Larbi Ben M’Hidi University, Oum El boughi

Faculty of Letters and Languages

Department of English

Mimicry and Racism in Our Sister Killjoy ; Or, Reflections from a Black

Eyed Squint By Ama Ata Aidoo.

A Dissertation Submitted in Patial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the

Degree of Master of Arts in English Literature and Civilization.

Board of Examiners: Condidate:

Dr.F.Dib: Supervisor and Reporter Abdellaoui Bouchra

Mrs.R.Stiti: Chairwoman

Mrs.T.Bekakra: Examiner

2021-2022

I
Dedication:

My humble research is dedicated to my lovely family, for their endless help and support.

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 Acknowledgements:

This dissertation is the fruit of patience, perseverance, and hard work. Likewise, its
accomplishment could not have been realized without the help and the support of so many people
that I am tremendously thankful to.

First, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Dr.F.Dib, for his
constructive directions, motivation, and insightful feedback throughout the entire writing process.

Second, I am grateful to the members of the examination committee who generously

gave part of their time to read this dissertation. Their valuable comments and expertise would
supplement the scope of study.

Third, a special appreciation and indebtedness goes to my family for their unconditional
love, priceless care, and spiritual support.

III
Abstract:

The aim of this study is to examine mimicry and racism in Ama Ata Aidoo novel Our

Sister Killjoy; or, Reflections From a Black Eyed Squint. My reason for writing is to reexamine

the historical and cultural effects of colonialism on decolonized countries both in past and present

time. Also, I intend to clarify an image of the African immigrants in the West, and how they

suffer from racism and deprivation. Hence, the study seeks to expose the lies developed by the x-

colonizer in his colonial discourse. Besides, it aims at raising the decolonized people awareness

about their lost dignity and forgotten past. Drawing on Homi Bhabha‘s theorization of mimicry,

hybridity, ambivalence, and Frantz Fanon‘s psychoanalytic theory that analyze the psyche of both

the colonized and the colonizer people, and his analysis of neocolonialism, black inferiority,

decolonization process, racism, and colonial mentality, and Edward Said‘s thoughts discussed in

his book Orientalism, and his concepts that are included in his book Cultural and Imperialism.

Aidoo manages to illustrate the African immigrants in the West, and she gives a true image of

colonialism and its bad repercussions on decolonized people. The study results confirm that the

colonial discourse is ambivalent, and it is composed of colonial mimicry and a set of racist ideas

about the x-colonized. The colonial discourse is imperfect and virtual because of its duality and

double vision: From one hand, it aims at reforming the colonized fork through the different

representations of its principles. From the other hand, it disguises the reality beyond its masks in

order to avoid the full copy of the x-colonizer. As a result, the colonized people develop a

mottled identity that can threaten them. Also, the colonial discourse develops a set of stereotypes

that glorify the white people, and distinguish between people in terms of the privileges granted to

them. Racism is constructed in four dimensions that are: historical, structural, institutional, and

individual racism. Key Words: Postcolonialism- Mimicry-Racism.

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 Résumé:

Le but de cette étude est déxaminer le mimétisme et le racism dans le roman d‘Ama Ata

Aidoo Our Sister Killjoy; ou, Réflexions d‘un strabisme aux yeux noirs. Ma raison d‘écrire est de

réexaminer les effects historique et culturels du colonialism sur les pays decolonizes a la fois

dans le passé et dans le present. Aussi, j‘ ai l‘intention de clarifier une image des Africains en

Occident, et comment ils souffrent du racism yet des privations. Ainsi, l‘étude cherche a

denouncer les mensonges développés par le colonisateur x dans son discours colonial. En outré, il

vise a sensibiliser les decolonizes à leur dignité perdue et à leur passé oublié. S‘inspirant de la

theorization du mimétisme d‘Homi Bhabha. L‘hybridité, l‘ambivalence et la théorie

psychanalytique de Frantz Fanon qui analyse la psyche des colonisés et des colonizateurs, et son

analysre du néocolonialisme, l‘inférioerité noire. Le processure de decolonization, le racism et la

mentalité colonial, et les pensées d‘Edward Said discutées dans son livre Orientalism, et ses

concepts qui sont inclus dans son livre Culturel and Imperialism. Aidoo parvient à illustree les

immigrés Africains en Occident, et elle donne une image fidéle du colonialism et de ses

mauvaises repercussions sur les peuples decolonizes. Les résultats de l‘étude conferment que le

discours colonial est imparfait et virtuel en raison de sa dualité et de sa double vision: D‘une part,

il vise à reformer la fourchje colonisée à travers les différentes representations de ses principes.

D‘autre part, il déguise la réalité au delà de ses masques afin d‘éviter la copie intégrale du x-

colonisateur De ce fait, les colonies développent une identité tachetée qui peut les menace. Aussi,

le discours colonial développe un ensemble de stereotypes qui glorifent les blancs, et distinguent

les gens en function des priviliéges qui leur sont accordés. Le racism est construit en quatre

dimensions qui sont; le racism historique, structurel, institutionnel et individual.

