The Treatment of ‘Tradition and Modernity’ in Selected Plays by Credo Mutwa, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, James Henshaw and Efua Sutherland

Abstract

This dissertation deals with the relation between tradition and modernity in Africa. This relation is seen to be disturbed by the misconception that each has about the other. The researcher shows that this lack of collaboration between tradition and modernity is the result of western colonialism which invaded Africa's tradition through modernity. Being modernity's cradle, Europe always considered other nations to be in a primitive state. Africa and the Africans were no exception. Africa owned the natural resources that could have built a massive economic power. However, it lacked the knowledge and mechanism to do that. Therefore, European colonizers stepped in to consume Africa's wealth and establish themselves as the world's modern powers. In this process, colonialism was presented as Europe's gift to modernize primitive Africa. In this sense, colonial modernity was not about building Africa's economic and industrial structure. It was mainly an organized process of destroying Africa's traditional culture and history. This was mainly achieved through the religious and educational role of the missionaries which turned many Africans into European copies who adopted the culture, language and religion which despised their own. This cultural duality was clear in the African class named the educated elite. This class was the product of the European education brought to Africa through the missionaries. European education was their tool for social elevation and respect in the society. As for the colonial authority, the educated Africans were new agents