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5.0 out of 5 stars
Devil on the Cross, Jan 7 2003
Ngugi wa Thiongo is very blatant about how Kenyan's are prone to hold esteem on foreign effects; language, behaviorisms and social interactions. A person is held in high regard if she or he can talk English or imperial languages as opposed to native languages such as Gikuyu. There is a constant effort to talk, dress and behave like the 'Muzungu' much similar to the struggles that Wariinga's finds herself in when she straightens her hair out and wears conventional dresses that do not flutter her inorder to adhere to the misguided notion or idea of what is perceived as beautiful. Ngugi's book emphasizes on the need to decolonize the mind from the stand view point of imperial customs and culture being inherently superior to one that embraces African culture. On page 112 of his book there in a narrative by one of his characters, Kihaahu wa Gatheeca, that describes the disdain received by schools that uphold cultural values which is still true today as it was in 1980 when he wrote the book.
The writings of Ngugi are on the same lines as those of Haunani-Kay Trask who extensively wrote on the effects of colonialism in Hawai`i, Chenua Achebe and Edward Said in his essay 'Decolonization of the mind.' As I read the book, Frantz Fanon statement from his book, Wretched of the Earth came to mind "Europe is a creation of the third World" this I believe should be the guiding light to those Kenyans that pursue ostensible imperial-like lifestyles while people like Ngugi wa Thiogo's character Wangari who fought for the independence of the country live in dire poverty.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
To Decolonize the Mind...., Dec 16 1999
By A Customer
Translated from the Gikuyu by the author. Clandestine prison writing, "I resorted to toilet paper. ... Toilet paper at Kamiti was meant to punish prisoners. So it was very coarse. But what was bad for the body was good for the pen." With imagery and colloquialisms rhythmically synchronized to place you into the heart of Kenya's post colonial turmoil, your arm efficiently wipes your tears as it circularly moves to grab the nearest weapon to combat this invariant, heinous, and timeless pox. Ignorance. Ngugi ,a major figure in the Post-Colonial movement, was described by Edward W. Said as, one of the "... major thinkers and artists whose sufferings have not blunted the intransigence of their thought, or inhibited the severity of their punishment." Devil on the Cross represents Ngugi's first manifestation of the transition to battle the colonial devil by creating literary art using his indigenous language, Gikuyu. I can certainly disagree in part with his philosophy of language that reduces its purpose only to communication and as a carrier of culture. I admire Ngugi's taking life threateningly risks and with great tenacity to create this political novel, to decolonize the mind. At the end; "Wariinga walked on, without looking back. But she knew with all her heart that the hardest struggles of her life's journey lay ahead...."
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I am in awe of Ngugi., Jul 6 1999
By A Customer
For those of whom detest translations, this book is a miracle. Written in Kenya's national language Gikuyu (?), the author also wrote the English version . . . and what a translation it is, too! Ngugi's prose easily surpasses the vast majority of authors alive today, and along with a gorgeously structured, captivating story . . . it actually took my breathe away. Also, most American authors who consider themselves 'political,' strike me as simply preaching to the choir. Not so with Ngugi. You can actually feel some of the grief he bears for the direction his nation has taken, a nation he has an undeniable, unfailing, patriotic love for -and its the country that imprisoned him! If you want the same old romance or adventure the same old way, read a tawdry or action-packed American bestseller. If you want an experience that will last after you're done reading, order this book.
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