The youths of the current generation often view contemporary trends as progressive and more superior to the old ways. Therefore, many of them tend to rebel against the culture of their parent’s generation. In developed and industrialized societies, people tend to embrace individualism and are more bent on pursuing material gains and comfort. On the contrary, in the traditional African society, collective participation of all members of the society in various aspects of life is highly embraced.
In the novel, Amai Zenzele views the western culture as a threat to her daughter as she lives in the very heart of the culture. Amai Zenzele is a Zimbabwean citizen. The Western culture is very different from the traditional Zimbabwean culture. Zenzele’s mother constantly warns her against adopting the western culture.
Zenzele sees loopholes in African culture and points out the fact that some African practices seem to violate the dignity of women. Her mother holds the view that one should not reject one’s culture just because it perpetuates abuse. According to her, rejecting one’s culture on such grounds is similar to not going to church because there are many hypocrites in Church.
Zenzele’s mother uses a few examples from her village to point out to her daughter the importance of recognizing and cherishing her roots. The mother tells with contempt the story of Byron Makoni whom she and other community members consider a traitor to the African ways (Levey, Mangwanda, Titlestad, & Marshall, 2000). The tale is about the narrator’s childhood playmate who goes to study medicine in England but ends up failing his exams at Oxford University. He eventually ends up getting a job in Europe and marrying an English wife. On his return to Zimbabwe fifteen years later to his dying mother Makoni, he denies his African heritage.
This tale clearly alludes to Amai Zenzele’s fears about her daughter living in the west. She tells her daughter the importance of a family and appreciation of one’s roots. She tells her not to consider her culture any less.
Zenzele’s mother represents Africans who stand for the beauty of Africanism. She wants her daughter to uphold her African culture. The theme of cultural alienation is considered to be crucial to the survival of Africans living in the West.
References
Levey, D., Mangwanda, K., Titlestad, M., & Marshall, C. (2000). African Encounters.L David, M. Christine,& V. Hetta (2003). Muckleneneuk, Pretoria: University of South Africa.
