• History -> History of Asia and Africa

• 0 Comment

How did colonialism affect the literature of Asia and Africa?

Demond Staniland

Colonialism had a big impact on the literature of Asia and Africa. Colonialism is when one country takes over another country and tries to control it. Western countries like England, France, and Portugal took over many countries in Asia and Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries.

When the Western countries started to take over the world, they brought their own ideas and beliefs with them. They thought that their way of life was better and that the people they were taking over were backwards and needed to be "civilized". The Western countries tried to change the way people in Asia and Africa lived, including their religion, language, and culture.

This had a big impact on the literature of Asia and Africa. Before colonialism, the people in these countries had their own stories, myths, and legends. They shared their traditions and beliefs through storytelling. But when the Western countries took over, they started to tell their own stories. They introduced new ideas and ways of looking at the world. They also started to print books and newspapers in their own languages, which made it harder for people in Asia and Africa to read and write in their own languages.

Despite the challenges, many writers in Asia and Africa continued to write in their own languages and to share their own stories. They wrote about their struggles and their triumphs. They wrote about their cultures and traditions, and they tried to preserve them for future generations.

Today, the literature of Asia and Africa is a rich and diverse mix of stories, poems, and songs. It reflects the history and experiences of the people who wrote them. It shows us how people in Asia and Africa have held onto their own ways of thinking and their own traditions, even in the face of great adversity.

In conclusion, colonialism had a big impact on the literature of Asia and Africa. It introduced new ideas and ways of looking at the world, but it also tried to suppress the cultures and traditions of the people who lived there. Despite this, writers in Asia and Africa continued to create their own literature, and today we can learn a lot from their stories.