aAh! Magazine
You are here: Home / News / University Professor changes our perception of Fictional Africa
News

University Professor changes our perception of Fictional Africa

14th December 2012 By 2 194

Naturalism, Humanitarianism and the Fiction of War
Words by Graham Murray

ELENI COUNDOURIOTIS provided a fascinating talk centred on war novels in post-colonial Africa. The talk took place on the Monday evening 10thDecember and was the third event in the humanities strand of this year’s research series for the Humanities. The professor of English from the University of Connecticut, addressed her talk around themes of naturalism, the discourse of humanitarianism and western perspectives on war in Africa. Her talk encompassed many of the humanities, incorporating elements of English literature & language, as well as politics and history.
 
Coundouriotis began the talk discussing humanitarian law. In this, she deliberated the issue surrounding the definition of war, given the fact it has no legal definition. She described war as not defined by actions of war, but by the actors of war. Beyond this, she spoke of humanitarianism in general – how it naturally takes the side of victims, and how “the discourse of humanitarianism is fundamentally a discourse of surrogacy”.
 
She turned her attention following this to the African war novel, identifying the fact that war had always been a present theme in African novels. She was also quick to point out how African war novels often challenge stereotypes of Africa being conflict ridden and dysfunctional. The talk focussed much on humanitarian narratives in these novels, and the so-called “politics of pity”. This means to say how the reader sympathises with the plight of the novel’s protagonists – yet it also distances them.
Coundouriotis identified four main motifs that heighten the impression an African war novel forms a distinct literary tradition – the ‘Song of my Country’, the male warrior as war personified, the ordeal in the forest and the perennial landscape.
               
Berthold Schoene, MMU professor of English and director of the Institute for Humanities and Social Science Research remarked that:

“The work of Professor Coundouriotis highlights the significant interplay within the Humanities between sociological research (human rights and their abuse around the world) and art (the literature of war in Africa).  Her analysis of war novels, and the role they play in “witnessing”, brings to life how Humanities research has the capacity to deepen our understanding of global suffering and conflict.”
 
All in all, Coundouriotis presented an interesting notion of how the African war novel is able to display another side to Africa as a whole, and was an excellent specimen of how the humanities can be so interlinked as subjects.
 
To find out about more upcoming Humanities Research events, please click here and to register your attendance to any of these events please click here

About the author / 

aAh!

aAh! Magazine is Manchester Metropolitan University's arts and culture magazine.

2 Comments

  1. Sankar Kumar 29th March 2013 at 7:09 pm -  Reply

    Let’s call it biological colonialism in reverse: Chinese couples are using IVF and rented American wombs to make new US citizens when the baby is born here. From the Global Times story: West Coast Surrogacy, in California, has worked with. If you are thinking to go INDIA for IVF surrogacy, then you must search for Surrogacy India, Surrogate mother India, IVF India, IVF clinic India & IVF cost india. I found Go Surrogacy for this treatment in India. Hope you also like these.

  2. Surrogacy Hospital in Mumbai 30th January 2020 at 5:39 am -  Reply

    Nice Blog. Thank For Information.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • 12th November 2025

    The world is starting to take notice of Manchester’s fashion scene: what does that mean for us?

    Featured image: Evie Atkins When Vogue Business asked the question on everyone’s lips – “Is Manchester the next big fashion city?” – the world was forced to pay attention. The publication spotlighted Manchester Fashion Institute (MFI) and Manchester Met, highlighting the 1,800 students training to be the next generation of designers and fashion change-makers. For…

  • 11th November 2025

    Lights Up 2025: ‘Disco on wheels’ calls for safer streets for women and girls

    Photography: Isabelle Dargue, Ellie Williams, Bradley Sansom and Natalie Carragher Manchester’s streets were transformed into a vibrant sea of lights and colour on Saturday as Lights Up 2025 brought together more than 200 cyclists for a night-time ride across the city. The free, community-led event organised by Bee Pedal Ready and Station South aims to make…

  • 10th November 2025

    Opinion: Grace Wales Bonner’s Hermés appointment challenges gender hierarchies in fashion

    Featured image: Evie-Iris Atkins Grace Wales Bonner’s appointment as the new creative force behind menswear at Hermès feels less like a surprise and more like a moment of long-overdue recognition. Not only does it cement the 35-year-old designer’s position as one of the visionaries for a new era of the fashion industry, but it challenges…

  • 29th August 2025

    Leeds Festival 2025: A weekend of chaos, confetti and unreleased anthems

    Featured image: Gracie Hall Leeds Festival 2025 is one for the history books. Across three relentless days, Bramham Park transforms into a dust-choked, glitter-soaked arena where breakthrough acts collide with stadium giants and fans leave dusty, voiceless, and aching for more. This year’s lineup proves Leeds still thrives on extremes: chaos and calm, confetti and…

Latest Articles