Africa on the literary scene: limited participation in the Nobel Prize for Literature
The Nobel Prize in Literature is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of literature. However, when we take a closer look at the list of winners, we see a low representation of African writers. Of the 119 winners, only five are from the African continent. This under-representation raises the question of the visibility of African literary works and the recognition granted to them.
Nobel-winning African writers include renowned names such as Wole Soyinka, Naguib Mahfouz, Nadine Gordimer, John Maxwell Coetzee and Abdulrazak Gurnah. However, these authors remain a minority among all African literary production. This situation raises questions about the way in which the Nobel committee takes into account different literary expressions around the world.
A Eurocentric vision of world literature
Some critics believe that the Nobel committee’s vision is influenced by a Eurocentrism that favors European and North American literature. According to Elara Bertho, a researcher specializing in African literatures, there is a pretension to universality which in reality excludes entire portions of world literatures. This exclusion concerns not only Africa, but also other regions of the globe, such as Oceania and Asia.
One of the reasons given to explain this disparity is the profusion of internationally renowned writers in Europe and North America. According to Togolese novelist Sami Tchak, there are fewer African authors deserving of the Nobel Prize compared to Europe and North America. It also underlines the existence of a long history of invisibility of African literatures which can explain this lack of recognition.
A question of languages and translation
Another important dimension to take into account is that of the languages of creation and dissemination of African works. Among the five African writers awarded the Nobel Prize, four wrote in English and only one in literary Arabic. This predominance of European languages limits the visibility of other African languages.
Researcher Elara Bertho emphasizes that the French-speaking world is often reduced to France, with only 16 French authors receiving awards since 1901. Other African languages, such as Wolof or Swahili, are poorly represented in major international literary institutions. However, these languages are home to an important literary wealth which deserves to be further highlighted.
A possible solution to further promote African literature would be to promote the translation of works into different languages, thus allowing African writers to reach a wider audience.. However, this raises the question of the availability of these translations in African countries themselves, as well as access to reading in African languages.
Promote African publishers and literary prizes
To break symbolic dominations and promote greater recognition of African authors, it is necessary to encourage the development of powerful publishing houses in Africa. Currently, many authors from the continent are published by European houses and depend on major European literary prizes to get noticed. The creation of more influential African publishing houses would make it possible to strengthen the visibility of African writers and promote their works on an international scale.
At the same time, the establishment of literary prizes in Africa could also contribute to the recognition of African authors. These awards could serve as a platform to highlight the talent of African writers and arouse the interest of readers around the world.
In conclusion, the low representation of African writers among the winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature raises questions about the visibility and recognition granted to them. A more inclusive and open approach to the different literary expressions of the world could help highlight the diversity and richness of African literature.