Assignment : Paper 206: African Literature

Name: Divya Sheta

Roll No.:06

Paper Name: Paper 206: African Literature

Paper Code no.: 22413

Topic Name: A Comparative Study of Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe 

Enrollment No.:4069206420210033

Email ID: divyasheta@gmail.com

Batch:2020-23

MA SEM-IV

Submitted to: Smt.S.B.Gardi Department of English, MK Bhavnagar University.

A Comparative Study of  Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe 

Introduction: 

According to M.H.Abrahms, studies:

The critical analysis of the history, culture, literature, and modes of discourse that are specific to the former colonies of England, Spain, France, and other European imperial powers. These studies have focused especially on the Third World countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean islands, and South America. Some scholars, however, extend the scope of such analyses also to the discourse and cultural productions of countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, which achieved independence much earlier than the Third World countries. Postcolonial studies sometimes also encompass aspects of British literature in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, viewed through a perspective that reveals the ways in which the social and economic life represented in that literature was tacitly underwritten by colonial exploitation.

African literature is also regarded as a study of postcolonialism and serves as the postcolonial counterbalance to colonial rule. Additionally, the examination of the contrast between the two poets contributes to this study's beneficial characteristics.

About Wole Soyinka:

Wole Soyinka was born on July 13, 1934, in Abeokuta, a city in western Nigeria close to Ibadan. Following his pre-university studies at Government College in Ibadan in 1954, he pursued his studies at the University of Leeds, where he later earned his PhD in 1973. He worked as a dramaturg at the Royal Court Theatre in London from 1958 to 1959 during his six years in England. After receiving a Rockefeller scholarship in 1960, he went back to Nigeria to study African play. He also taught literature and drama at several institutions in Ibadan, Lagos, and Ife, where he has been as a professor of comparative literature since 1975. He founded the theatre companies "The 1960 Masks" in 1960 and "Orisun Theatre Company" in 1964. He has also produced his own plays and performed in both groups' productions. He has occasionally served as a visiting professor at Yale, Cambridge, and Sheffield universities. Wole Soyinka received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986 for "fashioning the drama of existence in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones."

About Chinua Achebe:

Chinua Achebe, a writer, was born in the eastern Nigerian hamlet of Ogidi. His early education was provided by the society's school while his father was employed for the Church Missionary Society. Achebe started learning English when he was eight years old. He was one of a select group of lads chosen at the age of 14 to attend the government college in Umuahia, one of the top universities in west Africa. Achebe enrolled in University College, Ibadan, a brand-new institution, in 1948. He initially planned to major in medicine but quickly changed to English literary studies.

Achebe fled to Europe in 1994 after being threatened with imprisonment by the oppressive Nigerian government. After relocating there, he accepted a position as a lecturer at Bard College in New York. He was appointed a goodwill ambassador to the entire world by the UN Population Fund in 1999.

Among Achebe's honours are the Man Booker International Prize for Fiction, the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, the German Booksellers Peace Prize, and honorary degrees from more than 20 American colleges. 2013 saw his passing in Boston.

African authors are acutely aware of the disparity between the works available in the West and those still in Africa. In fact, the language problem became a major worry for many African writers in the years after decolonization, and some, like Ngugi wa Thiong'o, made the decision to forego writing in English and other European languages in favour of writing in their native African languages in the years after freedom. Several African authors, like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and others, attacked Ngugi and his supporters and questioned the value of such a position. 

Ngugi, on the other hand, believed that by writing in English, French, and other European languages, African authors were preserving the richness of other civilizations at the price of their own. Writers who support African language literature are also concerned that a majority of Africans, who are unable to read in these languages, are denied access to their own literary success because European languages are unable to convey the complexity of the African experience and culture in those languages.

One of the well-known authors of the 20th century is Soyinka, the first African to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. He is well known throughout the world for his diverse approach to literature, his work as a catalyst for social change, and his steadfast dedication to the advancement of human rights. His "commitment as a dramatist and writer of poetry and prose to problems of general and deep significance for man, modern and ancient," was rightfully praised by the Swedish Academy.

Individuality of Language  

African writers like Achebe and Soyinka use English to express the richness and diversity of African languages and cultures. Achebe uses the Igbo language, which is difficult to translate into English, to showcase its creativity and formality. Soyinka also incorporates his native Youroba language into his work, making it musical and retaining the imagery and folklore elements even in translation. Both writers intended their works to be read by both Western audiences and their fellow Nigerians, and aimed to revise the colonial-era portrayals of Africa. Overall, their use of language highlights the importance of individuality and diversity in African cultures.

