Traditional Aesthetics Transfer and the African Novelists: A Study of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Laye’s The African Child
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to examine the traditional aesthetic transfer in two of African novels. Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart and Camara Laye’s The African Child.
This research also aims at making a critical analysis of the various traditional aesthetics used by Camara Laye in The African Child and Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart.
Finally, the researcher shall discuss importance of the traditional aesthetics in the two texts.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
This chapter will examine what other scholars have written on Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart and Camara Laye The African Child.
Chinua Achebe’s and Camara Laye are renowned African novelists. Their works Things fall Apart and The African Child have attracted many criticisms. Some writers writes about the rituals in the novels, some on the culture and tradition while some on the ideological approach, myth and rite. It is therefore important to examine some of the criticisms.
CRITICS VIEW ON RITUALS IN THINGS FALL APART AND THE AFRICAN CHILD
In the opinion of Tiffin (1988) he views that Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart exposes the rituals of the people and keeping the western historising at bay:
The complexity and communal density of the people’s culture were exposed through festivals, rite and rituals are established … his novel focuses on the Ibo society and his use of style rely on the Ibo traditions and reputation of rituals and festivals. (p. 60)
Liukkonen (2008) views The African Child as a novel that portrays Laye’s nostalgically happy childhood, his parent, initiations of manlike culture, ritual circumcision and the end of his youths (p. 27).
These writers writes about the rituals aspect in Things fall Apart and The African Child. The ritual aspect of the novels is important but this research work is not concerned with that aspect.
CRITICS VIEW ON THE USE OF LANGUAGE IN THINGS FALL APART AND THE AFRICAN CHILD
Ibrahim (2008) is of the opinion that the style makers that we have in Things fall Apart are in accordance with the Ibo tradition and the effect is that the reader’s mind is kept intact throughout the narration. Ibrahim means that Things fall Apart appeals to his readers through the use of style (p. 80)
Simon (1977) describes Achebe’s Things fall Apart as a special work that lies in the usage of structure and language (p.10).
Steven (1979) is of view that the language of the novel is simple but dignified. “When the characters speak, they use elevated diction which is meant to convey the sense of the Ibo”.(p.12)
In the view of Hay (2000), he writes that “Things fall Apart is a good text, organic autobiography, good use of language and detailed in description” (p. 20)
According to these writers, Achebe’s use of language and style is unique and appealing to the reader. Achebe makes use of simple language, to vividly express the mind of his characters.
Laye’s use of language according to critics is good and detailed. This research work is not concerned with the use of language in the chosen texts but to explore the traditional aesthetics in the chosen texts.
CHAPTER THREE
THE CULTURE OF THE IGBO PEOPLE OF NIGERIA AND THE MALINKE PEOPLE OF GUINEA AND HOW ACHEBE AND LAYE HAVE PERCEIVED IT.
The Igbo people lives in the eastern part of Nigeria. The stifling heat of Africa would dictate the type of clothing worn by any native people. The Igbos wear little or nothing until they reach puberty. At this time, the men usually wear a loose-fitting cotton shirts and a loin cloth, while the women wrap some cloth around their waist. The men often carry machetes, useful for clearing overgrown paths and offering protection from wild animal. The language of the Igbo is very interesting. It is derived from a group of languages commonly found in West Africa, the Kwa languages. It is based on a lot of pitch, vocal, infections and context when defining the meaning of a word. A single word can have numerous meanings depending on these factors, idioms and proverbs play an important role in the Igbos language. Someone who does not use them in speech is considered a novice at speaking the language.
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
This research work explores the aesthetics transfer in Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart and Camara Laye’s The African Child.
Chapter one gives the general introduction of the research work. It contains the general introduction, purpose of the study, justification, scope and research Methodology.
Chapter two starts with the review of literature of what other scholars have written on Chinua Achebe Things fall Apart and Camara Laye’s The African Child.
Chapter three gives the culture of the Igbo people and Malinke people, the synopsis of Things fall Apart and The African Child and the concept aesthetics transfer in both texts. The aesthetics are grouped under the subdivision; moral, entertainment and ritual aesthetics. There are superstitious belief folktales, traditional laws, traditional festivals and social hierarchy.
African novelists have been using the traditional aesthetics in their words, to revolt against the white cultural imperialism. It is an attempt by African writers that contrary to the white men’s belief or claim that African were cultureless the culture of Africans, if not better than those of Europeans, the African culture was equally good. This Chinua Achebe and Camara Laye have done in their works by transferring the oral aesthetics into their works. The writer’s novels are evidently powered and loaded with the best of African traditional aesthetics.
Novelists like Camara Laye and Chinua Achebe reflects the life of African in relation to every aspects of an African, in relation to relation to every aspect of their life and their works.
Here, it is unarguable to conclude that Chinua Achebe and Camara Layes’ use of traditional aesthetics in the two novels are unique in terms of titles, use of languages, plots, styles, characterizations, settings and overall view which have given their works attention from both scholars and students of literature.
REFERENCES
PRIMARY SOURCES
- Achebe, C. (1958), Things fall Apart: London, William Heinemann Ltd, U.S.A.
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- Bodunde, C. (2001), Oral Traditions and aesthetics transfer: Creativity and social vision: Indiana University Press,Idian.
- Brench, A. (1967), The Novels Inheritance in French Africa:,Oxford University Press, London.
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- Ibrahim and Akande (2000), Rudiments of Literature in English: Haytee books ltd, Ilorin.
