Abstract

This study set out to examine the role of culture in Kenjo Jumbam. The White Man of God. The study was a textual analysis that delt with the reading and analyzing of the text using new historicism were applied and the analysis revealed that, Kenjo Jumbam draws inspirations from the socio cultural realities of the African people and of the Nso tradition in particular to write his novel. He reveals various themes including cultural contact and conflict, violence, moral decadence, traditional beliefs, religious hyprocrisy, social and cultural cohesion , communialism.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

The prevalence of culture in the African society in general and in Cameroon in particular has become a major cause for concern. That is why most African writers embody their works with variety of cultures to tell their stories to the world. Notwithstanding identity, racism and other concepts are important in understanding man especially the African society. It is noticed that the African man uses culture to identify themselves as blacks.

Gabriel E. Idang says “culture” entails a totality of traits and characteristics that are peculiar to a people to the extent that it marks them out from other people and people’s language, dressing, music , arts ,religion ,dancing, greeting habits ,rites of passage from birth through marriage to death, traditional occupations as well as philosophical beliefs , (98).

According to Edward B. Taylor, the scholar who first coined and defined culture sees culture as that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs or any other capabilities and habits acquired by a man as a member of society, (99).

African culture encompasses and includes all cultures which have ever existed in the continent of Africa. Human culture in Africa is as old as the race and includes Neolithic (10.000 BC) rock engraving glacial age. Africa is a home to innumerable tribes; ethnic and social groups. All these tribes and groups have cultures which are different but represent the mosaic of cultural diversity of Africa.

Chinua Achebe’s works are part of tradition whose roots one able to be found in every nation that had to seek its own fulfilment in cultural nationalism. His works like Things Fall Apart 1958, Arrow of God 1964. emphasize that before Africans were colonized and culturally brainwashed, they had a culture of their own which made their fathers and ancestors what they were, though the culture, like all other ones, had merits and shortcomings. It’s of course, can be reviewed in the modern world in order to retain it own unique style and identify; and Africans will end up not being themselves and not quite becoming Europeans.

Statement of the Problem

Due to the declining practice of culture in Cameroon and African societies as a whole, it’s essential that culture usage be revitalized in every society. This will help cure the glaring influence and dominance of western slangs, parlance and exotic words that do not cover any useful ideas especially to the younger generation.

The whites claim that the Africans had no culture and civilization before their coming. They considered that Africans were barbaric and inhuman due to various evil practices like the killing of twins in the Igbo culture during the era.

This is why prolific writers like Bole Butake ,NolAlembong, Chinua and many other Africans writers have written works not just as visionary writers and comcientizers, but also as writers who seek to call the communities to order while holding the aesthetics of the African heritage through their culture.

Research Questions

From the research problem already stated above, this research shall seek answers to the following questions;

1. What is culture in the African context?
2. Has there been a culture in Africa before the coming of the whites?
3. What are the functions of culture in Cameroon and the African society as a whole in relation to the text under study?

Research Hypothesis

In view of the statement of the problem, and the research questions stated above, this essay is based on the hypothesis that KenjoJumbam in The White Man of God employs culture to assert the identity of the African people and idealizes the outside world.

He uses folktales, myths, legends and proverbs to illustrate and assert the beauty of African culture in contrast to the western culture. It is these and more that the researcher has set out to prove from Jumbam’s work which focus on African culture.

Significance of the Study

The researcher’s choice of topic is motivated by her desire to find out how Jumbam creates an awareness of the functions and relevance of cultural usage in conveying prominent messages to the society especially to the younger generation who seem to be going out of the path of their cultural values.

The study is also important because, it opens up our understanding to know that there are still some staunch Africans who no matter what, stand firm for their tradition and culture.

Definition of Terms

To better understand the study at hand, it is necessary to define some terms. They are; culture, society and role.

Culture; according to the American Heritage Dictionary is the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, art, beliefs, institutions and all other products of human work and thought characteristic of a community or population, (1969; 348).

Also, according to Chambers Adult learners Dictionary is a society with it’s own customs and beliefs that make it different from other people or societies, (2009; 152).

Society: according to the American Heritage Dictionary society is a group of human beings broadly distinguished form other groups of humans by mutual interests, participation in characteristic relationships, shared institutions and a common culture, (1969; 160).

Secondly, Chambers Adult Dictionary defines it as a particular group of people especially the fashionable and wealthy people, high society, (2009; 531).

Role: according to the American Heritage is a character or part played by an actor in a dramatic performance, (1969; 1068).

Again, according to Chambers Adult Learner’s, defines it as that purpose or reason for what something or someone does, (2009; 480).