Shakespeare’s plays worth studying if we are to understand African politics

By Anyang' Nyong'o

There was a heated debate in the sixties in East Africa regarding what type of literature should be taught our students in high schools and universities. Previous to that English Literature was the in thing. But literary giants like Okot p’Bitek, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Micere Githae Mugo, John Ruganda, Pio Zirimu, Charles Mangua, Jared Angira, Okello Oculi and many others pointed out, quite rightly so, that literature was universal notwithstanding the medium through which it was communicated to people. Language is but a medium of communication: the substance of the language, the literature, is what matters.