Research Project: Reinventing the Cannon

What are 2-3 civilizations/ cultures whose literature you would want to research? Pick the one you are most interested in and explain why.
            I would like to research either African, Polish, or French literature. However, the one that I would be most interested in researching is African literature. This is because, many stories in African culture were passed down verbally, meaning they were told through stories. Another reason why I'm interested in researching African literature is because, I don't know much about it and I believe it would be beneficial to learn about.