Final answer:
The first wave of West African writers introduced themes like colonialism's legacy, African identity post-independence, and socio-political challenges. This parallels themes in the Southern Renaissance, like the impact of slavery and the search for identity, with the Southern gothic genre reflecting darker aspects of society. The Harlem Renaissance, with figures like Hughes and Hurston, emphasized racial issues and Pan-Africanism in literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first wave of West African writers had major themes that were recurrent in their works. These themes included the legacy of colonialism, the complexity of African identity in the wake of independence, and the social and political challenges faced in African societies. Writers such as Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka explored these themes through their novels. Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart' for instance, showcases the collision of African traditions with Western colonialism. The impact of such themes on literature was profound, influencing not just African literature but also the broader canon of postcolonial literature.
Within the broader Southern Renaissance of literature, similar themes arose regarding the historical legacy of slavery, racial tensions, and the search for Southern identity amid social and economic changes. The adoption of narrative techniques from oral storytelling traditions, such as preaching and conversing, helped to preserve the distinct Southern dialects and cultural motifs of the time.
Women's literature, an important aspect of this literary movement, developed in its own unique way, with authors like Zora Neale Hurston offering insights into the lives and struggles of African-American women. Meanwhile, the Southern gothic genre, a subset of the Southern Renaissance, encapsulated grotesque and macabre motifs to reflect the unsettling realities underlying the facade of Southern gentility.
Contributors to the movement such as Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, and Zora Neale Hurston used their works to confront racial prejudice and portray the resilience and heritage of African-Americans. The Harlem Renaissance saw writers like Richard Wright and Hughes himself delve into the African roots of their literature, veering away from European influences towards a more Pan-African approach as outlined in Alain Locke's 'The New Negro'.