THESE TITLE: Gender and the Postcolonial Social Ideal in Nuruddin Farah’s, From a Crooked Rib and Knot
STUDENT NAME: Michael Wafula Wanyonyi
SUPERVISORS:
1. Dr. Felix Orina
2. Dr. Joseph Musungu
ABSTRACT:
This study focuses on gender and the postcolonial social ideal in Nuruddin Farah’s two texts, From a Crooked Rib (1970) and Knots (2007). The main argument is that the author is a committed male feminist who has always sought to show the relationship between ideal gender relationships and a socially and materially prosperous postcolonial society by consistently questioning prevailing social realities in Somalia over time. Social ideal in this research refers to a state where a human society is abundant with greater individual freedoms, skills, creativity, mutual and collective responsibility, as well as material well-being. The research examines the representation of the protagonists and various characters in the context of Somalia’s political independence and moments after independence in From a Crooked Rib (1970), and the postcolonial challenges including the civil war as depicted in Knots (2007). Incidentally, From a Crooked Rib (1970) captures the effects of the absence of an ideal situation on gender relations on a fledging nation state on the verge of independence and in the subsequent early years of independence. Knots (2007) on the other hand portray the advantages that abound in an inclusive national agenda in postcolonial Somalia. The purpose of the present research is therefore to examine the link between gender bias practices to postcolonial Somalia’s disillusionments. This research is thus guided by the following specific objectives: first to investigate the role of the immediate social-cultural context on the portrayal of the characters in From a Crooked Rib (1970) and Knots (2007), Secondly, to analyse the relationship between gender disparities and the obtaining of postcolonial realities in Somalia and lastly, to examine Farah’s social ideal vision for postcolonial Somalia as brought out in the research texts. This study has a great bearing on understanding Farah’s ideal vision on gender and postcolonial Somalia. The research employs an eclectic theoretical approach. Two strands of Postcolonial Literary Theory: Postcolonial Feminist and Materialist Feminism literary theories guided this study. Postcolonial Feminist literary theory illustrates the intersection between colonialism, neocolonialism and gender while Materialist Feminism literary theory explains how social and economic realities play a critical role in constructing gender identities. Additionally, this study adopts a qualitative research design. The two texts were purposively sampled. This is because they address both the transitory phases of women in a patriarchal society and the postcolonial realities in Somalia and beyond. Data was primarily collected through close reading of the selected texts. The data was then analysed thematically. This study adds to the existing knowledge by linking biased gender practices in Somalia to the general postcolonial disillusionment. The study concludes that Farah has managed to recreate gender relations by writing committedly on the need for gender equity and inclusivity for the sake of postcolonial Somalia’s reconstruction and prosperity. The research also establishes that context can be used creatively as a vehicle for re-imagining a more inclusive society and nation. This can only happen if women are not stereotyped and objectified in Somalia. Instead, they should be given a platform as an alternative leadership of the country. Ultimately, this study creates a paradigm shift in postcolonial African literature and narratives in terms of how gender issues are addressed by linking them to postcolonial failures.
