‘African Assimilationist’ as Victim and Victimizer in Othello and Anowa

Abstract

The European and African contact has been and will always be the gravest in the history of humanity. This is the result of the extreme difference in culture, religion and most of all the color of both entities. This disparity created nothing but repulsion from the European side which considered itself superior to the different other. This attitude was expressed through the oppressive channels of slavery and colonialism which fixed the European as the norm and the African as a deformity. The only option that was left for the African was to assimilate. That is to say, to surrender all aspects of his identity and embrace that of his oppressor. In return, Europe continued its rejection and inferior view to the African. Both Shakespeare and Aidoo tackle this idea in Othello and Anowa respectively. This research paper focuses on the unique view of both playwrights about the African assimilationist in relation to his oppressors and his own people. Shakespeare criticizes the European racism and presents it as the monster that changes Othello into a victim. Whereas Aidoo criticizes the African guilt in the slave trade which results into changing Kofi Ako into a criminal who victimizes his own people.