In his critical work, Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o posits that language is the conveyor of culture within a society. Having made the personal, artistic socio-political decision to only write in his native African language, Wa Thiong’o theorizes that the enculturation of English on African citizens is symbolic of the state of neo-imperialism, and that the ‘peasantry’ or ‘proletariat’ class is the keeper of traditional values. It is for his need to communicate with the masses that Wa Thiong’o decided to write in Gikuyu. Yet, his position raises the interesting point of how imperialized countries can reconcile having the younger generations raised as English writers and speakers while
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Traditionally, the family invests in Oshia by providing him with the best education, and respecting his status as an elder male, and in return he is to take care of the family. As a product of an imperialist society, Oshia is educated in a British school system and goes abroad to college where he learns the western value of self-reliance and making his own fortune independently out in the …show more content…
The life that she grew up expecting for herself does not come to pass. She expects to become a wife and mother, working hard in her youth for her family, but being taken care of and honoured by her children in her old age. However, her children grow up in the city of Lagos with very different values than she was raised with. Several of her children even move away to Western countries, and feel little obligation toward their mother.
Though Nnu Ego lives in early 20th century Nigeria, where colonialism and industrialization are rapidly changing the world in which she lives, we can still relate to her today. All over the world, the way we live is changing. Think about your grandparents. When they were just starting to have children, how do you think they expected to spend their old age? Did it turn out that way? Think also about immigrant families. In so many cases, the children of immigrants grow up with very different values than their parents, much like Nnu Ego's children. Will these children, raised in a different culture, provide their parents with the futures their parents grew up expecting? Now think of yourself. How do expect to spend your old age? Do you think your future will turn out that
Traditionally, the family invests in Oshia by providing him with the best education, and respecting his status as an elder male, and in return he is to take care of the family. As a product of an imperialist society, Oshia is educated in a British school system and goes abroad to college where he learns the western value of self-reliance and making his own fortune independently out in the …show more content…
The life that she grew up expecting for herself does not come to pass. She expects to become a wife and mother, working hard in her youth for her family, but being taken care of and honoured by her children in her old age. However, her children grow up in the city of Lagos with very different values than she was raised with. Several of her children even move away to Western countries, and feel little obligation toward their mother.
Though Nnu Ego lives in early 20th century Nigeria, where colonialism and industrialization are rapidly changing the world in which she lives, we can still relate to her today. All over the world, the way we live is changing. Think about your grandparents. When they were just starting to have children, how do you think they expected to spend their old age? Did it turn out that way? Think also about immigrant families. In so many cases, the children of immigrants grow up with very different values than their parents, much like Nnu Ego's children. Will these children, raised in a different culture, provide their parents with the futures their parents grew up expecting? Now think of yourself. How do expect to spend your old age? Do you think your future will turn out that