama and theatre, give expression to ideas about old age. The perspectives offered here provide essential knowledge in understanding the uses of dichotomous age-related categories, such as old-young, elderly male-elderly female, and foreign-indigenous, which generally result in prejudice. Using ageism as its central theme, the contributions draw attention to the ambiguity associated with elderly people in African society who are often highly venerated for their wisdom, but also stereotyped because of their advanced age. However, as the book demonstrates, old age is also deeply valorised in some traditional African contexts, where older adults are regarded as indispensable members of society. It will be of particular interest to scholars, researchers, and students of African studies, applied theatre studies, gerontology, postcolonialism, sociolinguistics, sociology and anthropology.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1-5275-7115-7

OCLC:

1257665860