Course info

Chichewa Novel as a course seeks to expose students to the study of Chichewa novel in relation to the socio-political and economic issues from colonialism to present Malawi. It is envisaged that on successful completion of this course the student should be able to do the following: examine how Chichewa fiction has grappled with socio-political forces from colonialism to modernism; assess the role of oral tradition and cultural aesthetics in Chichewa fiction; critique the language debate in African literature; and apply major literary theories in the interpretation of Chichewa novels. Some of the major topics in the course include the following: development of Chichewa fiction; the Language Debate in African Literature; Cultural and religious collision; Dreams as a road to Christian conversion - the applicability of Psychoanalysis theory; African communalism and social inclusion - Marxism in Chichewa novels; Feminism in Chichewa novels; Moral decadence and generational indecency; Social alienation and the educated been-to’s; and Emerging issues in Chichewa novels.