The African writers response to imperialism nationalism and cosmopolitanism in the African novel

Abstract

This is a study of the responses of four modern African writers to imperialism during the period of nat1onal liberation revolution which dates from the Second World War to present day. It focuses on two response - nationalism and cosmopolitanism because these two and especially the former hve donated and continue to dominate the ideological and political world in most African countries. African writers have not been left untouched by this ideological trend and the result is that most of the operative writing of this period is overwhelmingly nationalist. Yet the predominance of nationalism in African writing, Particularly: in the novel has not received the attention it Deserves for literary critic. most, critic have pointed out when examining the content that certain novels nationalist in tenor but they are not probed the function of phenomenon in politics in or in literature in particular. One of the main concerns of this study's to pinpoint the role of nationali8lD in this period of national liberation struggle as reflected in the modern African novel. The library has served as the main Soul of information. I have not only used mateia1 from other book written by the selected novelist but have drawn from their theoretical Statements as well as relevant material from political economy. Throughout the thesis I have tried to see the writer as a member of a specific clM!1aand society and therefore an active propagator of the views of his class 1n that society to buttress this framework I have relied considerably on Marxist criticism which regard as the only literary frame- Work that adequately addresses itself to the issue of imperialism and hence cosmopolitanism and nationalism in literature. The study is divided into four main chapters each deliberating the writers class perspective and how this has determined his response to imperialism and therefore his appraisal of reality. Each chapter also considers the writer attempt to resolve the contradictions barring the way to total national liberation Besides is cosmopolitan response in A wreath for Udomo which springs from Peter Abrahams' comprador perspective and leads him to prescribe inviable solutions, different brands of nationalism are examined. A.K. Arma’s two thousand Seasons is the basis of an analysis of an exclusive form of nationalism which envisage African liberation in terms of unity of all black people and advocates an anti-white racism,wh11e the chapter on A Man of the People examines the implications of Achebe's efforts to reconcile the aspirations of the toiling majority with petty bourgeois leadership. Using Ouamane's Xala as critics on nationalism illustrate the role of and the literatures served by nationalism in the period after independence constitutes the second phase of the struggle for national liberation In conclusion I observe that cosmopolitanism and nationalism as both bourgeois responses to imperialism with cosmopolitanism as a totally reactionary attitude and nationalism becoming increasing reactionary after independence as the national bourgeoisie became less dynamic, anti imperialist in their efforts to survive in a world dominated by monopoly capital. Both responses prove incapable of tackling the problems of economic and social revolution which total national liberation demands. Finally I note that conservative ideological orientation is not only felt in the content but generally detracts from the artistic merit of a creative work