CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Culture is learned behavior which each person acquires as a member of a group or society. Therefore, each character is a product of its unique history. Culture is an extensive feature of a group or society, also, it is a mark of identification and something that the individuals or groups could easily get sentimental about.
Through the Encarta English Dictionary (2009) has different definition of culture varying from “arts collectively;” knowledge and sophistication” “share beliefs and practices” and so on, but the definition that best suite our course of study is that which state that:
Culture is a human characteristic in which man expresses the totality of his ways of life in a collection setting. It can also be referred to as some total human activities shared by the member of the group. Being a sentimental phenomenon which an individual not only cherishes, but also protect dearly. Thus, literature becomes the medium through which cultural and traditional sentiments are expressed and projected. Africans in particular have, for a long time, been subjected to cultural imposition and displacement of foreign culture. This was due to the invasion by Europeans in the African regions. This does not mean that Africans received this foreign culture whole-heartedly. There was resistance and there has continued to be resistance through African arts, ethnic and culture. As a result of this resistance, the conflict between the Western World and Africans began to manifest. Today, plays that are protestant in nature are being written to this effect.
On this note we shall defined conflict by adopting the definition from the Encarta Dictionary (2009) which state:
It is a disagreement or clash between ideas, principles, or people. It can also be psychological states resulting from simultaneous but incompatible desires, needs, drives or impulse. The key words in the definition are “clash” and “disagreement”. This definition best suits our course of study because it is on this note that Achebe and Laye opposed in the texts being understudied.
African literary writers are victims of cultural imperialism as a result of colonial rule of the European, therefore, at the same time, they try to force themselves out from colonial cultural imposition while projecting and glorify traditional cultures. In the words of Adeyemi(1993) citing Olurunmoye (P.15) “culture supplies us our habits of life…”
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Research work is meant for knowledge advancement. Every researcher uses this medium to elaborate upon the information implied in the title of the study. As such every research work has the intention of solving specific problems through a planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data.
Today, Africans have neglected some of their rich cultural heritage and adopted the “white-man’s” culture. Some of which has prompted the clash between the Africans and Western culture. Africans, to some extend disregard their tradition. Therefore, this research will by the end have answered question like:
- How is Africans culture perceived by Africans
- What has be the effect of colonial intrusion in African society
- What cause conflict between African and western culture
