CONTENDING INTERTEXTUAL TROPES IN AFRICAN LITERATURE: READING FROM TWO KENYAN TEXTS

ABSTRACT

African writers have shown that literature can do more than just narration. They use several elements of narration that indicate their cultural background, ideological inclination, and peculiar experiences. More often than not, intertextual tropes are downplayed or lightly considered as mere literary elements rather than the driving forces to every work of literature ever written by any writer, be it African or Westerner. This study examined how two Kenyan texts engage in a dialogue on certain post-colonial conceptions. Its specific objectives were to make discernible how African writers inter-textualise their experiences; identify the resonance of (post) colonial tropes in African literature; and discuss the implications of these resonances to the examination of intertextual tropes in the selected texts. The two purposively selected texts from African literary canon are The Trial of Dedan Kimathi co-authored Micere Githae Mugo and Matigari by Ngugiwa Thiong’o alone. Both written by Kenyan authors.The theoretical framework was hinged on the tenets of Post-colonialism alongside references to Julia Kristeva’s notions on intertextuality as enunciated in her works.

Also in actualizing its aim, the study identified that the contending intertextual tropes in African literature could be portrayed from several perspectives. These are as: trope of capitalism, Mau Mau struggle, and trope of religion.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract v

Table of content vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction....................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background to the Study........................................................................ 1

1.2 Research Questions...................................................................................................... 7

1.3 Aim of the Study................................................................................. 7

1.4 Objectives of the Study......................................................................... 7

1.5 Scope of the Study.................................................................................. 8

1.6 Statement of the Problem........................................................................ 9

1.7 Significance of the Study........................................................................ 9

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review................................................................................. 10

2.1 The Meaning of Intertextuality................................................................. 11

2.2 Models of Intertextuality........................................................................ 12 7

2.2.1 Halliday’s Model of Intertextuality......................................................... 12

2.2.2 Fairclough’s Model of Intertextuality....................................................... 13

2.2.3 Genette’s Model of Intertextuality........................................................... 13

2.2.4 Bloor and Bloor’s Model of Intertextuality................................................ 14

2.3 Types of Intertextuality......................................................................... 16

2.3.1 Obligatory Intertextuality..................................................................... 16

2.3.2 Optional Intertextuality....................................................................... 17

2.3.3 Accidental Intertextuality..................................................................... 18

2.4 Intertextual Tropes................................................................................ 18

2.4.1 Intertextuality and Allusion.................................................................. 19

2.4.2 Intertextuality and Quotation...................................................................... 19

2.5 Literary and Intertextuality .............................................................................. 19

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Theoretical Framework................................................................................. 22

3.1 The meaning of Post-Colonialism.............................................................. 22

3.2 Post-Colonial Literary Theory.................................................................. 24

3.3 Identification of Colonial Ideologies in Matigari and The Trial of DedanKimathi.... 28

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Analysis................................................................................................... 32

4.1 Studies of Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Micere Githae Mugo................................. 32

4.1.1 Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Biography............................................................ 32

4.1.2 Micere Githae Mugo’s Biography........................................................... 33

4.2. Plot Overview of Matigari and The Trial of Dedan Kimathi.............................. 34

4.3 Textual Dialogue between Matigari and The Trial of DedanKimathi................... 35

4.3.1 The trope of Capitalism...................................................................... 36

4.3.2 Trope of Mau Mau Struggle....................................................................... 39

4.3.3 The Trope of Religion........................................................................ 44

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary and Conclusion........................................................................... 49 References............................................................................................. 51