Translating African Literature across Cultures: Challenges and Strategies in Libya

The translation of African literature into other languages is a complex process that involves understanding cultural nuances and linguistic differences. Libya, as an Arab country with a rich literary heritage, provides a unique context for examining these challenges. A survey was conducted among Libyan translators of African literature. The survey included closed-ended questions designed to gather quantitative data on the frequency of certain translation issues and open-ended questions to explore qualitative insights. The findings indicate that one-third of respondents experienced difficulties with idiomatic expressions, which are central to understanding the cultural context of the original works. This study highlights the importance of cross-cultural training for translators and suggests the development of a glossary of culturally specific terms as a strategy to enhance translation accuracy. Translators should be provided with opportunities for continuous professional development in understanding African cultural contexts. The establishment of an online resource centre dedicated to culturally relevant terminology is recommended.