Marginalization of women 

The decline of traditional Igbo society is attributed to their practice of marginalizing certain groups, including women who are treated as subservient and subjected to physical abuse. The arrival of foreign delegates who treat marginalized groups equally disrupts the traditional power structure of Igbo society. Soyinka's play also addresses the issue of women being treated as property, with the modern character Lakunle exhibiting similar attitudes. The lack of a clear authority figure is a key theme, as demonstrated by Achebe's choice of title, "Things Fall Apart."

African proverbs 

The use of proverbs is prominent in Achebe's culture as they elevate communication, add clarity, and make language more interesting. Examples of proverbs in the novel "Things Fall Apart" include: paying bigger debts first, being humble if blessed with luck, obedience to mothers, limitations of power, and the importance of learning from one another. Baroka uses a proverb to explain to Sidi that he and the school teacher must learn from each other. Additionally, he references another proverb when he tells Sidi not to upset him by implying that he is old and warns her not to watch him wrestle.

Parallel post-colonial themes 

"Things Fall Apart" and "The Lion and The Jewel" are two novels that explore the theme of cultural change and the tension between tradition and modernity. In "Things Fall Apart," the protagonist Okonkwo resists new political and religious orders because he fears losing his societal existence and sense of self-worth. The novel also highlights the importance of storytelling and language in preserving traditional customs. "The Lion and The Jewel" focuses on the rapid modernization and evangelization of Africa, leading to a divide between conservatives and modernists. The conflict between education and traditional beliefs is also explored, and song and dance are presented as important forms of communication in preserving traditional culture. Both novels depict the authors' post-colonial attitudes and attempt to uphold traditional culture and tradition in a changing world.

Analogous concept of personal gods and religious beliefs 

The novel "Things Fall Apart" explores the concept of chi, which is an individual's personal god that determines their fortune. The tragic fate of the protagonist Okonkwo is attributed to his problematic chi. The Igbo religion, which emphasizes the worship of nature and the goddess of the earth, is approached with wonder in the novel. The play "The Lion and The Jewel" also features the concept of personal gods, or orisha, which may be deified ancestors or manifestations of nature forces. Both works emphasize the importance of respect and knowledge of one's role in society in determining customs and interactions with external beings.

Being African 

The play incorporates various forms of art such as dance, song, mime and comic dialogue to reinforce its themes. Soyinka is passionate about his society and seeks freedom for all, and his characters and mannerisms are African, but his ideas represent the whole race. Similarly, Achebe upholds Igbo traditions and culture, including various rites of passage for young girls and boys to become true adults. These rites include circumcision, wearing of clothes, fattening of girls before marriage, a period of reflection to gain knowledge and power, and wrestling to show strength and courage.

Conclusion: 

Soyinka and Achebe shared similar views on the political state of African countries like Nigeria and were both intellectuals who took a firm stand on many issues. Their writing reflects their political commitment and resistance against continuing colonial dominance, using English as a tool to hold up a revised image of Africa to the colonizers and imperialists. Achebe's writing is straightforward while Soyinka reflects mythology through poetry. Together, they lay the foundation for future literary expression in Nigeria and bring the experiences and realities of Africa to the rest of the world.

Works Cited

Delsol, Michel, et al. “Chinua Achebe.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/chinua-achebe. Accessed 30 March 2023.

Khan, Mohammad Ehsanul Islam, and Nafisa Ahsan Nitu, editors. ‘Achebe and Soyinka: An Analogy of Their Social and Existential Defiance’. Int. J. Bus. Soc. Sci. Res, vol. 5, no. 3, 2017, pp.85–89.http://www.ijbssr.com/journal/details/achebe-and-soyinka-an-analogy-of-their-social-and-existential-defiance-14013219 Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Srivastava, Swati, and Singh Avneesh. “A Comparative Analysis of Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.” vol. X, no. II, 2016. impressions.org.in, http://impressions.org.in/July16/ar_swatisrivastava.html.

What is Comparative Literature? - Department of Comparative Literature - University at Buffalo. College of Arts and Sciences, https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/comparative-literature/about/what-is-comparative-literature.html. Accessed 29 March 2023.

Wole Soyinka – Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2023. Wed. 29 Mar 2023. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1986/soyinka/biographical/>