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‫انمهخض‬

‫انٍذف مه ٌزي انذساسً ٌُ فسض انرقهٕذ َ انعىظشٔح فٓ سَأح اما اذا أذََ اَ اوعكاساخ مه انسُل رَ انعُٕن انسُداء‪ .‬سثة‬

‫كراترٓ ٌُ اعادج انىظش فٓ االثاس انراسٔخٕح َ انثقافٕح نالسرعماس عهّ انثهذان انرٓ اورٍّ اسرعماسٌا فٓ انماضٓ َ انساضش‪ .‬كما‬

‫اوُْ ذُضٕر طُسج انمٍاخشٔه االفاسقح فٓ انغشتح َ كٕف ٔعاوُن مه انعىظشٔح َ انسشمان‪ َ .‬مه ٌىا ذسعّ انذساسح انّ‬

‫فضر االكارٔة انرٓ طُسٌا انمسرعمش فٓ خطاتً االسرعماسْ‪ .‬انّ خاوة رنك ذٍذف انّ َعٓ االشخاص انزٔه ذم اوٍاء‬

‫اسرعماسٌم تطكشامرٍم انمفقُدج َماضٍٕم انمىسٓ‪ .‬تاالعرماد عهّ وظشٔح ٌُمٓ تٍثٍا نهرقهٕذ َ انرٍدٕه َ انرىاقض َ وظشٔح‬

‫انرسهٕم انىفسٓ نفشاورض فاوُن انرٓ ذسهم وفسٕح انشعة انمسرعمش َ انمسرعمش َ ذسهٕهً نالسرعماس اندذٔذ َ دَوٕح انسُد‪ .‬عمهٕح‬

‫اوٍاء االسرعماس َ انعىظشًٔ َ انعقهٕح االسرعماسٔح َ واقش أضا افكاس ادَاسد سعٕذ فٓ كراتً االسرششاق َ مفإٌمً انمرضمىح‬

‫فٓ كراتً انثقافٕح َ االمثشانٕح‪ .‬ذمكىد أذَ مه ذشُٔش انمٍاخشٔه االفاسقح فٓ انغشب َ قذمد شُسي زقٕقٕح عه االسرعماس َ‬

‫ذذاعٕرً انسٕىً عهّ االشخاص انرٓ ذم اوٍاء اسرعماسٌم‪ .‬وراطح انذساسح ذؤكذ ان انخطاب االسرعماسْ مرىاقض َ ٔركُن مه‬

‫انرقهٕذ االسرعماسْ َ مدمُعح مه االفكاس انعىظشٔح زُل انثهذان انمسرعمشج‪ .‬انخطاب االسرعماسْ غٕش مركامم َ افرؤاضٓ‬

‫تسثة اصدَاخ ٕرً فٍُ ٍٔذف مه خٍح انّ اطالذ انشعة انمسرعمشي مه خالل ذمثٕالذٍا انمرىُعح‪ .‬مه وازٕح اخشِ فٍٓ ذخفٓ‬

‫انُاقع َساء اقىعرٍا مه اخم ذدىة اوراج وسخح كامهح مه انمسرعمش‪ .‬ورٕدح ٌذا ٔطُس انشعة انمسرعمش ٌُٔح مشقطح ٔمطه ان‬

‫ذٍذدي‪.‬كما ان ان انخطاب االسرعماسْ ٔطُس مدمُعح مه انظُس انىمطٕح انرٓ ذمدذ انثٕض مه زٕث االمرٕاصاخ انممىُزح نٍم‪.‬‬

‫ذركُن انعىظشٔح فٓ استعُ اتعاد ٌٓ انعىظشٔح انراسٔخٕح َ انٍٕكهٕح َ انمؤسسٕح َ انفشدٔح‪.‬‬

‫‪VI‬‬
Table of contents:

Dedication ..................................................................................................................................Ⅰ

Aknowledgmen……………………………………………………………………………….…..Ⅱ

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………..…Ⅲ

Résumé………………………………………………………………………………………..….Ⅳ

‫………………………………………………………………………………………انمهخض‬..……Ⅴ

General Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..…01

Chapter One : Emergence of Postcolonial Literature, Mimicry and Racism

in Postcolonial contex

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………....…05
1-Emergence of PostColonial theory in literature……………………………………………..…07
1-1-The Struggle of Decolonized Countries to gain independence……..……………………….07
1-2-Definition of Neocolonialism………………………………………………….……………08
13Definition of postcolonialism……………………………………………………….…………09
1-4-KeyFigures in Postcolonial Theory…………………………………………………….……15
1-4-1-FrantzFanon…………………………………………………………………………..……12
1-4-2-Edward Said………………………………………………………………………………..14
1-4-3-HomiBhabh(1949) ……………………………………………………………………...…15
2-Key Concepts In Postcolonial Literature…………………………………………………...…..17
2-1-Colonial Discourse………………………………………………………………………...…15

VII
2-2-Ambivalence………………………………………………………………………………....17
2-3-Hybridity………………………………………………………………………………….….17
3/Postcolonial Theory ………………………………………………………………………...…18
4/Mimicry and Racism in Postcolonial Literature…………………………………………….….23
4-1-Definition of Mimicry………………………………………………………………………..20
4-2-The Effect and Desire of Colonial Mimicry……………………………………………...….22
4-3- Definition of Racism………………………………………………………………………...22
4-4-Dimensions of Racism…………………………………………………………………...…23
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….…..24
Chapter Two : An Overview about the Novel Our Sister Killjoy; or, Reflections
From a Black Eyed Squint
Introduction…………………………………………………...………………….……………….25
1-Ama Ata Aidoo:……………………………………………………………………..………....26

2-Summary of the Novel………………………………………………………….………….….26

3-Main Characters Presented through the Novel ………………………………….…….………29
3-1-Sissie…………………………………………………………………………….………...…27
3-2-Sammy…………………………………………………………………………………...…..28
3-3-Airline Hostess………………………………………………………………………………28
3-4-Marija Summer……………………………………………………………………...……….28
3-5—Big Adolf……………………………………………………………………………..……28
3-6-Little Adolf…………………………………………………………………………………..28
3-7- The Christian White Doctor…………………………………………………………..…….29
3-8- Knule…………………………………………………………………………………….…..29
3-9-The Precious Friend……………………………………………………………………….....29
4-MainThemes Presented Through The Novel…………………………………………..…….....32
4-1Colonialism, in particular colonization of the minds…………………………………………30
4-2Loneliness………………………………………………………………………………...…..30

