Postcolonial Interpretation of Ngugi waThiong’s Weep Not Child

Abstract

The article provides the results of an intensive study of the novel Weep Not Child by Ngugi waThiong’o, which was carried out through the lens of postcolonial ideas. This article has illustrated the terms chromatism, appropriation, manicheanism, nativism and comprador class in the novel. Chromatism appeals to the colour-based distinction between nations and the discrimination takes place on the basis of colour of skin.Ngugi deals with this distinction of colour and shows it the major cause of Kikuyu’s subordination. Appropriation is a ‘hybrid writing style’ which means the attempt of writers belonging to subordinate class, to portray their own culture in a foreign language. It is also referred to the use of one’s own language, but writing in the ‘form’ of imperialist class. The article reveals how Ngugi has appropriated himself with the waves of artistic ocean of colonialists. The blame-game of different nations calling one another evil-virtuous (manicheanism), and the agony of the colonized for the restoration of pre-colonial life style (nativism) is also tackled in the novel. This article also offers the comprador class study of the novel. Comprador class refers to people who work for the colonizers in order to get some mundane benefits. The article shows that, no matter how much a colonized writer abhor the colonization and its effects, he will be affected by the waves of colonialism. The influence of colonialism is inevitable. The study is helpful for a better understanding of the literature produced by Ngugi. The study, not only brings forth the key causes of colonialism, but also offers various solutions for the aftermath of colonialism with the help of novel.  It has explored the fact that national unity strengthens the sovereignty of that nation. People with black skin and white masks (comprador) are revealed as a threat to the land of forefathers, especially, of black people.