Rediscovering African Cultural Identity: A Postcolonial and Structural Narratological Analysis of Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Emecheta's The Slave Girl

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Authors: Ali Degboehlin
Cited by: 0

Abstract

This article critically examines the representation of African cultural identity in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Buchi Emecheta?s The slave Girl. Drawing on postcolonial theory and structural narratology, the study highlights how these texts portray African traditions, belief systems, language, spiritual practices, and social structures as central components of indigenous identity. Through close textual analysis, the paper explores the resilience of cultural norms in the face of colonial disruption and underscores the role of literature in cultural preservation. The findings reveal that both authors restore dignity to African epistemologies and advocates for cultural continuity across generation as seen in the Igbo tradition in the two novels.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Postcolonial and Cultural Literary Studies Caribbean and African Literature and Culture African cultural and philosophical studies

Publication details

Journal / source
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
Pages
1405–1410
Publication date
27 January 2026