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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The chorus in Ngaahika Ndeenda asks where the grave is for whom?

2. What does the Gĩkũyũ word "ngurukuhĩ" translate to in English?

3. When did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o begin writing in Gĩkũyũ?

4. What is the Kenya Land and Freedom Army otherwise known as?

5. Who wrote The Palm-wine Drunkard?

Short Essay Questions

1. When did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o cease writing in English? What were his first works in Gĩkũyũ?

2. What are the three aspects of language as means of communication?

3. What are the two main strands of the petty-bourgeoisie in Africa that the author describes in Chapter 1, Part VI?

4. How does the author describe Kamĩrĩĩthũ? Where is it located? How many people live there?

5. How did the literature of Africa change during the upheaval between imperialism and liberty?

6. Who is David Diop and what was his perspective on language?

7. What literary convention does the author describe in Chapter 1, Part II? Who attended?

8. Describe the Ituĩka ceremony. What was its purpose and how often did it take place?

9. What was the Kamĩrĩĩthhũ Community Education and Culture Centre?

10. What role did drama play in pre-colonial Kenyan life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the origins and history of drama, ritual, and ceremony in Africa. Where does all drama originate, according to the author? What rituals were performed in pre-colonial Africa? What happened to African drama during colonization?

Essay Topic 2

Who were Léopold Sédar Senghor and Chinua Achebe? In what languages did they each write? What works did they publish? What criticisms does the author observe of these authors?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the publication and distribution of Caitaani Mũtharabainĩ. How many copies were originally ordered? How well did they sell and who bought them? How was the novel consumed by a largely illiterate audience?

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