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4-2-3Love………………………………………………………………………………...………31
4-2-4Gender……………………………………………………………………….……….……32
4-2-5-Appearance verses Reality………………………………………………………..………32
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..…….…..33
Chapter Three: Analysis of Racism and Mimicry in the novel Our Sister Killjoy; or, Reflections
from a Black Eyed Squint by Ama Ata Aidoo
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………34
1-Analysis of Racism:……………………………………………..……………………………41
2-Analysis of Mimicry……………………………….…………………………………………43
Conclusion:…………………………………………………………………………………..…..44
General Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..…....46
Limitation of the Study:………………………………………………………………………..…47
Works Cited……………………………………………………………………………….…...…51

IX
General Introduction :

Colonialism is the power structure that paves the way for an imperial power to take control

over a weak country. To maintain control and impose its ideologies over the colonized countries,

the colonial power or simply the colonizer creates a set of stereotypes or what Edward Said calls

representations. While the other is usually perceived as savage, inferior, uncivilized, and margin,

the colonizer is kind, superior, civilized, and the center. Since those who own the knowledge

maintain the power, the colonized remain voiceless, othered and powerless. To counter the surge

of negative stereotypes and the long years of oppression and silence, postcolonial literature has

emerged to speak up the other version of the story and give back the colonized people their

rights. Postcolonial writers have had the urge to narrate their own stories and deconstruct the

colonial discourse. Thus, these postcolonial literary texts seek to revisit and write back to the

colonizer by showing the atrocities of the colonizer, the plight of the colonized, and the continued

effects of colonialism. Postcolonialism tackles a plethora of themes and issues such as: identity,

hybridity, mimicry, ambivalence, resistance, decolonization, suppression, slavery, race, racism,

gender, otherness…etc. In a word, the postcolonial discourse is considered as anticolonial

discourse due to the fact that it comes as a reaction against the colonial discourse.

The aim of this study is to examine notions of mimicry, racism as manifested in Ama Ata

Aidoo‘s novel Our Sister Killjoy or Reflections from a Black Eyed Squint( 1977). Aidoo manages

to give us an account about the effects of colonialism on the colonized people both in their

countries and in the host country. Aidoo‘s prose-poem novel recounts Sissie‘s experience and

thoughts from the perspective of a black eyed squint. Sissie realizes that her scholarship is a part

of Western project of enslaving the minds. Her vision of the world reveals a deep awareness of

the problems of Africa and neocolonialism. Aidoo diagnoses the symptoms of colonial legacy via

1
exposing the national problems of decolonized Africa and the glorifying of European life. This

study then aims to expose the oppression of the colonial discourse which creates a set of binary

oppositions between the colonizer/ colonized, the white/black, and us/ them. In addition to that is

to find awareness of how Aidoo embodies mimicry and racism in her creative piece of writing.

This study contributes to literature in disclosing the lies developed by the colonial discourse as

well as, it provides knowledge about how the x-colonized blindly imitate the x-colonizer

ideology. The study can help those who are interested in the field mimicry and racism against

black bodies with extra background knowledge about the field.

Since its publication Aidoo‘s novel has been a subject of criticism, discussion, and analysis.

For the African. For the African writer Magazine in its article "The African Novel as a Strategy

for Decolonization in Ama Ata Aidoo‘s Our Sister Killjoy", Aidoo uses the novel as a strategy

for decolonization by representing the story of Africa from a decolonized point of view. Aidoo

Subverts the colonial discourse from two sides: In term of the style, she breaks up the Western

convention of storytelling where she mixes between two genres in her novel, the prose and the

verse. In term of the subject matter, she deconstructs the stereotypical images created by the x-

colonizer( when Marija is ignorant about the location of Canada and she thinks that it is near

Ghana, and that denotes the ignorance of the white ). In doing so, Aidoo exposes the binary

opposition between the Orient and the Occidant.

For "Gender Deconstruction In Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo" article, this research

explores varied situations of gender marginalization, the role of the authority of men plays in this

marginalization, and the procedures taken by these women to disassemble gender differentiation

in the society and to liberate herself. Consequently, the outcomes of this research reveal that the

2
cultural norms and the stereotyping images developed about gender generate that gender

distinction. The research concludes that men and women should have equal rights and be

empowered to fight for the benefits and the interest of the society.

According to Hildegard Holler in his journal article intitled as" Ama Ata Aidoo‘s Heart of

Darkness", this essay reads Aidoo‘s novel as a postcolonial revision and review of Joseph

Conrad‘s Heart of Darkness. This essay argues that existence of Heart of Darkness novel is

important for our understanding of Aidoo‘s racist representational techniques.

For Chery Sterling in his essay intitled as "Can You Really See Throught a Squint Theoretical

Underpinnings in Ama Ata Idoo‘s Our Sister Killjoy", Aidoo‘s novel is a reverse of the colonial

narrative discourse. This essay tackles the importance of Aidoo‘s work in deconstructing the

meaning, the novelistic form and the Western thought. As well as, the novel has a great role in

restoring the value of the African Women in the progress of Africa.

In his article" The Been To in Our Sister Killjoy", Megan Behrent demonstrates that

Aidoo‘s novel is a critique of African elite or what she termed the ―Beentoos‖this who have

immigrated abroad searching for political freedom and economic opportunities. Despite the

increasing number of immigration from Africa, many of the educated do return to their

homelands believing strongly in the Western ideology. Aidoo calls them ‗the been too‘ in the

novel. This concept describes the destabilize psyche of the Africans abroad after colonialism. So,

this essay deduces that the effect of colonialism continues to function even after its departure, it

creates the ‗in betweenness‘ position of the decolonized people, which signifies that they

combine between their own origins and the Western culture, thus a mottled identity appears. As

the above articles show, Aidoo‘s novel has been analyzed and studied from various perspectives.

