This document summarizes Ngugi wa Thiong'o's commentary on abolishing the English department at the University of Nairobi. It discusses suggestions to establish a Department of African Literature and Culture instead that places Africa at the center. The current English department framework assumes the centrality of English literature and views other cultures as satellites. However, Ngugi argues for orienting education towards placing Kenya, East Africa, and Africa at the center to understand ourselves, with other cultures considered in relation to understanding Africa better.

1. Presentation by: Khalid Karim
Roll No: 1017
Bs English semester 6

2. On the Abolition of English
Department
Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Comment on HOD’s paper at University of Nairobi.
Photo taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngugi_wa_Thiong'o

3. Issue
Developments in arts faculty and relation
to English department.
• 1. place of modern languages like French
• 2. Place of English
• 3. Emergence of Dept of Linguistics and
languages

4. Suggestion
• Dept of Linguistics and Languages closely
related to English
• Possibility of Dept of African literature and
Culture
• Important questions raised – values,
direction, orientation

5. • The suggestions question the role and status of
an English Dept in an African situation and
environment. “The English Dept has had a long
history at this College and has built up a strong
syllabus which by its study of the historic
continuity of a single culture throughout the
period of emergence of the modern west, makes
it an important companion to History and to
Philosophy and Religious Studies. However, it is
bound to become less ‘British’, more open to
other writing in English and also to continental
writing, for comparative purposes.”

6. Assumption
• the English tradition and the emergence of the
modern west is the central root of our
consciousness and cultural
heritage. Africa becomes an extension of the
west, an attitude.
• There is assumed centrality of the dept into
which other cultures can be admitted from time
to time as fit subjects for study, and other
satellite depts can spring depending on time and
money. E.g. African writing in English syllabus

7. Important question
• If there is need for a ‘study of the historic
continuity of a single culture’, why can’t
this be African? Why can’t African
literature be at the centre so that we can
view other cultures in relationship to it?
• Primacy of English literature and culture is
rejected

8. The aim
• to orientate ourselves towards
placing Kenya, East Africa, then Africa in
the centre. Rest consider to understand
ourselves
• Suggestions: Abolish English dept
• Begin dept of African literature and
language.

9. Duty of literature dept
• to illuminate the spirit animating a people,
show how it meets challenges, innovate
possible areas of development and
involvement
Sources of influence
• English French, Portuguese
• Swahili, Arabic, and Asian
• African tradition – stuff gown on, base

10. Oral Tradition
• Living littered tradition- can be found in
political rallies, churches and night clubs.
• Art forms are interlinked in traditional
practice are interlinked.
• social purpose of tale, dance, song, myth
• Dance – symbolic expression system of
social reality reflecting and influencing
cultural and personality systems of which
it is a part

11. Oral tradition comments on society
• Multidisciplinary approach to oral
literature: Literature, music, Linguistics,
Sociology, Anthropology, History,
Psychology, Religion, Philosophy,
• Study can give fresh approaches
• Oral tradition can supplement Modern
African Literature.

12. Conclusion
• Question of literary excellence
• Abolish English dept and establish Dept of
African literature and language.
• Establish centrality of Africa

13. Thanks for listening