Ngugi’s essay ‘The Language of African Literature’ is the core of his bookDecolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature.Significantly, the opening line of this work reads as follows : ‘This book is my farewell to English as a vehicle for any of my writings. From now on it is Gikuyu and Kiswahili all the way’. A forceful statement to open his text with, Ngugi makes it clear from the beginning what he has set out to do, namely, to reject the English language as a vehicle for African culture. In ‘The Language of African Literature’, he develops this point even further, by relating language to identity: ‘The choice of language and the use to which language is put is central to a people’s definition of themselves in relation to their natural and social environment, indeed in relation to the entire universe’. Although none of the African countries is a colony any longer, he claims that ‘even today as neo-colonies, [they] came to be defined and to define themselves in terms of the languages of Europe: Englishspeaking, French-speaking or Portuguese-speaking African countries’. Ngugi, in order to illustrate his argument, takes as endorsement for his contention the 1962 ‘Conference ofAfrican Writers of English Expression’,which, in his eyes failed to address the core issue of African literature: ‘the domination of [the African] languages and cultures by those of imperialist Europe’. Ngugi himself then advances an argument brought forth by Chinua Achebe in his essay ‘The African Writer and the English Language’. ‘Is it right that a man should abandon his mother tongue for someone else’s? It looks like dreadful betrayal and produces a guilty feeling. But for me there is no other choice. I have been given the language and I intend to use it’. Similarly, the Indian critic Braj Kachru argues that, although English as a language might have limitations, ‘the English language is not perceived as necessarily imparting only Western traditions. The medium is non-native, but the message is not’.
Table of Contents
1. Re-negotiating Identities: Literature and Language in the Aftermath of Colonisation
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay explores the differing strategies employed by writers Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Chinua Achebe to reinstate African cultural identity in a postcolonial context, specifically examining their conflicting views on the role of the English language and its relationship to the African experience.
- Analysis of Ngugi's call for linguistic decolonization and the rejection of European languages.
- Examination of Achebe's pragmatic defense of English as a neutral tool for communication and identity formation.
- Investigation into how cultural identity is constructed or reconstructed following the end of colonial rule.
- Critique of the Western literary canon and its depictions of Africa through the lens of postcolonial theory.
Excerpt from the Work
Ngugi’s essay ‘The Language of African Literature’ is the core of his book Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature.
Significantly, the opening line of this work reads as follows: ‘This book is my farewell to English as a vehicle for any of my writings. From now on it is Gikuyu and Kiswahili all the way’. A forceful statement to open his text with, Ngugi makes it clear from the beginning what he has set out to do, namely, to reject the English language as a vehicle for African culture. In ‘The Language of African Literature’, he develops this point even further, by relating language to identity: ‘The choice of language and the use to which language is put is central to a people’s definition of themselves in relation to their natural and social environment, indeed in relation to the entire universe’.
Although none of the African countries is a colony any longer, he claims that ‘even today as neo-colonies, [they] came to be defined and to define themselves in terms of the languages of Europe: English-speaking, French-speaking or Portuguese-speaking African countries’. Ngugi, in order to illustrate his argument, takes as endorsement for his contention the 1962 ‘Conference of African Writers of English Expression’, which, in his eyes failed to address the core issue of African literature: ‘the domination of [the African] languages and cultures by those of imperialist Europe’.
Summary of Chapters
1. Re-negotiating Identities: Literature and Language in the Aftermath of Colonisation: This introductory section establishes the academic emergence of postcolonialism and defines the central tension between the authors Ngugi and Achebe regarding the reclamation of African identity and the usage of colonial languages.
Keywords
Postcolonialism, African identity, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Chinua Achebe, Language politics, Decolonisation, Cultural imperialism, English language, Literature, Western canon, Heart of Darkness, Alienation, Oral tradition, Neo-colonialism, Identity construction
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on the divergent perspectives of Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Chinua Achebe regarding the role of language and literature in postcolonial Africa, specifically concerning how African identity can be reclaimed after colonization.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The core themes include the politics of language, the decolonization of the mind, the influence of colonial education, the creation of a distinct African identity, and critiques of Western literary hegemony.
What is the primary research question?
The essay investigates whether African writers should abandon colonial languages to fully reclaim their original culture, as argued by Ngugi, or whether they can successfully re-negotiate these languages to express an authentic African experience, as argued by Achebe.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The paper utilizes a comparative literary analysis, examining seminal essays and books by the authors, as well as incorporating theoretical perspectives from figures like Jacques Derrida to contextualize the relationship between language, culture, and nationalistic affirmation.
What core topics are covered in the main body?
The main body contrasts Ngugi's push for a "Department of African Literature" with Achebe's defense of English as a "neutral vehicle for communication," while also analyzing their shared criticism of racist depictions in Western literature, such as in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness."
Which keywords characterize the study?
Key terms include postcolonialism, decolonisation, cultural imperialism, African identity, language politics, and the Western literary canon.
How does Ngugi interpret the "dual character" of language?
Ngugi views language as having a dual nature: it acts as a necessary means of communication, but also serves as a carrier of culture. He argues that by imposing a foreign language, the colonial power simultaneously enforces cultural change and spiritual subjugation.
How does Achebe’s view on "Heart of Darkness" reflect his broader philosophy?
Achebe critiques the novel's racism to highlight that art possesses a "pedagogical mission." His view reflects the idea that literature is not neutral and that authors have a responsibility to address the social and political values perpetuated by their works.
- Quote paper
- Jenny Roch (Author), 2005, Re-negotiating Identities: Literature and Language in the Aftermath of Colonisation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/49138
