Experiences of Freedom in Postcolonial Literatures and Cultures

Modern ideas of freedom and human rights have been repeatedly contested and are hotly debated at the beginning of the third millennium in response to new theories, needs, and challenges in contemporary life. This volume offers culturally diverse responses to the debate on freedom from the literatures and arts of the postcolonial world, exploring experiences that evoke, desire, imagine and perform freedom across five continents and two centuries of history. Experiences of Freedom opens with a critical introductory essay by the curators and a philosophical contribution by political philosopher Achille Mbembe, and is divided into four sections that consider: • resisting history and colonialism • the right to move and to belong • the right to (believe in) free futures • imaginative freedom and critical engagement Each section contains an original piece of creative writing directly connected to the topics, from authors such as Chris Abani, Anita Desai, Caryl Phillips and Alexis Wright, followed by a selection of critical essays.