3
Nevertheless, none of these studies has dealt with it primarily from the perspective of mimicry

and racism as reflected in Frantz Fanon‘s and Homi Bhabha‘s theories.

Tis study is respectively divided into two main chapters, in addition to the introduction and the

conclusion. The first chapter entitled ‗the theoretical chapter is introducedbly; first, emergence of

postcolonialism. Next, the struggle of decolonized countries to gain their independence. Then,

definition of neocolonialism, postcolonialism and postcolonial theory. After that, I identify the

prominent figures and concepts that emerge in postcolonial studies. Finally, I give a general

overview of mimicry and racism.

4
 Chapter One : Emeregnce of Postcolonial Literature, mimicry and

Racism in Postcolonial Context

Introduction:

Postcolonialism is an approach to literature that attempts to deal with the problems and

the consequences of decolonizing countries, and to find radical solutions out of these problems.

Postcolonialism appears in the late 1970and the early 1980 the period of decolonizing the most

countries in Africa. Postcolonialism conducts studies on subjects related to the bad remnants of

colonialism such as: slavery, black diaspora, decolonizing, Eurocentrism and racism, Orientalism,

black consciousness, suppression and resistance.

This chapter is considered as the theoretical part. It deals with the following sections:

general overview of postcolonial studies, mimicry and racism in postcolonial context. The first

section discusses three main subtitles. First, it outlines the emergence of postcolonial literature,

and the struggle of decolonized countries to gain independence from the imperial powers. Next, it

deals with the key concepts and some notable figures in postcolonial discourse. Finally, it

explains the postcolonial theory. The second section tackles the major themes I am going to

explore through the novel mimicry and racism, and it is divided into two parts: the first tackles

mimicry and its effects in postcolonialism, and the other part is about racism and its dimensions.

1-Emergence of Postcolonial Theory in Literature :

According to Robert Longely in his article intitled "What is Colonialism ?

Definition and Examples", Colonialism is "The practice of one country taking full or partial

political control of another country and occupaying it with settlers for purposes of profiting from

5
its resources and economy."("What is Colonialism").This quote means that colonialism is the

process by which a powerful nation imposes itself on another country that is weak, at the political

and economic level, through making permanent settlements in that land, in order to exploit its

natural resources. By 1941 a majority of the countries are colonized by European imperial

powers.

J.Ronald Horvath in his journal article" A Definition of Colonialism" states that,

colonialism"is a form of domination, the control by individuals or groups over territory and or

behavior of other individual or groups "(46). From that quote I grasp the meaning that

colonialism occurs when an imperial rule take a full control over lands through the establishment

of colonies in that lands, and looting their wealth. Also, colonialism is about making a full

domination over the individual‘s behavior through imposing the culture of the colonizer, in other

word colonization of the minds, which is very dangerous and can accompany a person for the rest

of his life.

Longely argues that the central objective behind colonization is: first, the colonizer

greed for the wealth of this geographical area, and his desire to expand through the land with the

building of settlements for the sake of getting rid of his high population intensity. Second, the

colonizer desire for fixing his identity, language and cultural heritage, and on the other hand, his

desire to disrupt the identity of the indigenous (investing in human resources). ("what is

colonialism").

Hasa in his article "Difference Between Colonialism and Imperialism "asserts that,

colonialism and imperialism are intertwined concepts. They occur when a dominant rule takes

control over a group of people or a territory. However, some other critics claim that there is a

6
difference between the two concepts. Colonialism is the physical activity of invading a country

and taking control over its political and economic institutions, and imperialism is the plan taken

before that action.

1-1-The Struggle of Decolonized Countries to gain Independence:

According to Angela Thompsell article intitled" The Challenges African States Faced

at Independence", the deficiency of infrastructure is considered as one of the extreme defy

African decolonized countries face during liberation. Although, the Western imperial powers

motto is to bring civilization and develop people but their colonies suffer from destitution in the

national infrastructure. First, the poverty of decolonized nations in industrial infrastructure.

Thus, their wealth in raw materials becomes useless. This due to the fact that they dependent

much on trade in their economy. Next, energy subordination, many African countries hanging on

the European economy because of their shortage infrastructure. Then, inexperienced presidency,

at independence many presidents have few years of political experience like Tanzania‘s Jubuis

Nyerere. Also, the lack of national identity in these new states, and the hybrid identity resulted

out of colonialism. Finally, the cold war coincides with the independence of most African

countries. Consequently, the unstable relationship between the Union of Soviet and the United

States push the leaders of the third world to participate in the war. Thus, this preoccupation leads

to a lack of work towards their countries.("The Challenges African States face at Independence").

1-2Definition of Neocolonialism :

According to Merriem Webster dictionary neocolonialism" is the economic and

political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends itself its influence over

other areas or people". From this quote I deduce that neocolonialism is the deceptive operation

7
that a super imperial power takes over another region through reshaping the economic and

political bodies. In other words, it is in indirect way of colonialism without settling.

Neocolonialism is "basically a modern form of old colonialism, it is considered as the

worst form of imperialism. For those who practice it, it means power without responsibility, and

for those who suffer from it means exploitation without redress ".("Difference between

Colonialism and Neocolonialism").from this previous quote I understand that neocolonialism is

the new shape, that goes under the umbrella of colonialism, a new form of colonialism, according

to the colonizer it is the power to expand in the decolonized countries without even taking into

account the bad results of neocolonialism in these countries. And for those who suffer from this

new form means the profiteering of the human and natural resources by the imperial power

without fixing anything.

