Gender and Identity in African Literatures

Content

African literary texts in most cases are not meant as art for art's sake and do not call for a purely aesthetic evaluation. In most cases, the artistic, creative values are combined with a strong relation with the wider socio-political context in which the texts are produced. The issue of identity has been of crucial importance for the formation of this relation. African authors/performers intensely debated the meaning of the concepts ‘Africa’, 'race', ‘the nation’, and ‘ethnicity’. The choice of language has likewise been a factor in these identity formations. Gender identity at times intersected with these debates, but in most instances has been treated as a separate issue. In this course we will make an attempt to bring these debates together. How do gender identities relate to Africa, race, the nation, ethnicity, language, and other identity categories. In terms of case-studies the focus will be on the novel, but other genres may come in: autobiographies, short stories, historical narratives, film, etc. 

Learning outcomes

1. To have acquired an advanced and academically underpinned knowledge and understanding of the relations between identity categories – in particular gender – and literary texts and contexts in Africa.  
2. To have acquired a sophisticated insight in the theoretical and methodological debates concerning representations of identity in African literary texts and contexts, particularly from a gendered perspective.  
3. To be able to set up a well-argued and critical analysis in coherent writing of gender and other identity categories in a novel in its context in Africa.  

Teaching methods

Group work, Seminar, Lecture, Independent work, Peer teaching 

Assessment

Assessment moments: continuous assessment 

Examination methods in case of continuous assessment: Oral assessment, Skills test, Participation, Presentation, Assignment

Possibilities of retake in case of continuous assessment: not applicable 

Extra information on the examination methods: non-periodic, permanent evaluation:

• Weekly compulsory reading.  
• Participation in discussions during the course meetings.  
• In-class assignments.  
• Each student offers a presentation. Depending on the number of students and technological developments, these modalities may slightly vary. 

Except in the case of proven force majeure during the permanent evaluation, such as illness or other, there is no possibility for retake of the permanent evaluation part in the second exam period.

Lecturers

Brinkman, Inge: Lecturer-in-Charge 

Course dates

This course takes place in the second semester of academic year 2025-2026: 

• Educational activities: February 9 to May 16, 2026 
• Catch-up activities: May 18 to May 23, 2026 
• Easter Recess: April 6 to April 18, 2026 
• Examination period: May 26 to July 4, 2026 
• Resit Examination period:  August 17 to September 12, 2026 

There will be one online lecture per week from February 9, 2026, to May 16, 2026. This will take place on Tuesdays from 10 am to 1pm CET. Lectures will not be recorded. 

Entry requirements: Successful completion of a beginner-level course on African Literature and Post-Colonial Theory.

How to apply

1. Check whether you meet the entry requirements listed above. You cannot apply if you don’t meet the entry requirements. 

2. Check with your home faculty or study programme to confirm whether this course can be included in your curriculum, so the ECTS credits will be recognized. If you are unsure who to contact, reach out to your home university’s ENLIGHT office. 

3. Apply by completing the Ghent University form by December 19th, 2025. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

4. Register at Ghent university. Registration instructions will follow after application. 

Information per university

• University of the Basque Country:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
• University of Bern:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Bordeaux:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• Comenius University Bratislava:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
• University of Galway:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
• Ghent University:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Groningen:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
• University of Göttingen:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Tartu:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., check the virtual courses page for more information
• Uppsala University: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For information regarding the procedure to take part in this course: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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