The African literature
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Transcript of The African literature
Name: Praful Ghareniya
Roll No: 20
Semester: 4
Paper: -14, : TheAfrican Literature
Topic:An issue of culture and language in A Grain of Wheat
Email Id:[email protected]
Submitted by: Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.Department of English.
A Grain of wheat is novel written by Kenyan novelist Ngugi Thiong’o
Published on 1967 as part of the influential Heinemann African writers series
the title was taken from the Gospel according to ST,John,
Ngugi’s uncensored political themes led to his exile from Kenya in 1982, he subsequently
lived and taught in Britain and America.
It is also discuss about to Europe and
the colonizers and culturally distanced from the majority of the people.
In his essay
Ngugi is giving to his opinion on the English language is not able and related to his African experience
Ngugi is say that every language is “a carrier of culture,”
when you are using to English language in their(African) work so automatically promote European culture over their own.
Example: Chaten Bhagat and Arvid Adiga
John Hawley notes that it is “the ‘linguae francae’ that have helped
establish a ‘global village 'have historically implied the subjugation of one community by another” in Africa. Similarly, Ngugi asserts that African writers using English represent “ the final triumph of a system of domination the dominated start singing its virtues” as a result, his vehement opposition to English takes on a nationalist and revolutionary outlook. that it is “the ‘linguae francae’ that have helped establish a ‘global village’have historically implied the subjugation of one community by another” in Africa. Similarly, Ngugi asserts that African writers using English represent “ the final triumph of a system of domination the dominated start singing its virtues” as a result, his vehement opposition to English takes on a nationalist and revolutionary outlook.
John McLeod's claim “use of the English language and the
literary form as the means to create a distinctly national representation.”
is a language with colonial associations?
yes it is language with colonial associations because
Ngugi’s choice on of language to keep it consistent with his view English is to note that A Grain of Wheat is a novel about betrayal
In the novel also explain on two character Mugo and Karanja,
The Revolutionary song of the movement.Gikuyu na Mumbi,Gikuyu na Mumbi ,Gikuyu na Mumbi,Nikihui ngwatiro.
We shall never restWithout land
Without Freedom true
Kenya is a country of black people.
The Revolutionary movement states
“ Let me first of all tell you that I never prayed to God.
I never believed in him. I believe in Gikuyu and Mumbi and in the
black people of this our country.”
Ngugi’s observation that language is a “ carrier of culture.” By discrediting
European language and culture in A Grain of Wheat