Something Torn and New : An African Renaissance

Novelist Ngugi wa Thiong'o has been a force in African literature for decades: Since the 1970s, when he gave up the English language to commit himself to writing in African languages, his foremost concern has been the critical importance of language to culture. In Something Torn and New , Ngugi explores Africa's historical, economic, and cultural fragmentation by slavery, colonialism, and globalization. Throughout this tragic history, a constant and irrepressible force was Europhonism: the replacement of native names, languages, and identities with European ones. The result was the dismemberment of African memory. Seeking to remember language in order to revitalize it, Ngugi's quest is for wholeness. Wide-ranging, erudite, and hopeful, Something Torn and New is a cri de coeur to save Africa's cultural future. "Over centuries of contact with the west, Africa has suffered the deprivations of slavery, colonialism, and globalization. An integral part of this tragic encounter has been Europhonism: the replacement of native names and language systems with European ones. Language is a communal memory bank. In losing its native languages, Africa would lose its social memory - its very identity. Acclaimed novelist and critic Ngugi wa Thiong'o traces the arc of Africa's fragmentation and restoration amidst the global history of colonialism and modernity. Seeking a revitalization of Africa, Ngugi argues that a renaissance of African languages is a necessary step in the restoration of African wholeness. Wide-ranging, erudite, and hopeful, this book is Ngugi's cri de coeur to save Africa's cultural identity in the modern world."--Jacket Novelist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o has been a force in African literature for decades: Since the 1970s, when he gave up the English language to commit himself to writing in African languages, his foremost concern has been the critical importance of language to culture. Here, Ngugi explores Africa's historical, economic, and cultural fragmentation by slavery, colonialism, and globalization. Throughout this tragic history, a constant and irrepressible force was Europhonism: the replacement of native names, languages, and identities with European ones. The result was the dismemberment of African memory. Seeking to remember language in order to revitalize it, Ngugi's quest is for wholeness. Wide-ranging, erudite, and hopeful, this book is a cri de coeur to save Africa's cultural future.--From publisher description 0465009468......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 CHAPTER 1: DISMEMBERING PRACTICES: PLANTING EUROPEAN MEMORY IN AFRICA......Page 14 CHAPTER 2: RE-MEMBERING VISIONS......Page 44 CHAPTER 3: MEMORY, RESTORATION, AND AFRICAN RENAISSANCE......Page 80 CHAPTER 4: FROM COLOR TO SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS: SOUTH AFRICA IN THE BLACK IMAGINATION......Page 112 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 146 NOTES......Page 148 A......Page 162 B......Page 163 C......Page 164 G......Page 166 I......Page 167 L......Page 168 M......Page 170 O......Page 171 R......Page 172 S......Page 173 V......Page 174 Z......Page 175 Basic Civitas Books 0465009468 1 CONTENTS 8 Preface 10 CHAPTER 1: DISMEMBERING PRACTICES: PLANTING EUROPEAN MEMORY IN AFRICA 14 CHAPTER 2: RE-MEMBERING VISIONS 44 CHAPTER 3: MEMORY, RESTORATION, AND AFRICAN RENAISSANCE 80 CHAPTER 4: FROM COLOR TO SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS: SOUTH AFRICA IN THE BLACK IMAGINATION 112 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 146 NOTES 148 INDEX 162 A 162 B 163 C 164 D 166 E 166 F 166 G 166 H 167 I 167 J 168 K 168 L 168 M 170 N 171 O 171 P 172 Q 172 R 172 S 173 T 174 U 174 V 174 W 175 X 175 Y 175 Z 175 ISBN-13:,9780465009466 Dismembering Practices: Planting European Memory In America -- Re-membering Visions -- Memory, Restoration, And African Renaissance -- From Color To Social Consciousness: South Africa In The Black Imagination. Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong'o. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 135-148) And Index. "One of Africa's greatest writers" (San Francisco Chronicle) makes an impassioned plea for the resurrection of African language--and African culture itself