September 2024
, ENG2603 Assignment 3 2024 - DUE 13 September
2024
Phaswane Mpe's Welcome to Our Hillbrow critically engages with the language debate in
African literature, highlighting the complexities and challenges of writing in indigenous
languages. Through the character of Refentše, Mpe explores the contradictions and
biases in how African languages are perceived and censored, especially when compared
to English and Afrikaans. The novel underscores the enduring legacy of Apartheid-era
censorship, which continues to influence publishers' attitudes towards African
languages. By integrating perspectives from scholars like Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Chinua
Achebe, and Obiajunwa Wali, this essay examines Mpe's linguistic choices and their
relevance to the ongoing debate on language in African literature.