Vivian Yenika-Agbaw

Lindah Mhando

This book explores how African youth are depicted in contemporary literature and popular culture, and discusses the different ways by which they attempt to construct personal and cultural identities through popular culture and social media outlets. The contributors approach the subject from an interdisciplinary perspective, looking at images in children’s and adolescent literature from Africa, and the African diaspora, from Nollywood and Hollywood movies, from popular magazines, and from youth cultures encountered directly through field experiences. The findings reveal that there are many stereotypes about Africa, African youth and black cultures, and that African youth are aware of these. Since they juggle multiple identities shaped by their ethnicities, race and religion, it is often a challenge for them to define themselves. As they also share a global youth culture that transcends these cultural markers, some take advantage of media outlets to voice their concerns and participate in political struggles. Others simply use these to promote their personal interests. Contributors ponder the challenges involved in constructing unique identities, offering ideas on how African youth are doing so successfully or not in different parts of the continent and the African diaspora, and thus offer new possibilities for youth studies.

Identity Quest

African Youth in Contemporary Literature and Popular Culture

Ruth McKoy Lowery

Laura Anne Hudock

Paul H. Ricks

The book discusses how learners might be guided to interact with texts in a creative but critically engaged and sustainable manner.

Innovative Practices in Classrooms

Exploring Nonfiction Literacies

Representing Africa in Children’s Literature explores how African and Western authors portray youth in contemporary African societies, critically examining the dominant images of Africa and Africans in books published between 1960 and 2005. The book focuses on contemporary children’s and young adult literature set in Africa, examining issues regarding colonialism, the politics of representation, and the challenges posed to both "insiders" and "outsiders" writing about Africa for children.

Old and New Ways of Seeing

Representing Africa in Children's Literature

Hidalgo-de-Jes&ús, Amarilis

This book focuses on challenges women of color experienced while teaching or pursuing administrative duties within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Contributors provide academic tools and strategies to navigate the academy successfully by identifying challenges unique to the state system that may be generally applicable.

Critical Reflections

Race, Women of Color, and the State University System

"Press Lake Varsity tells a refreshing story about growing up and attending boarding school in the South West Province of Cameroon. Yenika's depiction of the complex relationships between daughters, girlfriends and parents is both humorous, and hauntingly realistic."-Dr. Elizabeth Bifuh Ambe, University of Massachussetts Twelve-year-old Bridget and her friends are excited when they get admitted into one of the most prestigious boarding secondary schools in Kumba, Cameroon. Passing exams is the least of their worries. But surviving the new academic and social culture with hormone driven adolescent boys and unscrupulous seniors remain a challenge. Can the ground rules for survival Bridget and her new girlfriends adopt protect them from the threats they face constantly from the seniors, teachers and the adults in the local community? Can they handle all the distractions in addition to the changes their pubescent bodies are undergoing?

Vivian Yenika-Agbaw

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