Department of Literature

Welcome to the Department of Literature

At the age of 61, today, the department has continued to dedicatedly mould young scholars in various themes and their expression in a language artistically crafted towards developing them into professionalism. In line with this dedication, therefore, the department offers various courses on core and optional basis depending on the need and requirements of students in and outside the department.

The courses help students to develop critical understanding of both scholarly materials and texts with varied themes and topics and, hence, demonstrate high skills in their expression, creativity and analysis. The department, however, has noted with concern that, some members of the general public, and some of the members of university community, have always been failing to distinguish Literature Department from the Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics thinking that they are one and the same.

The Department wishes to categorically state that, it is an independent department authentic in the execution of its duties, notwithstanding that it is part and parcel of the college. and Greek literatures which to a large extent created the base of this literature.

History of the Department

The Department of Literature was established in 1963 in the then University of East Africa. In the beginning, it was basically modeled along the lines of conventional British and North America Departments of English. This has changed over time, and takes the following tendencies:

• Movement away from its initial essentially British orientation towards a more cosmopolitan one, with the teaching of notable specimens of the world literature being guided by the factor of their relevance and interest to both African and non-African students.
• Concentration on the study of African literature including oral literature, African American literature and Caribbean which explore the themes and mine the structures which, now, characterize contemporary literature. However, the concentration does not discard British and Greek literatures which to a large extent created the base of this literature.

Programmes offered by the Department

Goals of the Department

For Students

1. Skills and Habits of Liberally Educated Persons: We strive to equip our students with the skills and habits of mindthat are characteristic of liberally educated individuals. These include effective communication, profi ciency inforeign languages, analytical and critical thinking abilities, creativity, and aesthetic awareness.
2. Active Engagement in Inquiry and Lifelong Learning: We encourage students to actively engage in inquiry andtake responsibility for their own learning. By cultivating intellectual habits and skills necessary for lifelonglearning, we empower students to continue their intellectual growth beyond the university setting.
3. Preparation for Life Beyond University: Our goal is to prepare students for all aspects of life beyond university,including work, service, and leadership within their local, national, and international communities. We foster anunderstanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, enabling students to relate knowledgeably and sensitively toindividuals with disparate cultural perspectives.

1. Community of Scholars: We strive to develop a vibrant community of scholars within the department, whereteaching and learning are of the utmost priority. Our academic members of staff are committed to creating anenvironment that fosters intellectual growth and collaboration
2. Professional Growth and Contributions: We encourage our academic members of staff to grow professionallyand make valuable contributions to the department and the larger academic community. This includes engagingin research, creative expression, innovative teaching methods, and interdisciplinary dialogue.
3. Governing and Enriching the Department: Academic members of staff actively participate in governing thedepartment, contributing to the development of academic programs and enriching the cultural environment. Theyserve as models and mentors, supporting students' development as independent learners, responsible citizens,and morally sensitive individuals.

History and Activities of the Department

The Department of Literature at the University of Dar es Salaam has a rich history and is one of the oldest departmentsin the university, established in 1964. Our department specializes in the study of literature written in English, offering awide coverage of literatures from Africa, Europe, America, Asia, Australia, and Latin America.

Our department's activities revolve around three major areas: research, teaching, and consultancy. In addition to thesecore activities, we are actively involved in seminar presentations, conferences, and the writing and collection of literarytexts. We have a strong tradition of fi eld research, both within and outside the country, particularly in the areas of oralliterature and folklore. Our departmental library houses research studies on these subjects, as well as resources oncriticism, reviews, translation, and the appreciation of novels, plays, and poetry.

Graduates of the Department of Literature have gone on to make notable contributions to society in various fi elds. Theyhave become teachers, fi lm actors, scriptwriters, publishers, editors, journalists, translators, interpreters, diplomats, andwriters of fi ction and drama. With the ever-growing infl uence of mass media, there is a guaranteed market for studentswith expertise in literary and mass communication fi elds. Our department's goal is to bring out the best in each student,preparing them to thrive in this golden age of literary and mass communication in Tanzania and beyond.