This course explores how African texts have dealt with the thorny task of defining terms like “human,” “rights,” and “justice.” We will be situating narratives from Nigerian, Rwandan, and South African traditions, among others within the 20th-century concept of human rights. Throughout the course, we will be developing a shared vocabulary and understanding of what human rights are, and what is left out of this idea. We will be considering questions such as: How do these narratives de-center or align with European discourses of human rights? What effect does being a postcolonial state have on how human rights narratives are articulated? What role do literature, film, and political essays play in resisting human rights atrocities such as apartheid and genocide?
