Library Subject Guides
See Yourself on the Shelf
The reading list you'll find on this page showcases work from Africa, by Africans. The novels, short stories, poetry, and films in this collection aim to share visions of Africa that are not solely characterised by darkness and hardship. Here you'll find a range of subjects and themes to explore that represent the queer, magical, and humorous sides of the continent.
My name is Kristen Harding and I'm an international postgraduate student from South Africa.
Before moving to York to do my Master's in Film and Literature, I spent four years at Stellenbosch University where I completed my Bachelor's and Honours degrees in English Studies.
I am passionate about the representation of African lives in popular media and I hope my project as a Student Curator will inspire a greater curiosity about the continent amongst our university community.
Actively including African voices in what we engage with is a good first step towards decentralising dominant western perspectives.
Narratives about Africa in popular media often reinforce stereotypical ideas about the continent. But since stories play such a big role in how we understand the world, we can also use them to change and expand those understandings.
Hear what filmmaker and writer Wanuri Kahiu has to say about the representation of Africa in art:
Visit the See Yourself on the Shelf page to find out more about our student library curator work.
If you have any questions regarding Reimagining Africa please contact the library at lib-enquiry@york.ac.uk
'See Yourself on the Shelf' used with permission from the University of Kent.
The reading list below is available to anyone, but please note that links to e-resources are only available to students and staff at the University of York. You can also access the list on a separate webpage.
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In 1972, South African activist and poet Dennis Brutus began the Documentation Project within York's Centre for Southern African Studies at the time. The goal was to preserve papers that would otherwise be deemed valueless and discarded. The collection contains material dating from post-World War II that was sourced from individuals and institutions in the UK rather than removing original manuscripts from southern Africa.
York has plenty to explore: from records on the All-African Convention and the 1976 Soweto Uprising to documents from the author and journalist Noni Jabavu who was educated at Mount School, York.
Take a look at this discussion about Noni Jabavu's life that was hosted by York in 2021: