Creativity in Africa Kills Her Sun Michelle Bacallao October 5, 2012 HUM3423 Professor Bruce B.

Janz

Page 1

Creativity in Africa Kills Her Sun Africa Kills Her Sun, a satirical short story written by Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1989, focuses on the corruption of Nigerian society of the time. This literary piece is written in letter form, from main character Bana to former girlfriend Zole. It denounces the economic immorality that took hold in Nigeria under a continuous military dictatorship that began in 1983 and did not end until 1999 (Enotes). The letter is slightly prophetic of Saro-Wiwas own merciless execution on November 10, 1995. Saro-Wiwa was imprisoned and executed for his political activism on behalf of the Ogoni people who fought against Shell Oils destruction of their land. His execution by Nigerian authorities was swift and brutal, a travesty of human rights and a failure of international diplomacy (Larson 210). The following answers the question of how elements of rhetorical context and narrative strategy make Africa Kills Her Sun a creative piece of literature within an African context. Rhetorical context is the idea that a writer must consider a number of factors surrounding his/her writing, according to Nathan Holic of University of Central Florida. Rhetorical context identifies the writers subject, intended audience, purpose, and occasion (time/place). The subject of Saro-Wiwas letter is obviously concerning the corruption of the Nigerian government. The Ogoni people were made to suffer and as one of their leaders, Saro-Wiwa protested against the oil companies. The governments role was minimal in helping its people. By 1980, only 1.5 percent of the oil proceeds found their way back to the Ogoni. Most of the profits were siphoned off into the pockets of the countrys military leaders (Larson 211). While Africa Kills Her Sun is a fictional account, Saro-Wiwa has incorporated many truths into it. Bana, the character who writes the letter, states that he took a position as a clerk in the Ministry of Defense. He says, I came face-to-face with the open looting of the national

Page 2

treasuryEveryone to whom I complained said to me: If you cant beat them, join them. I was not about to join anyone. I wanted to beat them and took it upon myself to wage a war against them (214). Just as Bana waged war in the story, Saro-Wiwa waged (nonviolent) war against those who were destroying his people. To further display the corruption of societys thought process in Africa, Wiwa refers to Idi Amin and Bokassa in a positive manner. In the story, Bana writes, Sazan would have made a good Army General any day, possibly a President of our country in the mold of Idi Amin or Bokassa (Larson 215). Amin and Bokassa are both notorious, bloodthirsty dictators of the 20th century. The sarcasm can almost be heard aloud in Saro-Wiwas piece, which is surely meant to expose Africans to their crooked government. Who is the intended audience of Africa Kills Her Sun? The intended audience is the people of Africa, more specifically those in Nigeria. While the subject matter of Saro-Wiwas letter is different from the actual issues he was dealing with, it is obvious that it is meant to figuratively describe these real life issues. Saro-Wiwa wrote the following of the plight of the Ogoni: The silence of Nigerias social reformers, writers, and legal men over this issue is deafening. Therefore, the affected peoples must immediately gird their loins and demand without equivocation their rightful patrimony. They must not be frightened by the enormity of the task, by the immorality of the present. History and world opinion are on their side. (Larson 211) In writing his letter, Saro-Wiwa knows that he alone cannot change an entire society. His targeted audience is not dishonest government leadershe knows their opinions will not change. His target audience is the people of Nigeria. He hopes in his letter to open their minds and remove the blinders form their eyes. Before his own execution Saro-Wiwa wrote, Literature in a
Page 3

critical situation such as Nigerias cannot be divorced from politics. Indeed, literature must serve society by steeping itself in politics, by intervention, and writers must not merely write to amuse or to take a bemused, critical look at society. They must play an interventionist role (Larson 210). This is exactly the behavior Saro-Wiwa manifests in his own writing. The purpose of Africa Kills Her Sun intertwines its subject with its audience. The subject of the letter focuses on a corrupt government system and the audience is the Nigerian people. Therefore, Saro-Wiwas purpose is to alert the Nigerians of their corrupt government and social system. His purpose is not just to entertain and keep readers in suspense, it is to play an interventionist role, as he so eloquently stated. Saro-Wiwas goal is to set an example for others. To show them that its okay to stand up for what they believe in. And just like Martin Luther King Jr., Saro-Wiwa died as a martyr for his cause. The two could not have died a more humble or honorable death. Africa Kills Her Sun actually reflects this attitude. In it, we see glimpses of Saro-Wiwas own thinking. He writes, The only difference is that while Im prepared to pay the price for it all, the others are not (Larson 215). He also says, Its exhilarating to find them (his prison mates) so disdainful of life (Larson 216) and We could, if we wanted, escape from here, so lax are the guards. But we consider that unnecessary, as what is going to happen later this morning (execution) is welcome relief from burdens too heavy to bear (217). The creativity of this piece is in the unseen truths that Saro-Wiwa is revealing. Its as if Saro-Wiwa is really the one in the prison cell, right before his execution. We are transported into this heartbreaking story and it feels real, very real. The story is convincing because Saro-Wiwa has given us a visual image of what is happening and how it relates to real life. Occasion shapes the story. It is written in 1989 and is relevant to that time in history. The subject matter deals with a malicious government systemjust as Saro-Wiwa is dealing with in