1-3Definition of Postcolonialism:

Duncon Lvison in his article intitled "Postcolonialism" holds that, postcolonialism"

is the historical period or state of affairs representing the after math of Western colonialism, the

term can also be used to describe concurrent project to reclaim and rethink the history and agency

of people subordinated under various forms and types of imperialism." from that quote, it is clear

that postcolonialism is the era that occurs after the departure of the colonial power.

Postcolonialism subjects revise, review and write back the history of people from former

colonized countries. It is about adresisng issues that are concerned with restoring the original past

and identity of decolonized people.

From Alex Stainlee point of view in his article intitled" postcolonialism and the rise

of postcolonial literature " Postcolonial literature is "the academic research paper of the cultural

8
heritage of colonialism and imperialism, which centers on the human penalties of the control and

exploitations of colonists and their lands ."From this quote, postcolonialism is the academic

studies conducted by scholars that intended to reveal the reality of the colonizer and his agenda.

In other words, postcolonialism exposes the colonial imperial power and its elusive strategies,

and unmasks the bad legacy of colonialism on decolonized countries, and that‘s across reviewing

the history of colonized countries during imperialism.

1-4 Key Figures in Postcolonial Theory :

a- Frantz Fanon (1925-1961) :

Frantz Fanon is a leading theorist and activist of third world struggle against colonial

persecution. He is an outstanding figure in the field of postcolonial theory. He is a French West

Indian psychiatrist and political philosopher. Fanon studies the mental processes and the

psychology state of both the colonized and the colonizer, he also develops ideas about concepts

that are familiar with colonialism such as colonial mentality, neocolonialism, racism against the

blacks, decolonization process. His most influential literary works are: the wretched of the

Earth(1961), and Black Skin, White Masks (1967). A Dying Colonialism(1959). Fanon argues

that"the native develops a sense of self as defined by the colonial master through representation

and discourse, while the colonizer develops a sense of superiority."This quote means that, in one

hand, the colonized identity is shaped by the Western colonial power through the identification of

its protocol within the colonial discourse. In the other hand, the conqueror asserts his supremacy

in all domains. Fanon deals with the colonial mindset and the psychological fragility of the

domestic black people who try to resemble the white by adopting the Western values, language,

way of thinking, ideology, and by ignoring the original culture and identity. Fanon‘s theory

analyzes the psyche of the colonized people. Fanon says that the sense of inferiority is deeply
9
rooted in the psych of the colonized. Fanon argues that the feeling of inefficiency and lack of self

confidence in the psyche of former colonized people is a natural reaction resulting from his

harmony with the violence atmosphere during colonialism period, and it is a form of self

affirmation according to the natives . This means that the natives engage with western ideology

because they believe strongly in the white supremacy.

("Frantz Fanon‘s Contribution to Postcolonial Criticism").

From Garth Stevens perspective in his article" What Fanon St.ill Teaches us about

Mental Illness in Postcolonial Societies", Fanon develops a psychoanalytic theory concerning the

psyche of the colonized. He claims that colonized people develop mental illness as a result of

their hard experiences with colonialism, and being influenced by culture as well as society. Fanon

tackles the question of the relationship between the individual and the oppressive social structure

that exists today. Fanon experiences with North African patients led him to describe the

colonized as" that colonized peoples were primitive because they experienced mental illness

through their bodily symptoms".from this quote I understand that Fanon insists that the body

assault resulted out of the fight against the brutal colonialism plays extremely significant role in

the construction of the human mind illness .Fanon idea about violence generated out with his

interactions with the patients who are subjected to state repression reveals the shortcomings of

psychology and psychiatry in tackling problems in the social structure of society. It also promotes

a consideration of revolutionary violence as" a way of disintoxifying the colonized minds of the

oppressed".this signifies that Fanon revolutionary idea about violence of colonialism can enhance

the operation of making pure minds with just one authentic culture and identity, but this thought

is misinterpreted.("What Fanon Still Teaches us about Mental iIlness in Postcolonial Societies").

10
 Fanon‘s work the Wretched of the Earth is a significant literary work in the field of

postcolonial theory, in this work Fanon suggests an idea of creating a national literature and a

national culture aiming to raise the national awareness. Fanon formulates the three stages in

which a national culture is formed:" first, the native, under the influence of the colonizer‘s

culture, seeks to emulate and assimilate it by discarding his own culture".This means that Fanon

encourage the blacks to create their own literature, that is based on teaching the people and rise

their consciousness toward their own past and culture. Second, creating a national literature to

clarify the image for the native that he cannot be truly white according to the colonizer point of

view. Third, creating a national culture to make the native realizes his own cultural heritage

through the critical analysis of the original culture.

Fanon‘s work Black Skin White Masks first published in 1952, offers a philosophical,

literary and political analysis concerning the deep effects of racism and colonialism process on

the experiences, lives, minds and relationship of black and white people. In the first three

chapters, Fanon examines the impact of colonialism on the language and the relationship between

the black and white people. These chapters are important because they consider the partial

reproduction of the colonizer subjects among the black society as a problematic situation. In

chapter four, Fanon examines an essay by M.Mannoni to question the author‘s idea that

colonialism happens because of the sense of insufficiency among the black people, and that led

them to rely on the white. In chapter five, Fanon shifts to explore the different patterns of

resistance against the Western Imperial power. In chapters six and seven, Fanon develops

psychopathological and philosophical analysis of the state of being a Negro or a black

skin.("Book Review :(Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon").

11
 To sum up, Fanon strongly promotes the postcolonial theory through his influential

work in that field. Fanon creates a psychoanalytic theory that analyze the psyche of both

colonized and colonizer people, this theory holds that colonized people suffer from a mental

disease which is about glorifying the value of the white. Fanon develops many revolutionary

ideas and thoughts about the concepts that are generated out of colonialism. He tackles the

following concepts: racism, identity, colonial and postcolonial mentality, colonialism,

neocolonialism, the decolonization process, and many ideas about creating a national literature.

