INTELLECTUM

"Why did Africa let Europe cart away millions of Africa's souls from the continent to the four corners of the wind? How could Europe lord it over a continent ten times its size? Why does this needy Africa continue to let its wealth meet the needs of those outside its borders and then follow behind with hands outstretched for a loan of the very wealth it let go? How did we arrive at this, that the best leader is the one that knows how to beg for a share of what he has already given away at the price of a broken tool? Where is the future of Africa?" Ngùgi wa Thiong'O, 'Wizard of the Crow'

Talking about CLASH OF CULTURE, I'm bent to considering Ferdinand Oyono's "The Old Man and the Medal".The aforementioned was first published as "Le Vieux N***e
et La Médaille" in 1956. It is one of the best African novels dealing with the clash of cultures during the era of European colonial rule in Africa. The protagonist is Meka, a village elder who has always been a good colonial subject. When he was summoned to receive a medal at a ceremonial presentation, his ideas began to change. Meka, his wife, and other villagers are well-drawn characters. The English translation reads very well, and
preserves the elegant vocabulary and
sentence structure of the original French.
The novel is an indictment of colonialism,
but with a subtle and often humorous
approach. "The Old Man and the Medal"
was among the first African novels I
encountered, but it is also a book that I
have enjoyed re-reading as I have learned
more about Africa. Of course, ...makes a good reading!

Let's look at it from this P.O.V. Thus, Ola Rotimi's 'Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again' is an account of a former military Major, Rahman Taslim Lejoka-Brown. He takes to politics. His motives have far more to do with vanity than patriotism, and his attempt to adapt to a situation he hardly comprehends produce highly comic results. His predicament is complicated by problems in his domestic life. His American wife rejoins him unexpectedly only to discover two more marriages contracted without her knowledge, and her husband beset by political expedients. So, I must opine thus, IN THIS AWARD-WINNING PLAY, OLA ROTIMI TAKES A COMIC SWIPE AT IDEOLOGICAL MISFITS AND OPPORTUNISTS WHO STRUT THE EVER ACCOMMODATING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICA. This is my logomachy. Thanks!

ARE WRITERS STILL “RIGHTING?”:
A Moral Perspective to Adichie’s 'Americanah'

By

PETER OSITA

Abstract
While some scholars in the past believed that art should be a vehicle for moral control, some writers and critics in recent times
appear to believe that literary works should only entertain. This shift is reflected in the publication of literary works with controversial moral contents and a seeming lack of moral critique of them. This study, therefore, makes a case for a moral criticism in African fictional studies through an insightful moral critique of Chimamanda Adichie’s 'Americanah'. The critical offerings of scholars such as T.S Eliot and, especially Plato were referred to and the tenets of the moral concept namely: Restraint, Discipline and Order were extracted from them, with emphasis placed on restraint. Through a moral critique of the selected text, it is established that the novelist does not apply restraint in describing s*x scenes and seems not to have adequately punished s*xually immoral characters in the novel. While this could be a trend in the post-modern period, this study holds the opinion that the novel 'Americanah' could be a negative influence on some readers.