Page 4

his own life in Nigeria. Saro-Wiwa has utilized occasion to create a powerful, outstanding message. This is creativity at its finest. If a person can indirectly (or even directly) write in such a way that brings things to light, he has truly created a masterpiece. Now, what was the specific occasion in Saro-Wiwas life at the time of this story? It was oil, blood, and the death of a homeland (Johansen 279). As stated earlier, Saro-Wiwa died defending the 500,000 indigenous Ogoni of the Niger Delta (Johansen 279). Oil spills had become a serious problem and destroyed homes, crops, water, and lives. Their maze, cassava, and yam crops were stained with crude oil, wilted and dying. Much of their livestock had either died or were dying from polluted vegetation and drinking contaminated water (Johansen 282). Saro-Wiwa had a cause and occasion worth fighting for, and through creativity and courage, he fought for this cause. Narrative strategies authors use include arrangement, point-of-view, and research, to name a few. Wiwa has put these strategies to use in his fictional letter. First, arrangement must be observed. Of course, Saro-Wiwas piece takes the form of a letter to a loved one. He uses a partial chronological style. Bana begins by addressing Zole, and speaks about his current situation. He describes the events that led him to this fate: his witness of the looting of the national treasury, his refusal to join the bandits, his dismissal, and finally his submission to banditry. Bana describes to Zole the two-faced government system he is living under, along with other meaningful thoughts. He explains to her that it is in death he will find freedom; it is the living who are really held captive. Saro-Wiwa uses mostly exposition in this piece. There is no dialogue except for what Bana quotes in his letter. Wiwa has created an engaging opening by using a dramatic statement: I couldnt leave your beautiful world without saying goodbye to you (Larson 212). We see from the beginning that this character is facing imminent death. This is tied into the conclusion because at the end we can almost

Page 5

visualize Banas death. We know that is coming very soon. Africa Kills Her Sun is written in first person point-of-view. Bana narrates the story. By using this point-of-view, Saro-Wiwa has given the character life. We are made to feel that Bana is real and that we know him. We witness his story, his life, and his innermost feelings. Because this letter is written before death, it gains authenticity. We feel that the narrator is being completely honest in his letter and we can truly feel for him. If written in a different point-ofview, for example, third person, the story would be much different and less personal. It would focus on facts more than feelings. We would probably read about three men facing the death sentence, rather than one, and we probably wouldnt feel the same power that we feel through Banas letter. While most authors tend to use a lot of research when forming a piece of fiction, SaroWiwa may not have had to do as much. This is because Saro-Wiwa actually lived the events in which he describes. The story flows from him in a way that not many writers have been able to accomplish. His story is fueled by his convictions as a writer and a person. We can feel that somewhere within Africa Kills Her Sun, there is a fight. With a little research on our part, we can see that Saro-Wiwas fight comes from his love of the Ogoni. Indeed, The Ogonis had no representation whatsoever in all institutions of the Federal government of Nigeria (Larson 211). Saro-Wiwa played a huge role in being a representation for them. Rhetorical context helps an author decide how and what to write. Narrative strategies are devices an author uses to form his piece. In Saro-Wiwas case, rhetorical context was used to develop a creative piece through subject, audience, purpose, and occasion. Saro-Wiwa shaped his piece with specific narrative strategies, including, but not limited to, arrangement, point-of-view, and real-life research. Many are called but few are chosen. Saro-Wiwa was among the chosen.

Page 6

He was chosen to fight. To stand. To inspire. To challenge. And to change. If we do not follow his example, what might happen to our world? We would be ignoring our own humanity, our own rights. Let us be unafraid and bold in our conquest to better the world.

Page 7

Works Cited Africa Kills Her Sun. Enotes. 2012. Web. 4 Oct. 2012. Johansen, Bruce. Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Issues. Connecticut; London: Greenwood Press, 2003. Print. Larson, Chares R. Under African Skies: Modern African Stories. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997. Print.

Page 8