Contemporary African Cultural Productions

This compendium, edited by Duke literature professor V.Y. Mudimbe, examines the explosion in cultural productions of various genres taking place all over Africa. In all of its various forms—music, song, dance, drama, poetry, film, documentaries, photography, cartoons, fine arts, novels, short stories, essays, and (auto)biography—the continent is undergoing a robust outpouring of creative power that is as remarkable for its originality as its all-round diversity.

From the late 1970s to early 1980s, the African continent experienced the longest and deepest economic crises in its history since World War II. While practically every indicator of economic development was in decline, cultural productions were on the increase. Out of adversity, grew the creative genius of African produced cultural forms that at once spoke to crises and sought to transcend them.