He also contributes in the field of postcolonial literature with his works: The Wretched of the

Earth and Black Skin White Masks, and that makes him a crucial figure in that field. In my study I

use the Fanon psychoanalytic theory to explore the impact of colonialism on the psyche of the

decolonized immigrants either students or workers in the novel Our Sister Killjoy, as well as I use

his analysis of: neocolonialism, decolonization process, racism and colonial mentality of former

colonized people.

b- Edward Said (1935-2004) :

Known as literary and cultural theorist, Edward Said is born in Jerusalm, Palestine.

Said‘s orientalism (1978)is his most celebrated and debated works, it reflects concerns of the

second wave of postcolonial studies. His work orientalism adds an important background in

postcolonial studies because it highlights the western misconception of assumptions about the

Orient. The term Orient means a system of representations that gives the Orient a Western

Scholarship and imposes on him the western ideology and culture. The Orient is depicted as the

inferior and alien Other.("Orientalism").

Edward Said has other significant works in postcolonial theory that discuss imperialism

and culture.Said‘s Culture and Imperialism is one of the most important and widely discussed

12
books, calling for an amendment in perspective and understanding of the Western cultural

heritage and ideology. In the book, Said focuses on three main cultures British, French and

American to show that the formal age of these empires contributes in the power of their current

identities, maintaining ideologies and political system. Thus, linking culture and empire paves

the way for more effective interpretations not only for the colonized world but also" into the

study of the formation and meaning of Western cultural practices themselves." This means that

this book makes a point of entry to more perspectives and points of view towards the Western

culture and political practices components through the critical analysis of these cultures.

Edaward‘s Cutural and Imperialism includes four parts that state his main perspectives that

cultural forms is crossbred and not pure, that we inhabit a world of collid and interfere territories

and history ; his reading of Western colonial texts discloses the collaboration and conspiracy in

empire that even the Western almighty theorists cannot relieve ;his reconnaissance of the

colonies and of native movements resistance in literary theory ; and finally, his critique of

American dominance leading according to his private vision of liberation.

Due to the importance of Edward Said ‗s work in the field of postcolonial theory, I

decide to use his thoughts and revolutionary ideas discussed in his book Orientalism ,through the

exploration of how the Western imperial rule copes with the Orient in the novel Our Sister

Killjoy As well as , I use the concepts that are included in his book Cultural and Imperialism in

making interpretations and analysis of the German and English cultures in the novel, which

makes the foreign human feels superior than the Orient.

C-Homik- Bhabha(b,1949) :

13
 According to Rebecca Liu in his article intitled" Homi K Bhabha : Why We need a

new Emotive Language of Human Rights", Homi K Bhabha is the leading postcolonial theorist,

he is familiar with specific concepts. Bhabha contributes in the field of postcolonial theory with

his notions and ideas. First, there is his concept of cultural hybridity: the idea that world cultures

do not seem to be fully constructed and separate, but are in fact tractable entities .Second, he

develops the concept of mimicry, meaning that during colonialism the Western imperial rule

imposes its customs and ideology on the colonized through its subjects. However, mimicry fails

according to Bhabha because of its ambivalent results. From one direction, mimicry produces a

copy of the colonizer subject, and from the other direction, mimicry obstructs the effectiveness of

the colonial discourse.("Homi K Bhabha ;Why we need a new, emotive language of human

rights").

Bhabha develops the concept of the third space, the concept refers to the shift between

conflict and contradict cultures. Bhabha states that the third space is "a liminal space which gives

rise to something different, something new and unrecognized, a new area of negotiation of

meaning and representation". that is to say in this third space a new blurred culture is formed with

new characteristics, new ideology is created out of the interfere between the colonizer and the

colonized cultures.("The Third Space : Cultural Identity Today").

From Julian Go stance in his book Postcolonial Thought And Social Theory, Homi

Bhabha takes the analysis of postcolonial discourse to its radical deduction. In Bhabha‘s view,

said‘s work Orientalism despises the colonial discourse and wips its complexity. Bhabha makes

critical amendment that states: colonial discourse is not homogenous or singular, but it is

ambivalent and contradict. Bhabha begins with reshaping the operations of the Western discourse

as a form of stereotyping.(42).

14
 2- Key Concepts to Postcolonial Literature :

2-1-Colonial Discourse:

For Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths and Helen Tiffin in their book known as, Post-

Colonial Studies: The Key Concepts, Colonial discourse is a concept that is coined by the

theorist Edward Said (36).It is a system of words and statements that shape our view of the entire

world from the colonial point of view. The second known colonial theorist after Said is Homik

Bhabha whose analysis suggests the existence of obstacles within the colonial relationships such

as, hybridity, ambivalence and mimicry, these elements exposes the limitations of the colonial

discourse (37)." In particular, colonial discourse hinges on notions of race that begin to emerge at

the very advent of European imperialism. Through such distinctions it comes to represent the

colonized, whatever the nature of their social structures and cultural histories, as primitive and

the colonizers as civilized."(37). This quote denotes that the colonial discourse aims at

centralizing the Western culture, history, education, political and social values, and from the

opposite side marginalizing the colonized people identity and norms regardless their progress.

2-2- Ambivalence:

It is a concept that is introduced by psychoanalysis theory to illustrate the

sophisticated process of revulsion and attraction between the colonizer and the colonized.

