Migration and the Development of African Diasporic Literature & Film

Abstract

The history of mankind has been the history of migration. W.M. Spellman poses the conundrum as to, “Why do people remove themselves, and often their entire families, great distances to unfamiliar lands and uncertain futures?” (1). The above question is germane to our discourse, especially as it directs the theme of this conference, “African Diasporic Literature and Film.” In the same corollary, the answer to this question will seek to slice up and expose the factors that precipitate the development and direction of African literature and film in the diaspora. The very nature of humans is inherent in mobility, travels and adventure. All these are determined by myriads of factors. In his natal state Man was originally food gatherer who moved from one location to the other in search for food. From gathering of food, Man graduated to food cultivation, using stone implements. This was long before the discovery of iron and the use of fire for cooking. At this level Man was wrapped up in the state of nature. With the ‘discovery’ of iron and the use of fire Man developed the desire for hunting of animals for food. This engagement inevitably propelled him to stray out of the immediate environment.