Abstract

“Sets to examine how Ngugi WA Thiong’o portray post colonialism and outline the effects of this concept in contemporary times. This study sets out to demonstrate the fact that neo colonialism has more negative effects on African societies than positive effects. Using Marxism as a critical tool, this study came to a conclusion that neo colonialism has cause disillusionment in the African societies.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background To The Study

African writers have anchored on societal realities to embellish their works. Ngugi wa Thiong’o in Homecoming has argued that “literature is not written in a vacuum, it is form and shaped and given impetus by the society in which it is written.” (19). on this note, his ideologies in his novel Petals of Blood do not deviate from this fact. The novel is a representation of contemporary African realities as of relates issues of post-colonial intriguacies on African societies. The post-colonial period, that is often refer to as the period of after colonization presents a new phase marginalization ascribe as neo colonisation or globalization.

The term post colonialism is multidimensional and in order to understand post colonialism, one must understand colonialism. Many African scholars and theologians   such as: Toni Morrison, Gayatri spivak, Edward Said and Frantz Fanon have dared to speak and challenge the dominant ideology of the white still practice by neo-colonial leaders.

Post-colonial period also known as revolutionary era. Writers in this area used satire sarcasm, symbolism, sustained metaphor and imagery to explore the mantic concerns such as corruption, exploitation, bribery, marginalisation, political inequality, the infelicities of globalization and the abuse of natural resources. Gorky (2001) opines that socialist realist art advocates a creative attitude to reality which glorifies labour, intensifies the will to live and advocates the adaptation of a new approach to life that evicts hatred of the old word. This old word happened to be the capitalist world, a world which writer’s soot to change to no avail. Ngugi has called on all African writers and intellectuals to join the fight against capitalism and cultural imperialism. He said. “I believe that African intellectuals must arm themselves with the struggle of the African masses for a meaningful national ideal…” (Ngugi, 1972).

1.2 Aim And Objective Of The Study

1.2.1 Aims

This study aims at examining how Ngugi Wa Thiongo use his novel Petals of Blood to portray the manifestation of post colonialism and its effects on contemporary African societies .

1.2.2 Objectives

This study has the following objectives:

The ultimate objective of this study is to show how Ngugi Wa Thiong’o outlines the manifestation and effects of post colonialism on the African societies.

Also to recast the period by looking at how neo-colonial leaders behave in the different African societies.

Lastly, to propose possible solutions to problems caused by neo colonial leaders.

1.3 Statement Of Problem

Independence is seen by the world as the total liberation of the African countries from the colonial masters, but this study is out to debunk this view and criticise neo-colonial leaders who emerge during the post-colonial area and still continue the ideology of the colonizers.

1.4 Significance Of The Study

With the problem clearly stated, it is therefore necessary for a research to be carried out in Ngugi Wa Thiongo Petals of Blood to:

1. To expose Africans to the trickish ways of the colonial and neo-colonial leaders.
2. To bring out the ills of post colonialism
3. To make the Africans know their problems are caused by their own leaders which the elected.
4. To expose bad governance.

1.5 Research Questions

Based on the statement of the problem above, this study has three research questions.

1. How do neo colonial African leaders influence the people of Africa?
2. Do neo colonial leaders differ within different African societies?
3. Of what importance is neo colonialism to the Africans?

1.6 Hypothesis

In view of the research question started above, this work is predicted on the contention that, Ngugi Wa Thiongo novel Petals of Blood proves that the Africans find it difficult to cope with neo-colonial leaders that emerged after independence.

1.7 Scope Of The Study

The focus of this study is limited to  Ngugi Wa Thiong’o Petals of Blood Attention will be directed toward showing aspects of post colonialism and its effects on contemporary African societies.