The Politics of (M)Othering

Some of the most provocative and political developments in literature over the last decade have been generated by the study of post-colonialism, and yet African literature has been poorly represented, if not neglected. However, The Politics of (M)Othering signals that African literature will certainly be playing a critical role in the future.
This collection is a study of African literature framed by the central, and multi-faceted, idea of 'mother' - motherland, mothertongue, motherwit, motherhood, mothering - looking at the paradoxical location of (m)other as both central and marginal. Whilst the volume stands as a sustained feminist analysis, it engages feminist theory itself by showing how issues in feminism are, in African literature, recast in different and complex ways, Even more importantly, The Politics of (M)Othering insists on the importance of cultural literacy to an effective analysis of cultural productions like African literary texts. In order to read them, it is vital that we, as critics, first examine and understand how and why texts say what they say.
This collection brings together critics at the forefront of African studies. It will be a fundamental resource for anyone interested in post-colonialism, African and women's studies, literature and critical theory.