Based on the novel “Nervous Conditions” by Tsitsi Dangarembga, ‘Babamukuru says I am so bright I must be taken away to a good school and be
given a good chance in life. So I shall go and live with Babamukuru at the mission.
I shall no longer be Jeremiah’s son,’ he boasted, speaking my father’s name in
such derogatory tones that for once I was up in arms on my father’s behalf. ‘I shall
wear shoes and socks, and shorts with no holes in them, all brand new, bought for
me by Babamukuru. He has the money. I will even have underwear—a vest and
pants. I shall have a jersey in winter, and probably a blazer too. I shall stop using
my hands to eat. I will use a knife and fork’ (48).
Using the above extract as a starting point, write TWO paragraphs in which you
critically discuss how Nhamo’s fantasies about life at the Mission are symbolic of
the effects of colonialism on Africans in colonial Rhodesia. Your paragraphs must
refer to various incidents in the text to support your discussion.
Nhamo's fantasies about life at the Mission in "Nervous Conditions" serve as a symbol of the allure and promises of colonialism on Africans in colonial Rhodesia. Nhamo, driven by his uncle Babamukuru's belief in education as a means of upward mobility, is captivated by the idea of leaving his impoverished life behind and embracing Western ideals of material wealth and social status. His desire for new clothes and amenities represents the aspirational mindset instilled in many Africans under colonial rule, where assimilating to European customs and material gain were seen as paths to success. Nhamo's excitement over having shoes, socks, and shorts without holes alludes to the lack of basic necessities that African communities often faced due to colonial exploitation and neglect. Additionally, his eagerness to adopt Western dining practices, such as using a knife and fork, reflects the erasure of cultural traditions and the imposition of European values on Africans during colonial times.
Furthermore, Nhamo's belief that he will no longer be Jeremiah's son after going to the Mission highlights the disruption of family dynamics caused by colonialism. Babamukuru's influence and promise of a better life draw Nhamo away from his own father and community, symbolizing the fracturing of familial and communal bonds under the influence of colonial ideology. This abandonment of his heritage and allegiance to his family is further emphasized by Nhamo's derogatory tone towards his father's name. His words reflect the internalized oppression that African individuals experienced as they sought to distance themselves from their own culture and identities in order to assimilate into the dominant colonial society. Overall, Nhamo's fantasies elucidate how colonialism demolished traditional ways of life, eroded cultural pride, and created a distorted sense of self that prioritized the ideals and values of the colonizers.
In the novel "Nervous Conditions" by Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nhamo's fantasies about life at the mission symbolize the effects of colonialism on Africans in colonial Rhodesia. Nhamo's desire to be taken away to a good school by Babamukuru represents the allure of Western education that was heavily promoted during colonial rule. The belief that education provided a path to success and a better life was instilled in many African children, leading them to idolize the opportunity to be educated in Western institutions.
Furthermore, Nhamo's emphasis on the material possessions he would gain at the mission highlights the impact of colonialism on the African psyche. He boasts about wearing shoes, socks, and new clothes, which were symbols of status and sophistication associated with Western culture. This reveals how the colonial system had convinced Africans that their own culture and way of life were inferior, and that adopting Western customs and possessions was the key to progress and social acceptance.
Moreover, Nhamo's mention of using a knife and fork instead of his hands to eat reflects the imposition of European manners and etiquette on Africans. This demonstrates how colonial powers enforced their cultural norms and practices, eroding traditional customs and beliefs. By adhering to these new standards, Africans were compelled to reject their own cultural practices, ultimately internalizing the idea that their own customs were backward and primitive.
Overall, Nhamo's fantasies about life at the mission in "Nervous Conditions" embody the effects of colonialism on Africans in colonial Rhodesia. These fantasies reveal the indoctrination of the African populace to believe in the superiority of Western education, material possessions, and cultural norms. Dangarembga skillfully portrays the insidious impact of colonialism by highlighting the ways in which it infiltrates and distorts the aspirations and self-perceptions of the colonized.
In the novel "Nervous Conditions" by Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nhamo's fantasies about life at the Mission symbolize the allure of Westernization and the impact of colonialism on Africans in colonial Rhodesia. Firstly, his desire to be taken away to a good school and be given a good chance in life by Babamukuru reflects the pervasive belief that education in Western institutions was the key to success and social advancement. This belief perpetuated the idea that African ways of living and thinking were inferior, fueling a desire to adopt the ways of the colonizers.
Furthermore, Nhamo's aspirations for better clothing and a more refined lifestyle highlight how colonialism imposed new standards of living and cultural values on Africans. His excitement about wearing brand new clothes, shoes, and socks underscores the association of material possessions with social status and personal worth. The fact that he perceives the absence of holes in his shorts as a sign of progress reflects the influence of European standards of cleanliness and appearance.
Additionally, his intention to abandon his African way of eating by using a knife and fork instead of his hands further demonstrates the internalized notion of cultural inferiority. This desire to conform to the colonizers' customs and practices is a manifestation of the pressures faced by Africans to assimilate into a Eurocentric lifestyle.
These instances illustrate how Nhamo's fantasies about life at the Mission represent the impact of colonialism on Africans, as they are driven by the belief that embracing Western practices and values will lead to personal and societal advancement. The influence of colonialism is evident in the longing for Western education, material possessions, and cultural assimilation, all of which perpetuate a system of superiority and subordination.