Africa has variously been described as the «lost Continent», a «Continent at risk», not least because of the ethnic or civil wars plaguing this continent and their concomitant genocide. Indeed, Africa has been plunged into a political and socio-economic quagmire. This state of «cultural crisis» is what this work makes its theme. Crisis as a sociological phenomenon, which in the case of the African situation - in contrast to the conventional European appraisal - is apparently far from being a transitional period, a period of «decision». This sociological analysis of «historical», African literary works is aimed at creating that self-awareness which is imperative as a curb on African identity crisis, to warrant the impetus for human development on this continent. (view table of contents)