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Afro-Asian Literature
Topic: AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE
LESSON PROPER
AFRO-ASIAN CONTINENTS
AFRICA
It is the second largest continent (after Asia), covering about one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth. The
continent is bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east
by the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and on the south by the mingling waters of the Atlantic and Indian
oceans
ASIA
Asia is bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Indian Ocean to the
south, the Red Sea (as well as the inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean – the Mediterranean and the Black) to
the southwest, and Europe to the west.
AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE
The background of Afro-Asian literature dates to the very beginning when the first mixed race individual
began writing.
• Earlier written documents were based on stories passed by word of mouth.
• Literary works were handed by mouth from generation to generation to entertain, educate and remind
the people about their past, heroic deeds of their people, ancestry and culture.
• Afro-Asian literature is a sign of new and modern times. It also teaches people and allow them to
learn about different experiences and cultures from all over the world.
Generally, literary works of Afro-Asian tell people about the unique struggles and successes of Afro-Asian
people. Most of the genres are poems, plays, and prose.
Some countries that belong to these literary regions are Philippines, South Korea, North Korea, Vietnam
Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, India, Egypt, Israel, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Africa.
NORM AND CULTURE
AFRICA - Africa has 300 distinct ethnic groups, 2000 language. Home to the most genetically diverse people
on Earth. So diverse that two Africans are more genetically different from each other than a Chinese and
European are from each other. Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent.
There are generations, which do define Africa, but none that are exclusive.
• Sense of Community - A popular African proverb comes to mind here to express the African sense
of community. It says: "Go the way that many people go; if you go alone, you will have reason to
lament”. The African idea of security and its value depends on personal identification with and within
the country
• Sense of Good Human Relations - The art of dialogue and conversation is a cherished value in
African human People freely discuss their problems and look for suggestions and solutions together.
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Afro-Asian Literature
The unwillingness to talk to people about either private or public affairs can be interpreted as bad
manners or sign of enmity
• Sense of hospitality - The African sense of hospitality is one of the African values that is still quite
alive. The Africans easily incorporate strangers and give them lands to settle hoping that would go
one day, and the land would revert to the owner. Africans have symbolic ways of expressing
welcome.
ASIA - Asian values are very much inter-related. They all support the view of the individual as being a part
of a much larger group or family, and place great importance on the well- being of the group, even at the
expense of the individual.
• Family and Education - A number of Asian students have done conspicuously well in terms of test
scores, gifted student programs, admissions to prestigious schools, academic awards, and in
classical music. Though obviously not all Asians fit this pattern, this trend can be attributed primarily
to the basic notion of the family, and the central role that education plays in the family. Great
importance is placed on child rearing, and education is a fundamental aspect of this. Asian parents
are more likely to spend much more time with their children, and drive them harder, sometimes even
at the expense of their personal time and ambitions of the parents themselves.
• Reserve Conformity and Harmony - Since the well-being of the larger group is most important in
Asian culture, great importance is placed on maintaining harmony. The greatest virtue that can
achieve is not greatness of one’s self, which is viewed as being selfish and self-centered, but of
fulfilling his or her role in the whole of the family or group. The achievement of an individual may be
seen as really the result of the effort of one’s family or origin.
• Benevolence and Obligation - Asian societies tend to be very hierarchical, in contrast to African
culture, where in some cases it is not unusual to consider teacher and student, or even parent and
child as equals. Asian hierarchical relationships involve a lot of and what might be viewed as
dependence or domination. But a good deal of responsibility and benevolence is expected in return.
While children might be obligated follow their parent’s wishes very closely at the expense of their
own independence, the parents are also expected to raise support, and educate them far in excess
of what might be expected by African standards.
Notable works and Authors:
1. Ancient India
(A) Ramayana. This story is about Rama who is the eldest son of king Dasaratha but because the king
promised two wishes to his second wife which is not the mother of Rama, Rama is kicked out in their kingdom
and the throne is given to Bharata, the son of king Dasartha’s second wife. It is written by Valmiki from
Valmiki’s Poems.
(B) Shakuntala - This story is about Shakuntala who met Dushyanta. They met in a forest and fall inlove and
as a sign of love Dushyanta give Shakuntala a wedding ring but because Dushyanta is a king, he has to go
back to his kingdom but he promised he will come back for Shakuntala. One day, sage Durwasa came to
Shakuntala’s door and repeatedly asked for water but because Shakuntala was lost in thoughts of Dushyanta
she paid no attention. The sage got angry and cursed Shakuntala that whoever who is in her mind will forget
her. It is written by Kalidasa.
2. Contemporary Africa (Nigeria)
Things Fall Apart is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. Its story
chronicles pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late
19th century.
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Afro-Asian Literature
3. Ancient China
The Analects, also known as the Analects of Confucius, is an ancient Chinese book composed of a large
collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries,
traditionally believed to have been compiled and written by Confucius's follower.
Confucius set forth his own Golden Rule: "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself."
4. Early Middle east (Saudi Arabia)
One Thousand and One Nights is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the
Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the Arabian Nights, from the first English-language edition,
which rendered the title as The Arabian Nights' Entertainment. The story of Aladdin or Aladdin's Wonderful
Lamp is taken from this collection.
5. Ancient Japan
The earliest recorded Japanese poetry is in the Manyoshu (760), which contains poems dating to the 4th
century. The Heian Period (794–1185) is noted for the Kokinshu (905), an anthology of poetry
commissioned by the emperor, which provided a pattern for tanka (short poems). The most popular of Japan’s
literary genre is the "Haiku". It is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The
first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7 syllables. The lines rarely rhyme.
Below are three examples of haiku poem from Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), considered the greatest haiku
poet:
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
Autumn moonlight-
a worm digs silently
into the chestnut.
In the twilight rain
these brilliant-hued hibiscus -
A lovely sunset.