Melissa Schreiber
Professor: Dr. R. E. BenanderENGL223
24 April 11
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o was born in Kenya in 1938 during a time when East Africa was under British rule. He is the author of, “Creating Space for a Hundred Flowers to Bloom,” Excerpt from Decolonization of the Mind (1968), “Wedding at the Cross,” and “Minutes of Glory.” Wa Thiong’o’s literature focuses on anticolonialism, class struggle, the importance of language, negotiation of power and identity, and gender bias. His literature teaches about all off these because they are the keys to liberation. The conflicts in Kenya have restricted society for so long that fairness for all people seems impossible. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o literature is necessary in the 21 st century because according to Wa Thiong; language makes us believe and language shapes our values.
“Wedding at the cross,” is a short story that relates to me personally because my world is similar to the characters in the story. Class struggle is the focus in the story, and my husband and I are from extremely different “social classes”, and we were able to overcome this difference, unlike the story. I believe the world, especially since the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, is slowly overcoming this horrible tradition. Literature is liberation and Thiong’o’s stories educate the reader to believe equality is becoming reality. It is wrong to deny any one the ability to marry who they love; traditional values must be reshaped to believe in equality. “Wedding at the Cross,” communicated to me that the struggle between tradition and progress is very difficult to overcome, yet the world must finally put an end to discrimination and inequality everywhere!
I personally feel an extreme obligation to teach my daughters the importance of equality and that God made all people and all people are created equal. Thiong’o’s literature is art, irony, and education for the 21st century. I believe his literature is necessary and important for overcoming many controversial issues around the world. I will read more of his works and recommend them to anyone ready for progress.
