The aim of this essay is to analyse two short African stories, each of them belonging to different areas. I will be focusing my attention on Chinua Achebe from Nigeria (West Africa), author of the short story “Girls at War”, and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s “A Meeting in the Dark”, from Kenya (East Africa).
Nonetheless, both short stories share an important contrast between modernity (as a result of European influence on the part of colonizers) and tradition (the combination of cultural and social features characterizing African people’s identity).
Language acts as another element which divides tradition (aboriginal languages) and modernity (language of the colonizer): Ngugui wa Thiong’o supported the unique use of African languages in literature but it was after he wrote this story, which he wrote in English. He said that the language of the colonizer was a symbol of his identity, a way of accepting European culture.
On the contrary, Achebe decided to write in English because he wanted to address to the whole nation by means of a central language. He even considered that the use of English opened up more opportunities for his message to be read throughout Europe. This Western cultural background and clash between European and original African identities results in the concept of cultural syncretism, which will be a key concept for this analysis. These short stories are written literary proof of how African people found themselves in a constant fight to keep their original believes and traditions, trying to achieve success through European literacy but never being accepted as fully Westernized, nor as fully Africans anymore.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Two opposing forces: Tradition vs Modernity
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The essay aims to analyze the conflict between tradition and modernity in Chinua Achebe's "Girls at War" and Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's "A Meeting in the Dark," examining how European influence, decolonization, and the struggle for identity shape the lives of the characters in post-colonial African societies.
- The clash between traditional African culture and Western values.
- The role of language and cultural syncretism in post-colonial literature.
- Gender roles and survival strategies in war-torn environments.
- The impact of Christianity and colonial education on African identity.
- The psychological consequences of displacement and alienation.
Excerpt from the book
Two opposing forces: Tradition vs Modernity
On the one hand, Chinua Achebe is an African author from Nigeria, West Africa. In “Girls at War”, short story which appears in the collection Girls at War and Other Stories (1976) we find political subjects such as the struggle Africans faced for achieving Ibo’s independence: “The war of Biafra” (1967-1970) is the main topic in this story, functioning as a perfect revelator of social distinctions as well as differences concerning gender: the only option a woman had for surviving in a war was by means of prostitution just like Gladys did (tradition). Achebe is revealing how corruptive power (modernity) may lead to destruction and injustice. We part from hope and move towards disillusionment little by little throughout this short story.
The story begins with a third person narrator introducing us the first time in which Reginald Nwankwo, an important official, and Gladys, a beautiful young woman, meet. Achebe looks for the preservation of proverbs of the Ibo community by means of this stories: “Somebody else shouted “Irrevolu!” and his friends replied “shum!” “Irrevulu”, “shum”, “Isofeli?” “Mba!” (p. 157). So this use of Ibo language is a gesture towards the richness of Nigerian folktales: griots went from one village to another in order to tell stories just like literature passes from one hand to another in a more spread like travel than the one of griots. This is the power of literature as preservation and expansion of the Ibo tradition.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: The introduction outlines the objective to compare two African short stories and introduces the key concepts of post-colonial identity, decolonization, and cultural syncretism.
Two opposing forces: Tradition vs Modernity: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of how historical events and societal shifts during and after colonial rule force characters to choose between, or struggle with, traditional beliefs and modern Western pressures.
Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, noting that both stories share a dramatic, tragic outcome where the clash of identities leads to isolation, destruction, and moral corruption.
Keywords
Post-colonialism, Modernity, Tradition, Chinua Achebe, Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, Cultural Syncretism, Identity, Biafran War, Decolonization, Displacement, African Literature, Gender, Alienation, Christianity, Social struggle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay explores the tension between traditional African culture and Western modernity as depicted in the literary works of Chinua Achebe and Ngugi Wa Thiong'o.
Which short stories are analyzed in this work?
The work focuses on "Girls at War" by Chinua Achebe and "A Meeting in the Dark" by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o.
What is the central research question?
The essay examines how the clash between traditional and colonial influences leads to a post-colonial identity crisis and cultural displacement in the lives of the characters.
What scientific methods or theoretical frameworks are used?
The author employs literary analysis, referencing post-colonial theory and historical context, including concepts like cultural syncretism and the "noble savage" theory.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include the struggle for independence, the loss of tribal traditions, the influence of religion, and the devastating impact of war on individual identity.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The most important keywords include post-colonialism, cultural syncretism, identity, displacement, and the conflict between tradition and modernity.
How does the author describe the transformation of the character Gladys?
Gladys is described as a reflection of a society corrupted by war; she transitions from a revolutionary figure to an object of desire who survives by adopting Western superficiality.
Why does the author consider the role of language important in these stories?
Language is presented as a marker of identity; the choice to write in English vs. an African language reflects the broader struggle between embracing the colonizer's tools or preserving native culture.
How does the protagonist in "A Meeting in the Dark" face his identity crisis?
John feels trapped between his Christian upbringing and his traditional heritage, leading to feelings of isolation that eventually result in madness and violence.
What is the significance of the "Irimu" metaphor in the essay?
The "Irimu" (ogre) symbolizes the colonizer, representing how colonial influence obstructs the possibility of a cohesive identity, leaving individuals feeling like they belong nowhere.
- Citar trabajo
- Ana María Leiva Aguilera (Autor), 2015, Modernity and Tradition in Chinua Achebe’s “Girls at War” and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s “A Meeting in the Dark”, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/308941
