Neo-Colonialism and alienation in African fiction: Ayi Kwei Armah’s Fragments

Abstract

This article examines the themes of neo-colonialism and alienation in Ayi Kwei Armah’s novel Fragments. It contends that these are two of the most topical subjects within African existence in the contemporary era and are still very directly related to the present African predicament of a seemingly developmentally slow and retrogressing continent. Alienation and neo-colonialism are also inextricably intertwined with the whole question of nation-building and nationalism and directly linked with issues relating to African identity in the aftermath of slavery and colonialism. The discussion suggests that Ayi Kwei Armah’s engagement of the themes of neo-colonialism, alienation, nationalism and nation-building offer some very useful insights into grappling with the present African condition. Ultimately, the point is made that examining and exploring the nature and intricacies of neo-colonialism and alienation of both individuals and community through the experiences of protagonists in the fiction discussed contributes to facilitating an understanding of the project of African self-rehabilitation and reclamation, which are pursued through nation-building and nationalism and which are currently ongoing.