Colonialism In God's Bits Of Wood By Chinua Achebe

1639 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The influence of colonialism in Africa

Joseph Lizama
History 39
Prof. Petrocelli
May 19, 2014
West African Colonialism
In the novels God’s Bits of Wood by Ousmane Sembène and No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe both authors illustrate a colonial lifestyle, one from a rural French point of view and the other from an English-educated perspective; respectively. West Africa was primarily colonized by the French, however there was still territory owned by the British such as Nigeria, Gold Coast, and Sierra Leone. Colonization in Africa –– specifically West Africa –– aimed to dominate and exploit certain groups of Africans confined by arbitrary borders that were established by European colonizers. The French and the British had their own means of colonizing which ultimately means two ways of decolonization. In one hand the French always made their presence felt, while in the other Britain always stayed behind the scenes, ruling indirectly. In each novel, it is clear that colonialism forces the likes of Obi Okonkwo and the workmen of the railroads to choose between tradition and change, creating consequences that continue to be relevant to this date.
The difference in colonial rule between the French and British is obvious, but they have the same objective and that is to exploit and dominate Africa. In the novel God’s Bits of Wood, French West African workers are planning to go on strike, but Niakoro was against it because she had seen a strike herself and there was not a great outcome. “You have never seen a strike! Your ‘little father’ saw one… Soldiers will come and there will be shooting” (Sembene 1986, 5). It is evident that the French oppressor does not care about workers rights as long as they get what they want. As the colonizer, the French are only interested in the...

... middle of paper ...

...es not mean every African had the same colonial experience. Additionally, these are only from the viewpoint of a victim of colonization so it will be biased and could contain exaggerated or even inaccurate details.
Africa would not be what it is today if it was not for colonization. The map would not even be the same because the borders were only arbitrary and would naturally make no sense to the Africans. African principles would still be intact throughout Africa including the beliefs of land ownership. In consequence however, the English language along with the French language, would not be as stapled into the culture as it is now. They way Africans live has been altered and will not be the same for an indefinite amount of time. To this date, Africa has still to recover from damaged cause by the colonization era and will continue to deal with the repercussions.

Show More
Related

  • A Single Story Of African Culture In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    1675 Words  | 4 Pages

    As wise John Berger once said,“Never again shall a single story be told as though it were the only one”. A “single story” is the story of a culture that we learn from stereotypes and conspiracies developed throughout time in our society. In “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe defies the single story of African culture while still tying their native language in to show the importance between a physical differentiation of culture, and the similarities with morals and values they have in common. Through gender roles and proverbs used in the language of this book, we have a cultural insight of Nigeria through a new set of eyes given to us by Achebe that detures us from the single stories that we were taught to by our society.

    Read More

  • Similarities And Differences Between European Native American And African Societies

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, French lost its territory to the Spanish and the British, but most of France’s colonial wealth were extracted from their colonies in Africa, especially from its vast wealth of gold and diamond. “Like the Spanish the French preferred to rule their colonies under a direct rule, which urge more metropole culture spread upon colonized land. While Spanish colonial cities have plazas, the French colonial cities have Paris grid town planning and architecture that often remind one of France. They also introduced education system using French language, to help further brainwash and spread their own value” (Quora). “The French also wanted to spread their “French value” to its subject as part of their “civilizing” mission, to bless the barbaric of indigenous Africans and Asians with enlightenment (admittedly they were less successful than Americans, but did manage to spread the French language all over Africa)” (Quora). While Africa became more “France”, this failed in Indochina because the locals find French difficult to learn. The Africa colonization was pure and simple, to benefit the metropole at most while limiting the development of industry as to make Africa reliant on European

    Read More

  • European Imperialism Dbq Essay

    549 Words  | 2 Pages

    The colonization of Africa gave the Europeans more workers and workspace that boost them economically and financially. According to Document D, many African colonies exports very many resources such as cotton for fabrics and various foods for processing and meals. The help of African colonies was very beneficial to Europe. The economical growth can be proven with Document E, where the amount of exports from Africa grew from less than 5 million British pounds in 1854 to over 20 million in 1900. So the most beneficial part of the African colonies was the boost they gave Europe in economical

