The Making of Modern Africa with Colonialism - Book Report/Review Example

Black World Study: The Making of Modern Africa with Colonialism The historical and colonization components are best expressed in the book ‘God's Bits of Wood’ by Ousmane Sembene. The focus of the essay will be to indentify impact of colonization to literature. The manner in which the author combines various components to describe the story of African colonization is remarkable given the manner in which literature components are utilized. Literature plays an important role in society as it shapes the manner in which people interact the societies around the world. The diverse nature Ousmane Sembene while presenting facts about colonization are presented by the manner in which the author uses modern concept to explain the tribulation of local population during a certain period. Literature can be used as a means of exploring historical events. Narrators in some cases use a selected group of individuals to represent an entire historical occurrence. In the novel the author sets the story based in the 1960. This is the period in which many African countries where attaining independent. Fresh from colonization, the period was use as a time in which individuals were contemplating colonization era and postcolonial era. The struggle is evident on how the author express the period in a more comprehensive manner. The tone of the narrator suggests the displeasure in which the locals perceived about the colonial era. The struggles of the local population are presented in a narration form. The author uses flashback to express the period of exploitation amongst the local population. From the story it is evident that the Africans felt discontented by the presence of colonizers. The historical injustices are presented in an ironic manner (Sembene, 1995). This is evident when the owners of major companies are foreign while the local population languishes in extreme poverty. The railway is a metaphor. The narrator uses it to explain the long period of colonization. The steel represent the manner in which the colonizers treat the African population. Through this steel represent the operation undergone by the locals in an effort to survive the harsh periods. The author uses the railway company to represent the European colonizers and the nature of administration. The strike by the railway worker represents the struggle for independence. The plights of the railway workers represent the mistreatment by the colonizers. The author uses the railway company to express the displeasure among the working male population during the colonial era. Sembene indicates the lack of resources from the African perceptive and draws the line between social classes. Majority of African occupied the lower end of the economic hierarchy while the colonizers dominated the upper class. The effect is evident by the nature of jobs provided for by companies. The novel expresses the active role of women in the struggle for independence. The author uses the active role of Bamako women in the strikes as a metaphor to indicate the role of women towards the independence of Senegal (186). Senegal in this case represents the whole of Africa while the Bamako woman pays tribute to women who fought for independence. The active role is expressed by the narrator as he indicates the gradual inclusion of women in the strike. However, the author ironically states that the men are the sole beneficiary of the strike. The marginalization of women after independence is expressed in the strike as after the strike women are forced to engage in odd jobs. Their male counterparts on the other hand are employed in the railway companies and other industries. The author express how the social composition of the African changed in that, a majority of the public resources where left in the hands of the elite among the society (Sembene, 1995). In African traditions, the males represented power hence the post colonial era is described as being dominated by strong figures among the society. Ibrahim Bakayoko’s effort to negotiate with the French railways owners indicates the alternatives used by African nations to attain independence. In this case Ibrahim Bakayoko represents the African leadership thorough the colonial era. On the other hand the resistance by French administration to negotiate the conditions of the workers represents the strong lines held by the colonial administration. The strike hence describes the use of force in expressing African grievances. Bakayoko on the other hand represent wisdom and courage expressed by the African leadership in the struggle for independence. The strike led to a number of causalities (Sembene, 1995). The death of sons and husband indicates the result of the struggle towards independence. The workers representative expresses the role of trade union towards independence. The active role of trade union in fighting oppression is shown though Ibrahim Bakayoko and other leaders. Those who were unable to take part in the strike were forced and in some case tried by their fellow Africans (91). Those unwilling to participate in the strike where dreamed as collaborator hence a threat. The colonization of Africans was undertaken as a struggle of power among the European elite (208). The author indicates the economical development the colonizers brought to the population. The development however resulted to oppression. The oppression is expressed by the author through the women of Bamako and the workers who took part in the strike. The forced participation was geared towards bringing unity among the laborers. In conclusion the other uses metaphor to identify the colonization periods. The manner in which the author interacts with literature is presented when he connects different aspects of African struggles and uses the railway strike to draw a comparison. The author suggests a postcolonial period characterized by inequality and unfair distribution of resources. The common agenda that brought Africans together once the colonial power left. The public resources are distributed among the elite while the common population has nothing to celebrate about. The author expresses the political ideologies and how they affected the manner in which Africans interacted after colonization. It is evident that literature is an important aspect in matters history. The historical happenings in pre-colonial Africa are presented by Sembene and he expresses the oppression majority of Africans faced after independence. Work cited Sembene, Ousmane .God's Bits of Wood. Johannesburg: Heinemann, 1995. Print Read More