According to Homi Bhabha, the simultaneous presence of differences and similarities with the

colonial product build that unstable colonial relationships (Ashcroft, et al. 10). "Ambivalence

also characterizes the way in which colonial discourse relates to the colonized subject, for it may

be both exploitative and nurturning, or represent itself as nurturning, at the same time". From this

quote it I understand that from one side, the imitation of the colonizer assumptions and values

15
deconstructs the identity origins of the colonized people. From the second side, the ambivalence

of the colonial subject can be empowering when it comes to take on the principles of liberty and

equality of the human being introduced by the colonizer. Ambivalence is considered as

unexpected outcome of the colonial discourse since it disrupts its dominance. The desire of the

colonial existence is to produce submissive copy of the colonizer. However, the colonial

discourse generates mixture of compliants and objections with the colonial plan. Consequently,

the colonizer interest is presented as a double- sided coin(10). For Bhabha point of view , the

colonial discourse is forced to be partially present in the colonized countries due to the fact that

the complete presentation can be threatning: the colonized would immediately compete the

colonizer subjects in their power (11). Nasrullah Mambrol in his essay intitled as Ambivalence in

Post-Colonialism, Bhabha theory of ambivalence deeply affect the way in wchich the colonial

discourse operate. Bhabha theory deconstructs the stereotypical images created by the Western

ideology. Thus, the colonized has the right to point out that the colonizer is the marginal,

uneducated, indecisive and the vague subject. Bhabha states that ambivalence is not a simple

reversal of binary, for Bhabha shows that both colonizing and colonized subjects are implicated

in the ambivalence of colonial discourse. The meaning I grasp from this passage is that: first, the

colonizer subject highly contributes in the ambivalence of its subject: The colonial desire wants

one thing that is a full copy of its ideology. On the other hand, the colonial discourse hides some

of its real identity through the partial representation of its knowledge and values. Second, the

colonized through mocking some aspects of the imperial program, and clinging to his own culture

destabilizes the authority of that power. As a result, a hybrid authority appears.

2-3 Hybridity:

16
 For Rashed Al Arequi in his article" Hybridity/Hybridization from Postcolonial and

Islamic perspectives", hybridity is the mixture between two cultures or more. In postcolonialism,

hybridity advances the life style of the hybrid individual. While, some other scholars affirm that

hybridity is a tool presented by the colonizer to make the colonized engaged with the Western

culture (53). Bhabha contends that hybridity is an intentional act that aims at reforming the

identity of the colonized, and at the same instant it confirms the colonizer‘s assumptions and

cultural heritage.(Al Areqi,54.qtd.In,The Location p.112)."cultural identity always emerges in

this contradictory and ambivalent spaces, which for Bhabha makes the claim to a hierarchical

purity of cultures untenable". This passage strongly clarify the point that the hybrid cultures are

generated in places where the encounter with colonialism exists. The exchange between the

culture of the indigenous people and the one that is presented by the x-colonizer create a state of

third space in which a new blurred identity is generated.

3-postcolonial Theory :

For J Daniel Elam in his article "Postcolonial Theory", postcolonial theory is" a body

of thought primarly concerned with accounting for the political, aesthetic, economic, historical,

and social impact of European colonial rule around the world in the 18 th through the 20 th

century." That is to say postcolonial theory is a set of ideas and conceptions that unmasks the

negative waste of colonialism on colonized countries. Postcolonial theory tackles many subjects

that deal with the historical, political, economic and social impact of an Imperial rule even after

the formal departure of the colonizer: this theory is much more concerned with the persistent

effects of colonialism on decolonized people.

17
 For Farzad HAlvi, Ajnesh Prasad and Tanvir Quereshi in their journal article "Race and

Racism in an Elite Postcolonial Context: reflections from investment banking", postcolonial

theory is "a broad rubric for examining a range of social, cultural, political, ethical and

philosophical questions that recognize the silence of the colonial experience and its persisting

aftermath".(Jack et al., 2011:277, Qtd. In. Halvi et al., p. 3). That is to say that postcolonial

theory is the umbrella that covers a wide range of questions that tackles the former engagement

of decolonized people with colonialism, and how imperialism penetrated in the entire indigenous

society culturally and politically. Thus, postcolonial theory aims at revealing the truth hidden

behind colonialism and its discourse.

4-Mimicry and Racism in postcololonial studies :

4-1-Definition of Mimicry:

In his article Mimicry in Postcolonial Theory", Nasrullah Mambrol argues that

mimicry is a crucial concept in postcolonialism .The inconsistent relationship between the

colonizer and the colonized is described throughout mimicry. Mimicry occurs when the colonized

takes on the colonizer‘s cultural principles, values, habits and ideology. As a result of mimicry a

blurred image of the colonizer is reformed and adopted by the colonized. Mimicry and mockery

go hand with hand due to their convergent meaning and effect."Mimicry therefore locates a crack

in the certainty of colonial dominance, an uncertainty in its control of the behavior of the

colonized."From this quote it is clear that mimicry is a menace for the colonizer subject because

it causes a gap in its certainty of dominance over the colonized. When the colonized partially

imitate the colonizer‘s behavior, the result is a fake reproduction of its traits. For Homi-K-

Bhabha in his book intitled as The Location of Culture, mimicry emerges as one of the most

18
mysterious and powerful tool of the colonial discourse. Therefore, mimicry appears as an

sarcastic adjustment between the desire of the colonial discourse that is a reforming missionary of

the other, and the opposite pressure of history.(85,86).Colonial mimicry"is the desire for a

reformed , recognizable other, as a subject of a difference that is almost the same but not

quite."Which is to say that, through the whole process of colonialism the colonizer ‗s agenda is

constructed to make the colonized partially imitates the colonizer in order to produce a civilized

fork and imitators that relatively resemble the colonizer. It is obvious that the colonizer subject is

so deceptive in his policy of hiding some elements of the culture from the colonized and he states

others. In simple words the colonizer aims to make the indigenous people blindly imitate

according to his will. So, the colonized will never reach him in the level of civilization and

education.(86).

