Drumspeak: International Journal of Research in the Humanities https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh <p>Drumspeak: International Journal of Research in the Humanities (DIJRH) is a peer-reviewed academic journal. The journal is one of the official journals of the Faculty of Arts in the College of Humanities and Legal Studies of the University of Cape Coast in Ghana to promote interdisciplinary research on Africa in the humanities. We publish twice every year (June and December). Our Editorial team, from diverse fields, ensures that manuscripts adhere to high-quality research and ethical standards.<br /><br /><strong>Aims and Scope</strong><br />Drumspeak: International Journal of Research in the Humanities (DIJRH) aims at championing critical interdisciplinary research in the humanities in general. In addition, the journal disseminates cutting-edge research that reflects and contributes to enriching academic debate and public discourse on issues of interest to Africa in the contemporary world. <br /><br />You can view this journal's website <a href="https://journal.ucc.edu.gh/index.php/drumspeak/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> en-US awuah.nyamekye@ucc.edu.gh (Prof. Samuel Awuah-Nyamekye) theophilus.ocran@ucc.edu.gh (Mr. Theophilus Ocran) Sun, 18 Aug 2024 16:17:23 +0000 OJS 3.3.0.11 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 In pursuit of dreams: migration and toxic masculinity in <i>Beyond The Horizon</i> https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276426 <p>This paper explores masculinity and migration, analyzing the complex processes of sustaining manhood in a different environment in Amma Darko‘s <em>Beyond the Horizon</em>. The paper argues that the fraught nature of the migrant experience contributes to the creation of toxic masculinities and the perpetuation of gender-based exploitation of the female. Migration then creates new opportunities for male exploitative behaviour which is detrimental to the male himself.</p> Theresah Patrine Ennin Copyright (c) 2024 Faculty of Arts of University of Cape Coast https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276426 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Becoming conscious of the self: spatial dynamics, character pairs and the feminist vision in Amma Darko’s <i>Beyond The Horizon</i> https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276427 <p>The relationship between spatial dynamics, character pairs and how this is constitutive of the feminist vision in Amma Darko‟s <em>Beyond the Horizon</em> has rarely been explored, despite the growing critical reception. The paper explores how Darko‟s women become awakened by the redemptive roles of their fellow women through the narrative‟s climatic journeys. Drawing on theories of spatiality and African feminisms, this paper argues that Darko‟s attempt at associating specific characters within particular geographical contexts helps us to rethink controversial and conventional discourses on the African woman – sisterhood solidarity, education, financial freedom and bodily integrity as routes to the total emancipation of the African woman. Thus, the study suggests a shift from the rather clichéd argument that the text is male-targeted.</p> Christabel Aba Sam Copyright (c) 2024 Faculty of Arts of University of Cape Coast https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276427 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Reversing the imperial gaze, affirming possibility: Conrad and Fanon in Amma Darko’s <i>Beyond the Horizon</i> https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276428 <p>Drawing on Bakhtin‘s notion of the dialogism of the word, especially double-voiced discourse, this paper examines Darko‘s subtle inscription of Conrad's <em>Heart of Darkness</em> and Fanon‘s <em>The Wretched of the Earth</em> in her novel <em>Beyond the Horizon</em> (1995). Specifically, the paper examines "horror" and the novel‘s title as double-voiced discourse or dialogical sites of contestation and affirmation, respectively. It argues that while the Conradian subtext can be understood in the context of Darko‘s reversal of Marlow‘s imperial gaze in <em>Heart of Darkness</em>, the Fanonian subtext revolves around Darko‘s politics of ―beyond the horizon‖ which is contingent on decentering Europe as the location of hope for postcolonial people. By focusing on Darko‘s subtle dialogue with Conrad and Fanon, the paper shows that Darko strategically frames Mara‘s encounter with Europe as a journey into the "heart of darkness" and also foregrounds de-linking from the West as an emancipatory ethic and thought for postcolonial transformation.</p> Rogers Asempasah Copyright (c) 2024 Faculty of Arts of University of Cape Coast https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276428 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Clandestine, circumscribed and coded: sexuality in Darko’s <i>Beyond the Horizon</i> and Saadawi’s <i>Woman at Point Zero</i> https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276429 <p>This paper explores sexuality in Amma Darko‟s Beyond the Horizon (1991) and Nawal El Saadawi‟s Woman at Point Zero (1975). The African tradition regards issues of sexuality as a suppressed discourse which is integrated into a discreet, symbolic language. The portrayal of sexuality and its modes in which individuals realise themselves as subjects of sexual desire have been widely studied but works in which these characters have been presented as subjects of concupiscence have received very little attention. Adopting Michel Foucault‟s notion that the history of sexual experience involves the correlation between fields of knowledge, types of normativity and forms of subjectivity in a particular culture, this paper examines the libidinous practices of characters. The paper concludes, among other things, that: firstly, Darko and Saadawi‟s writings represent the African notion which considers sexuality to be a silent discourse; secondly, both novels manifest various forms of psychosexual attitude by the characters and the quest for sexual freedom and power.</p> Hannah Woode Amissah-Arthur Copyright (c) 2024 Faculty of Arts of University of Cape Coast https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276429 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 “I am his pawn, his slave and his property”: a stylistic analysis of the abuse of women in Amma Darko’s <i>Beyond the Horizon</i> https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276430 <p><em>In Beyond the horizon</em>, Amma Darko uses words in unique ways to bring the subject of gender representations and the abuse of women to the fore. Employing a stylistics framework of analysis, this study investigates the text‟s parallelisms and deviations, and interprets and uncovers the implied and underlying meanings of issues related to the abuse of women in the novel. The analysis reveals how through patterned repetitions of words and sentences, as well as some language deviations in the text, men abuse women physically, emotionally, sexually and economically. The paper shows that through the use of patterned repetition of words and sentences, and deviations such as metaphor and simile, Darko reveals the struggles of and unequal relationships between the “pawn”, “slave” and “property” (largely represented by Mara) on one hand, and the “master”, “lord” and “pimp” (represented by Akobi, Oves and Osey) on the other hand.</p> Daniel Oppong-Adjei, Dora Essah-Ntiful Copyright (c) 2024 Faculty of Arts of University of Cape Coast https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276430 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Introduction https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276425 <p>No abstract</p> Rogers Asempasah Copyright (c) 2024 Faculty of Arts of University of Cape Coast https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/dijrh/article/view/276425 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000