French Literature Reviews - 2026
C. Eze. Justice and Human Rights in the African Imagination. We, Too, Are Humans
Francophone and Oral Literatures
Justice and Human Rights in the African Imagination
We, Too, Are Humans
Chielozona Eze
ISBN 9780367708542
Routledge
184 Pages
£96.00
OVERVIEW
Justice and Human Rights in the African Imagination offers an interdisciplinary exploration of justice through the lens of literary texts, memoirs, films, and socio-anthropological works across postcolonial Africa.
Drawing inspiration from Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s remarkable achievements in human rights, the book contends that the concept of restorative justice is essential for the effective operation of participatory democracy and forms a core component of the moral framework of any decent society. Focusing on the endeavors of African writers, scholars, artists, and activists to foster thriving communities, the author examines diverse pursuits of justice—including environmental, social, intimate, and restorative justice. Particular attention is given to ecological violence, human rights violations such as witchcraft accusations, the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, homophobia, misogyny, sex trafficking, and the role of forgiveness.
This book will be of significant interest to scholars specializing in African literature and cinema, literature and human rights, as well as ecocriticism and environmental literature.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Narratives and the Common Good
Chapter 2: Ecological Violence and the Quest for Justice
Chapter 3: Mythic Consciousness, Witchcraft, and Human Rights Abuses
Chapter 4: Barriers to Being: Albinism, Disability, and Recognition
Chapter 5: Intimate Justice: Homophobia and Human Dignity
Chapter 6: Dignity of Woman: From Misogyny to Sex-trafficking
Conclusion: Politics of Love and the Common Good
Discussions concerning human rights and restorative justice frequently intersect with broader postcolonial inquiries into the moral frameworks of contemporary societies and the development of participatory democracy. In this volume, Justice and Human Rights in the African Imagination, Chielozona Eze examines justice through the lens of literary texts, memoirs, films, and socio-anthropological works across postcolonial Africa. The work explores several distinct dimensions of justice, including environmental, social, intimate, and restorative forms, drawing on inspiration from South Africa and the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Through engagements with literature, memoirs, and films, the study highlights ongoing efforts by writers, scholars, artists, and activists to foster thriving communities.
The analysis addresses a range of specific contemporary concerns, spanning ecological violence, human rights violations such as witchcraft accusations, the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, homophobia, misogyny, sex trafficking, and the role of forgiveness. Readers interested in African literature and cinema, literature and human rights, as well as ecocriticism and environmental literature may find this work relevant to their broader scholarly pursuits in these fields.