Translating African Literature: Challenges and Strategies in Benin's Context

Translating African literature is a complex process that involves not only linguistic but also cultural and aesthetic challenges. Benin, with its rich literary tradition, faces unique translation issues due to its diverse linguistic landscape and the desire for global audiences. Qualitative research methods were employed, including semi-structured interviews with translators, focus group discussions among literary critics, and a content analysis of translated texts from the Beninese literature corpus. Translators reported frequent challenges such as preserving cultural nuances and maintaining the original text's rhythm and style. Translated works often struggled to capture the emotional depth found in the source language versions. This research identifies a critical gap in existing translation studies by focusing on Benin, where linguistic diversity and cultural specificity pose unique hurdles for global audiences. Recommendations include developing culturally sensitive training programmes for translators, enhancing cross-cultural understanding workshops, and establishing a repository of translated texts to serve as a reference guide.