CULTURE AND THE MODERN INDIVIDUAL IN JUDE DIBIA’S A LIFE IN FULL AND MOLARA WOOD’S INDIGO
Journal Title: International Review of Humanities Studies - Year 2019, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
The modern individual in Nigeria, a creation of western education and culture, is constantly in a struggle with the hegemonic indigenous culture, causing him/her to grapple with the prescriptions of the western lifestyle and the stringent demands of Nigerian culture. Jude Dibia‟s “A Life in Full” and Molara Wood‟s “Indigo” contain ancient and modern cultural practices and the challenges they present to the educated young people, whose exposure to foreign culture and education intensifies their struggle with the status quo. This paper uses the postmodernist argument to examine this conflict between the centre (indigenous culture) and the periphery (the modern individual), as the latter is on a mission to decentre Culture in order to establish itself as a centred subject in the two short stories. It analyses the psychological struggle by the educated Nigerians to challenge the grand narratives of culture. The paper reveals that, whereas in “A Life in Full” the individual topples the centre, in “Indigo” it is the hegemonic centre that overwhelms and suppresses the educated individual. The paper concludes that the educated Nigerian is constantly in a conflict between Self and Other from which s/he emerges redefined.
Authors and Affiliations
Onwukah B. ORJI-MBA, Joy I. NWIYI
Keywords
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- EP ID EP549403
- DOI 10.7454/irhs.v4i1.136
- Views 105
- Downloads 0
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