Anthologies, Witness of Their Time
This article examines the changing status of African francophone literature in world literature anthologies. It shows that until the 1960s, anthologies emphasized the global dimension of this literature. They then tended to give it only a marginal place. However, in recent years, anthologies are once again perceiving African literature as world literature. The article explains that anthologies have been informed by the way in which African literature has been charged, first, with rehabilitating black people in their humanity and, second, with legitimizing African nations. Anthologies are now sensitive to the fact that African literature is now claiming its literary dimension and a place at the center of the global literary field.