    Read More

  • African Responses to Colonialism: A Study of the Peaceful and Violent Dichotomy

    2088 Words  | 5 Pages

    A. Adu Boahen's African Perspectives on Colonialism neatly classifies African responses to European colonialism during both phases of invasion and occupation during the 19th century with precise labels according to their nature or time period. However, the reactions can also be loosely grouped into two diametric characterizations: peaceful and violent. Although creating this dichotomy seems a gross generalization and oversimplification of the colonial African experience, it more importantly allows for a different perspective- one that exposes the overwhelming success of the typically peaceful or pacifist reaction in contrast to the little gain and large losses of the violent response.

    Read More

  • African Imperialism In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine a group of foreign people invading your home, disavowing all your beliefs, and attempting to convert you to a religion you have never heard of. This was the reality for thousands and thousands of African people when many Europeans commenced the Scramble for Africa during the period of New Imperialism. A great fiction novel written by Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, highlights the responses to missionaries by African people. The African natives responded to the presence of white missionaries with submission to their desires, strategic responses to counteract them, and with the most disruptive response of violence.

    Read More

  • European Imperialism In Africa In The 20th Century

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    A true saying is “Colonization often does more damage than contribution.” Colonialism encouraged Africa’s development in some areas, but in many others it severely damaged the natural progress of the continent. If colonialism was never imposed on Africa, Africa’s developments would be significantly different and many of the problems that the continent faces now would not exist today. In conclusion, at first it seems that colonialism has both positive and negative effects, but the truth is it only damages the colonized nation.

    Read More

  • European Imperialsim in Africa was Justified

    455 Words  | 1 Pages

    Unfortunately, even though European imperialism in Africa was justified, many Africans are still suffering from the effects to this day.

    Read More

  • Colonization and Wealth in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    1614 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...onial conflict is entirely one sided. The Europeans have been shown to define wealth as gaining money and spreading their religion, therefore they can be seen as the aggressors in this conflict, reaching outside of their area for personal gain and profit. To obtain this wealth they assume a position of power over the Africans by enslaving them and using their knowledge to overthrow the African culture and religion. The Africans view of wealth and their method for obtaining this wealth in no way involves the Europeans. All that the Africans wanted to do was to continue living on their own and to not be intruded upon. From this, one can see that the colonial conflict is entirely due to the Europeans desire for wealth.

    Read More

  • Imperialism in Things Fall Apart, Thesis by Chinua Achebe

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cultural clashes result in unnecessary conflict. Several countries (European powers) including France, Great Britain, and Belgium imperialized Africa. They did this because of their demand for raw materials, need for markets, and their attempt to implement commerce, create civilization, and to bring in Christianity to be the primary religion. The clash between the Europeans and the Africans caused the Europeans to colonize Africa and to partition the continent, this partition plan is know as the Scramble for Africa. Chinua Achebe’s thesis regarding Colonial Africa in Things Fall Apart is an accurate portrayal of imperialism and Ibo culture to a high extent due to the religious accusations serving as catalysts for conflict, the use of the Christian, European missionaries attempting to conquer Africa, take the resources of the land, and convert multiple Ibo people to Christianity, and the display of cultural aspects (customs/traditions) about the Ibo people.

    Read More

  • How did European Colonialism affect Kenya?

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The sun never sets on the British Empire,” Great Britain often bragged. By 1914, about 85% of the earth’s surface was colonized by Europe. Between 1884 and 1885, The Berlin Conference took place to carve up the African continent (Background Essay). Europeans saw high potential in Africa and thought the continent was empty, even though it was not. It was roughly “untouched” and they thought they could do anything they wanted (Doc.1). Great Britain’s colonization in Kenya affected the country’s religion and culture, education, and government.

