Vol. 2009 No. 1 (2009)
Urban Cairo in Contemporary African Literature: A Qualitative Study on Representation
Abstract
Urban Cairo in Contemporary African Literature explores how urban life is depicted in Egyptian contemporary literature, focusing on themes such as migration, identity, and cultural integration. A qualitative content analysis approach was employed, examining texts from various genres such as fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Analysis focused on textual elements including language use, thematic focus, character development, and narrative structure to uncover patterns in representation. The study identified a predominant theme of migration within urban settings, with over 70% of analysed works featuring characters navigating or experiencing displacement from rural areas into Cairo. This finding highlights the significant impact of urbanization on Egyptian society. This qualitative study contributes to existing literature by providing a detailed analysis of how contemporary African writers represent urban Cairo and its inhabitants. It underscores the importance of these literary representations in shaping public perceptions of Egyptian urban culture. Further research could explore intertextual comparisons between works, analyse representation across different genres or time periods, and consider the socio-political contexts influencing these depictions.
Read the Full Article
The HTML galley is loaded below for inline reading and better discovery.