Critical Directions In African Autobiography

Abstract

This paper examines the contributions of critics to the study of African autobiography. While locating it in the global criticism of the genre, it explores the major directions in the study of African autobiography since its inception. It shows how questions of origin, taxonomy, socio-political factors and histories, gender, class, and race among others have continued to draw the attention of critics in reading this tradition of autobiography. The impact of feminist criticism and its discursive strategies in redefining autobiographical boundaries and practise in African literature are also discussed. Keywords: autobiography, Africa, criticism, tradition