Reconstruction of culture in the text of Ayi Kwei Armath

Abstract

Ayi Kwei Armah in all his literature shows his society s concern for newlinethe fate as a victim of colonialism. He shows what was good in his society newlineand how its loss has become tragic. The tragedies of African societies, he newlinedefines in terms of disastrous and catastrophic shattering nature of their past; newlinefor which the Africans themselves were responsible, due to the selfish newlineinterests of a few. Armah has acute knowledge of history which enables him newlineto diagnose the causes of tragedy of West African societies, and he traces newlinethem through colonial experiences and internal sources within pre-colonial newlineAfrican societies. Armah observes the structure of the Ashanti polity, and newlineends up with a general observation on African societies. The ancient newlineAshanti rulers and contemporary leaders in Africa adopt all types of means newlineof divisive ploys to get at power. newlineArmah probes into African past and present to celebrate the principles newlineof reciprocity and positive change. The post-independent African situation is newlinefull of conflicts and coups d état. It is a saga of struggle and corruption in newlinehigh places. Armah is greatly influenced by Frantz Fanon s views on newlinealienation and violence. Fanon focuses on different kinds of frustrations and newlinecomplexes which deny the natives an opportunity to view themselves as an newlineentity. Fanon directs the black man s attention towards the realization that newlinehis alienation is not an individual problem. Armah uses the web of symbols newlineand images in his novels and the historical vision shed light on the various newlinefactors which make him most articulate and vehement spokesman of the newlinehistory of the African people. newlineArmah s first three novels are symbolic representation of life in newlinecontemporary Africa. The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born tells the story of newlinea simple railway clerk during the regime of Kwame Nkrumah. The unnamed newlineprotagonist, an ordinary clerk at Takoradi, is leading a dull and drab life. He newlinexii newlineis very sharp and perceptive. It enables him to observe men and manners, to newlinejudge the beautiful and the ugly, make a moral ch