    Read More

  • Thematic Essay: Things Fall Apart

    1285 Words  | 3 Pages

    Things Fall Apart, Thematic Essay: Humans’ natural instincts are to deny a new aspect and stick to older ones. Nevertheless, old and new aspects are intertwined. Traditions and change are ever present in society, without them society would not prosper. Traditions are the foundations of society. However, just like any other foundation, sooner or later it must be altered or changed, even in the most miniscule way.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of God's Bits Of Wood And No Longer At Ease

    1781 Words  | 4 Pages

    History has been told through various forms for decades. In the past, history was more commonly expressed through word of mouth, but more recently in the past century, through written text. While textbooks and articles give formal information with little to no bias, novels give a completely new perspective from the people who experienced it themselves. The Novels, God’s Bits of Wood, written by Sembene Ousmane, and No Longer at Ease, by Chinua Achebe give a more personal account of the effects of colonization. These two novels tackle the British and French method of colonization. God’s Bits of Wood takes place in the late 1940s and sheds light on the story of the railroad strike in colonial Senegal. The book deals with different ways that the Senegalese and Malians respond to colonialism during that time. No Longer at Ease is set in the 1950s and tells the early story of British colonialism and how the Nigerians responded to colonization. Comparing the two novels, there are obvious similarities and differences in the British and French ways of rule. African authors are able to write these novels in a way that gives a voice to the people that are most commonly silenced during colonialism. This perspective allows readers to understand the negative ways that colonization affects the colonized. Historical fiction like God’s Bits of Wood and No Longer at Ease are good educational tools to shed light on the history and effects of colonization, but they do not provide a completely reliable source for completely factual information.

    Read More

  • European Imperialism in Africa

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the early 1880’s, the powers of Europe started to take control of regions in Africa and set up colonies there. In the beginning, colonization caused the Africans little harm, but before long, the Europeans started to take complete control of wherever they went. The Europeans used their advanced knowledge and technology to easily maneuver through the vast African landscape and used advanced weapons to take control of the African people and their land. The countries that claimed the most land and had the most significant effect on Africa were France, England, Belgium, and Germany. There were many reasons for the European countries to be competing against each other to gain colonies in Africa. One of the main reasons was that the Europeans believed that the more territory a country was able to control, the more powerful it could become and the more powerful it would be seen as by other countries. Other reasons for the desire to control African land included the many natural resources that could only be found in Africa, such as diamonds, gold, and as time progressed, rubber. It also provided new markets in surrounding places so that manufactured goods could be sold for a larger profit. The Europeans had many motives for imperialism in Africa. Yet the true motives were often shielded as they tried tom present themselves as humanitarians when in reality they were making Africa a terrible place to live with brutality and harsh treatment of the African natives. The ways of the Europeans had many physical and emotional costs for the people of Africa. The imperialism process also took a toll on the people of Europe. The European imperialistic colonization in Africa was motivated by the desire to control the abundant natural resources an...

    Read More

  • Colonialism In Africa Essay

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is the impact of colonialism on the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa) or more generally the colonized countries? This is a question which has reiterated itself through the social sciences for over a century. Colonialism refers to the establishment of political and economic control by one state over another. The colonial experience began in the late 1400s, when Europeans arrived and set up trading posts in Africa. They became interested in Africa as a whole. Europeans were impressed with the abundance of natural resources. It reached a peak in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when European powers dominated many parts of the continent. Colonialism in Africa created nations and shaped their political, economic, and cultural

    Read More

  • Colonialism In Africa Essay

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    An overwhelming majority of African nations has reclaimed their independence from their European mother countries. This did not stop the Europeans from leaving a permanent mark on the continent however. European colonialism has shaped modern-day Africa, a considerable amount for the worse, but also some for the better. Including these positive and negative effects, colonialism has also touched much of Africa’s history and culture especially in recent years.

    Read More

More about Colonialism In God's Bits Of Wood By Chinua Achebe

Open Document