This text deals with the literature of Central Sudanic Africa. The majority of the work concerns Nigeria, which has produced a voluminous and varied literature. The smaller Arabic literary traditions of Chad, Cameroon and Niger are also examined, but in less depth. The work is arranged chronologically and by sub-region, and writers have been grouped within chapters according to their scholarly and religious affiliations. Details are provided of known manuscripts, published editions and translations, and indexes are included of titles, authors and first lines of poetry.