At the basis of African literary translation is the question of language choice for the literary expression of a continent known for multilingualism and linguistic rivalry between indigenous languages and the languages of colonisation. Woven into these tendencies is the subtext of orality, which is inherent to the continent’s literary creativity. Literary productions that showcase the aesthetics of oral language cultures are akin to translated literature, as the representation of orality in writing can be construed as a form of translation. Furthermore, literature crafted in an alien colonial language often emulates writing-as-translation strategies required to overcome power asymmetries underlying the relationship between dominant imperial language cultures and their dominated colonized counterparts. Postcolonial multilingual societies contend with the ramifications of linguistic hierarchy and the ensuing inequality in power relations within the postcolony and the global community. African literary translation is better understood within the discourse of African literature in terms of its production, dissemination and consumption within the global literary space.