CONFLICT AND AFFIRMATION IN NGUGI WA THIONGIO’S A GRAIN OF WHEAT AND THE RIVER BETWEEN
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Ngugi Wa Thiongo is a leading African writers whose writings portray and examine cultural conflict and affirmation in African society. According to in his essay entitled, Home come, he contends that:
Literature does not develop in a vacuum. It give impetus, of concern by the social, political and economic forces in a particular society. The relationship between creative literature and other forces cannot be ignored especially in Africa where Modern literature has grown against the gory background of European imperialism (15).
The above quote has shown that, Ngugi Wa Thiongo strongly believes that there is a connection between literature and social, political and economic situation in the society.
Conflict and Affirmation in Ngugi WA Thiongio’s a Grain of Wheat and the River Between
In other words, he contends that literature is a product of social, political and economic forces. These forces, according to him determine the shape or nature of a literary work.
Consequently, this form the background to this research project on cultural conflict and affirmation in A Grain of wheat and River Between. Furthermore, the post independent African writers wrote their literary work as a reaction to the woeful collapse of their hopes and aspiration which were “fanned up” by independence. Some of these writers include, Chinua Achebe in his play, Things Fall Apart, Peter Abraham’s Mine Boy and so on. These writers became disillusioned with the state of things in their countries and so, they wrote literary works that portrayed the economic, political, moral depravity and cultural conflict that inherent in the post independence African society.
For instance Ngugi portrays this instances of cultural conflict and affirmation in A Grain of Wheat were the novel gravitates around the struggle for independence with the white masters how the white dominated the native people of Kenyan and took out the land forcefully. In the same vein he portrayed another cultural conflict in The River Between using land as the major them…between Kameno and the other, makugu. It is therefore evident that Ngugi through his description of these cultural conflict focuses on landscape as an important to the lives of the Africans.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Ngugi novels hold a mirror to his personal and social visions and expose the picture of the evolution of the African society from the colonial to the independent and post-colonial status.
On the other hand, the cultural conflict and affirmation as portrayed in these two plays form the research problem with a view of highlighting the epic struggle of the natives of Kenga and Africa at large against colonialism in A Grain of Wheat and The River Between.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this research work is to examine conflict and affirmation in Ngugi Wa Thiongio’s A Grain of Wheat and The River Between. The study will also bring to light the causes of cultural conflict and affirmation in the two novels.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This research work will be significant to the entire African societies the main cause of cultural conflict and affirmation in the society. The research will also be of important to other researchers who would find this work important.
1.5 Objectives of the Study
The following are the objectives of the research work:
(i) To Examine Ngugi’s aim of writing A Grain of wheat and the River Between
(ii) To investigate the cultural conflict and affirmation African society.
(iii) To portray the cultural conflict and affirmation in the two novel in this research work.
1.6 Research Methodology
This research work specifically examines Ngugi Wa Thiongo A Grain of Wheat and The River Between as it primary source of the research work will basically focus on internet, and and other literature novel for more information.
Conflict and Affirmation in Ngugi WA Thiongio’s a Grain of Wheat and the River Between
1.7 Scope and limitation of the study
The scope of this research work will be limited to Ngugi Thiongo’s A Grain of Wheat and The River Between.
1.8 Definition of Terms
This section deal in the definition of terms these includes;
Cultural is pertaining to culture, the customs,. Believes, values, behavior characterized with a particular society or a nation.
Conflict: May be seen as a clash or disagreement often result to violent between two opposing group or individuals.
Affirmation: It is a declaration that proves that a particular thing is true.
Originally posted on October 10, 2021 @ 8:54 pm