Environmental Impacts of (Neo)Colonialism as Reflected in Selected Anglophone African Novels: A Postcolonial Ecocriticism
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Date
2024-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study examines the environmental consequences of (neo)colonialism as represented in selected postcolonial Anglophone African novels using a postcolonial ecocritical perspective. To this end, three critically acclaimed novels, authored by different writers from Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon in the years between 2014 and recent, have been purposefully selected and investigated. The focus of the analysis has been on unveiling the multifaceted representation of environmental impacts stemming from professional journalismand the myths of development. Emphasis has also been placed on articulating the pivotal role of postcolonial eco-activism in these texts. In doing so, postcolonial ecocriticism has been employed as a theoretical framework to analyze these novels. This theory is relevant to unveil the link between colonial legacies and environmental degradation in Anglophone African novels, addressing gaps in the literature and contributing to the fight for environmental justice by amplifying marginalized voices. This interdisciplinary approach uncovers the complex connections between power, environmental challenges, and unsustainable development, underlining the need for systemic change that prioritizes ecosystems and marginalized communities. In this realm of the postcolonial ecocritical framework, the methodology of textual analysis has been employed to explore the intricacies present in the selected novels. Employing this approach, Peter Kimani's Dance of the Jakaranda (2017) reveals the devastating effects of ecological imperialism: colonial plunder of resources (stealing limbs and lands), military violence and fire, biological warfare, deforestation, and practices of colonial conservation. These themes reflect the broader issues of environmental exploitation and social injustices that are pervasive in postcolonial societies. The consequences of this continue to be felt deeply today and have lasting impacts on the environment and the people who inhabit it. Ishmael Beah's Radiance of Tomorrow (2014) depicts environmental racism: the suffering of the indigenous community, the demise of the natural environment, and the erasure of the culture. These themes further highlight the devastating effects of (neo)colonialism and the ongoing struggles faced by postcolonial societies in preserving their environment and culture amidst various forms of oppression. The analysis of Imbolo Mbue's How Beautiful We Were (2021) reveals the environmental impacts of developmental myths: the developmentalist view of land, state vampirism, environmental
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degradation, and the government's complicity with developmentalists (capitalists). The novel reveals how the exploitation of resources perpetuates environmental destruction and exacerbates social inequalities, shedding light on the complexities of postcolonial struggles. The characters in the novel fight against powerful forces that prioritize profit over people, exposing the destructive consequences of unchecked capitalism on both the environment and indigenous communities. The study argues that the three novels under scrutiny collectively reveal the role of postcolonial eco-activism in safeguarding the postcolonial environment against the onslaught of corporate greed and government indifference. The study concludes that the fight for environmental justice cannot be divorced from the fight against (neo)colonialism and capitalism. It emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive reimagining of economic and political systems that prioritize sustainability, the well-being of natural ecosystems, and all communities, especially those historically marginalized and subjected to (neo)colonial exploitation.
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professional journalism