• Cambridge Scholars Publishing

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Old Age in African Literary and Cultural Contexts

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.


Pepetual Mforbe Chiangong is an Assistant Professor of African Literatures, Cultures, and Theatre Studies at Humboldt University, Berlin. She holds a PhD in Semiology and Rituals in Cameroonian Theatre and Drama from the University of Bayreuth, Germany. Her current research focuses on the representation of old age and gender in African performance and drama, and the Kenyan Schools and Colleges Drama Festival.

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Eric Anchimbe

Pepetual Mforbe Chiangong

Yusuf Baba Gar

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Shumirai Nyota

Hannah S. Schild

Buy This Book

ISBN: 1-5275-6946-2

ISBN13: 978-1-5275-6946-1

Release Date: 24th June 2021

Pages: 166

Price: £58.99

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ISBN: 1-5275-9761-X

ISBN13: 978-1-5275-9761-7

Release Date: 22nd April 2023

Pages: 166

Price: £29.99

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