Authors: Tolbert Terdue Abutu, Ibrahim Ya’u, John Ogidi Acha
Department:Department of Languages and Linguistics, Benue State University, Makurdi / Department of French, School Languages, FCT College of Education, Zuba-Abuja / Department of Modern Languages and Translations, University of Calabar
Date: 16/06/2025
This study examines the question of lack of democratic ideology in running the affairs of the state and vindictiveness as inherent character of post independent leadership in Africa, as satirised through Fama. Fama is the main character in Ahmadou Kourouma’s The Suns of Independence who turns out to be a victim of the change brought about by the independence he longed for. Through the sociocritical approach, we situated the diegesis of the work of Kourouma in the real African socio-political environment. By so doing, the study revealed that the diegesis of the text favours a socio- political environment where the African postindependent ruling class in cohort with the ex-masters ganged up on the real independence fighters, who, though fought hard for the independence of their country, suffered neglect by their brothers in power, and are left with no direction in the face of the independence. This analysis of Fama’s situation exposed that the crux of Kourouma’s work is the political machination surrounding the discussion that preceded the independence, the allegiance of the indigenous leaders to Europe and their inability to develop philosophical principles capable of managing African diversities. The conclusion is, therefore, that political ineptitude is responsible for the socio-economic underdevelopment as well as the slow pace of democratic progress in the continent, not minding the longevity of the territorial independence. Keywords:Ineptitude, desillusion, politics, postindependence Africa.
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