Reclaiming African ecologies: A postcolonial ecocritical reading of Things Fall Apart and Petals of Blood

Abstract

While much of the scholarship on African literary counter-discursive voices to colonial representations of Africa has primarily focused on the social and cultural dimensions, the ecological aspects have often been overlooked. This study addresses this gap by examining the ecological counter-discourses in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s Petals of Blood, emphasizing the interconnectedness of social and environmental concerns. Utilizing close textual analysis and grounded in postcolonial ecocriticism, the study explores how both novels highlight the significance of indigenous environmental knowledge and practices, portraying the Igbo and Gikuyu traditions of environmental stewardship. The findings reveal that these ecological counter-discourses challenge colonial narratives that sought to naturalize the exploitation of Africa’s environment by depicting it as a wild and uncivilized wilderness in need of taming and control. Moreover, the novels expose how colonialism disrupted sustainable indigenous practices, resulting in environmental degradation and ecological crises. The study concludes that African literary counter-discursive voices play a critical role in addressing the ecological implications of colonialism, advocating for a more sustainable and equitable relationship with the environment. The insights gleaned from these novels contribute to broader discussions on the role of literature in addressing pressing environmental challenges and promoting environmental justice.