The novelist and social commitment: a study of Meja Mwangi’s The Bushtrackers

Abstract

Meja Mwangi is one of the literary giants who have emerged in the literary scene of Kenya. His works have however, not received much critical attention the way the works of, for instance, Ngugi have. The study has therefore, brought to limelight Mwangi’s literary prowess as a socially committed writer of his time and space. As a socially committed writer, Mwangi explores the social ills that were associated with colonial Africa and the ones that are inherent in the post-independence contemporary African society. In his The Bushtrackers, Mwangi captures the traumatic existence of Africans even though independence has been achieved. His main worry is that all is not well with African continent despite independence. The study therefore, concludes that until the psychological traumas that have brought pains and sufferings to the people of Africa are surmounted by our so-called leaders, true African peaceful existence, progress and above all, human happiness, will continue to remain a mirage ad infinitum.

Key Words: Social commitment, neo-colonialism