Colonial and Postcolonial Context · English Literature

What does Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o advocate for in his book 'Decolonising the Mind'?

  1. The adoption of English as a shared pan-African lingua franca to reach the widest possible audience
  2. The abandonment of European languages in favor of African indigenous languages
  3. The adoption of Western literary forms like the sonnet and the realist novel
  4. A total institutional ban on teaching or reading European philosophy in African schools
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Correct answer: The abandonment of European languages in favor of African indigenous languages

Ngũgĩ argues that language is a carrier of culture and that writing in colonial languages like English continues the process of mental colonization. He famously transitioned to writing primarily in Gikuyu to reconnect with his own heritage and audience.

Difficulty: Medium Question 8 of 20

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