Talk:Sudanese literature/GA1

GA Review
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Reviewer: Cerebellum (talk · contribs) 14:07, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

Hello! I will be reviewing this article, please allow up to a week for the review! --Cerebellum (talk) 14:07, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

Munfarid, thank you for this article, I enjoyed reading it. My favorite part was learning about Selim Aga, what a fascinating life! The article is especially valuable since it helps counter our systemic bias and poor coverage of Africa. I imagine it's difficult to find sources for the topic - google search for "Sudanese literature" in quotes only gives me 11,000 results, while "Irish literature" gives over a million! The article is well-written and well-referenced. Of course GA reviews focus on the negatives, so please see below for my comments. I'll place the article on hold for seven days so you can revise the article. Best wishes, Cerebellum (talk) 11:25, 20 January 2021 (UTC)


 * Lead: The lead has two paragraphs about Sudanese literature from 300 BC to Islamic period, but I don't see that information in the body of the article. The same is true of the information about the Sudanese Writers Union. In general, content that appears in the lead in summary form should be in the body as well.
 * Broadness: That leads me to a related point, there's not much in the article about premodern Sudanese literature. I understand that most of it is oral and you cover the oral tradition well, but I found two works that I think should be in this article - the Tabaqat of Wad Dayf Allah, and the Funj Chronicles (link).  Is that right?
 * Quotations: For some reason, I think that quotations should not go in the lead section, like the one from Eiman El-Nour. It's tough for me to articulate why, I guess it's just a style preference, so let me know if you disagree.
 * Contemporary Sudanese literature: Two comments for this section. First, you begin the section by going straight into details baout Tarek Eltayeb.  I think it would be good to start with a summary sentence, or even a paragraph, about contemporary Sudanese literature in general and its significance.  Second, do you have any more information about Hamedd al-Nazir than the single sentence that is in the article now? Maybe the titles/plots/significance of his novels.
 * Prose: The prose is very good, I've made some changes though so let me know if you disagree with any of them.
 * Images: It would be nice to have a couple of images to illustrate the article, maybe a photo of Tayeb Saleh or anything else you think is appropriate.
 * South Sudan: It might be too early to tell, but since 2011 has a distinct South Sudanese literature appeared, distinct from that of Sudan? I guess I wonder because you mention you suppression of free speech under the Bashir government in Sudan, I'm not sure if South Sudan is the same way, or if the civil war there has made literary activity impossible. If none of the sources discuss this topic that's fine too.
 * Magazines: When you mention Andariya and the The Niles, I don't think primary sources (the magazine websites) are sufficient to support the implied claim that these magazines are a significant part of Sudanese literature. Are there any secondary sources which discuss these magazines?
 * Theater: The second sentence of the "theatre" paragraph confused me a bit, is it saying that more than one writer wrote a play about El Mek Nimr? If so it might it be worth adding the name of one of the writers for clarity.
 * References:
 * The first paragraph of "Nonfiction by Sudanese writers" should have a reference. Also, the second paragraph of "Literature in English by writers with Sudanese roots."
 * For references #3 and 19, please provide page numbers.
 * Reference #15 gave me an error message, are you able to access the website?
 * Reference #68 gave me a 404 error.
 * Reference #69 is missing the title. --Cerebellum (talk) 11:25, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

Hello Cerebellum (talk, thank you very much for your helpful and encouraging remarks. I have just rewritten the lead and added an introduction to Contemporary Sudanese literature, as you suggested. Also, I have tried to fix all the other issues you raised and added a few more sentences to complete the subject. (e.g. a new paragraph on graphic storytelling)

Thank you very much for your hint on the Tabaqat of Wad Dayf Allah, and the Funj Chronicles, which I was not aware about. - I have just added this and have corrected on the other smaller issues (magazines, theatre,references, page numbers etc.) you mentioned. - Also, you will see that there are now two pictures of Tayeb Salih and Leila Abulela. Do you think we need more? (I actually have asked someone in Khartoum to upload corresponding pictures on Commons, but am not sure, when this will be available.)

As to South Sudan, - I am not sure, if a distinct South Sudanese literature has appeared. But since Stella Gaitano is about the only South Sudanese contemporary writer I have read about, I don't really think so.

Thanks also for your compliment on my prose, and the changes you made to my text. Being a non-native speaker of English and not living in an English-speaking environment, I certainly appreciate your encouragement.

Maybe you want to make good use of the upcoming weekend and have a look at my changes, and let me know what you think of them. Best regards, and glad you enjoy reading about Sudanese literature. :) Munfarid1 (talk) 19:33, 22 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Munfarid, looks great!! Thank you for the quick response and thorough revisions. Photos from Khartoum would be great :) But it's not necessary for the GA criteria, I'm happy to pass as a GA. --Cerebellum (talk) 11:36, 24 January 2021 (UTC)