Mimicry is the phenomenon by which the colonized subject is reshaped in a way that is

partially similar to the colonizer subject. The bluster of mimicry lays in the duality of its results

that are similarity and threat. The danger of colonial mimicry comes from suppressing the

continuity of the imperial dominance as well as, the irony generated from the blind imitation of

the colonizer. Post -colonial writing subverts the rebellious criteria involved in colonial discourse

and affect its credibility. (Mambrol).

In the opinion of Jack Lacan, in his essay known as "The Line and Light, Of the Gaze."-

"Mimicry reveals something so far as it is distinct from what might be called an itself that is

behind. The effect of mimicry is camouflage…It is not a question of harmonizing with a

background, but against a mottled background, of becoming mottled-exactly like the technique of

camouflage practiced in human warfare."(qtd. In. Bhabha,Lc. 85). From this quote it is obvious

that colonial mimicry hides the reality beyond its masks, that is to say the colonizer‘s aim

19
disguises some element of its cultural heritage, and discloses others for the colonized. This

denotes the guile of colonialism. The goal of mimicry looks like the system of concealment used

in the wars, in which the oppressor intentionally disguises himself as the oppressed people in

equipment, clothing and humans for the sake of creating a harmonized environment that can save

the enemy. In this method colonial mimicry works, it tries to make the colonized people

associated with an ambiguous identity and incomplete representation of the x-colonizer.

Bhabha states that, "mimicry emerges as the representation of a difference that is itself a

process of disavowal. Mimicry is thus the sign of a double articulation; a complex strategy of

reform, regulation and discipline, which appropriates the other as it visualizes power."(86).That

is to say mimicry is a complicated movement of redress, arranging and refinement, that destroys

the cultural heritage of the indigenous people, it a symbol of a double function: although it

represents the colonial program in a fake image, also it rips its certainty of appropriation.

5-2-The Effect and Desire of Colonial Mimicry:

The colonial discourse is deeply ruptured and annoyed by the double vision generated

by this repairing mission: O the one hand, mimicry visualizes the ambivalence of colonial

discourse. On the other hand, it is considered as hinders for the credibility of the authority of

colonialism. Mimicry renders the colonial discourse imperfect and virtual due to the view of the

fact that is a partial representation of the colonial platform is adopted by the x-

colonized.(bhabha,86). Bhabha insists that the desire of colonial discourse is to reverse the partial

colonial requisition over the natives across the production of a partial model of the colonizer

program. A desire that indicates the existence of cultural trouble, ethnical and historical variation

between the two parties (88).The will of mimicry can be seen in its tactical target that is called‖ a

20
metonymy of presence‖ (89).The inadequate principles of the colonial discourse are called

metonymies of presence: the distinction between English and Anglicized, the mottled identity

that comes from mocking the fractional presence of colonialism, distinguishing identities of

social classification. These proposed plans shape the whole desire of colonial discourse, and

reveal the contradictions and limitations of its system.

Archana Gupta in his article "The Role of Mimicry in Homi Bhabha‘s of Mimicry and

Man", Bhabha borrow the term mimicry from Jacque lacan essay. For his stance, colonial

mimicry is one of the most active tool used by the Western imperial power. The stereotypes

created by the x-colonizer during colonialism that are: the West is the best, the master, the

educated and the outstanding figure. However, the Orient is the worst, the slave, the non educated

and the margin. This conventional image makes the colonized people feel subservient in front of

the colonial discourse. Therefore, the natives start copy the manners, attitudes, language and the

Western ideology for the sake of being similar to the colonizer in term of power and prestigious

position. Bhabha also asserts that mimicry is a cynical strategy of simulating the one in power.

As a result, the colonized people develop an identity that is ambiguous, the mixture of his own

identity and the one which is generated from the partial imitation of the West. Homi –k bhabha

traces that mimicry is the process of copying the person in power comportment and also taking

his attitude and impression towards things. The desire of the colonized is to compete the

oppressor in its power, and that desire will never happen due to the lack of the full representation

of the colonial agenda. Next, For Bhabha the menace of mimicry is in its double articulation and

vision, that is to say that there is always a crack in the function of colonial mimicry. The

continuous production of racial, historical and cultural diversity of the fractional effect of

colonialism and the colonial desire of appropriation. From one side, Bhabha says that mimicry is

21
subversive and anomalous to the colonial discourse because in the process of visualizing its

power, it restrains its domination. From the other side, he alludes that mimicry can be subversive

to postcolonial discourse, when it comes to the principles of liberty that the platform of the

colonizer grants to its colonies.

("The Role of Mimicry in Homi Bhabha‘s of Mimicry and Man")

5-3-Racism:

5-3-1- Definition of Racism:

In his article "What is Racism: Definition and Examples", Nadra Kareem defines

racism as a set of tenets that distinguish between people in terms of the privileges granted to them

with regard to their color skin and race. As an example in the United States black people are

treated badly and they are considered as possessions not as human beings. In sociology, racism is

much more complicated term to define, it is the doctrine that describes the observed varieties

between ethnic groups. However, this distinction is created by people and it is not passed down

through the generations. Racism is the saver of the ideology that centers the white at the expense

of the black race. Therefore, many studies show that black skin people are neglected compared to

the white in terms of employment chances. ( What is Racism: Definition and Examples).

5-3-2 Dimensions of Racism:

Inar in his article Racism "as Past of a System of Oppression" tackles the four

dimensions of racism. First, historical racism that is about analyzing the historical impact of an

imperial rule on decolonized societies, and how their institutions continue to reflect the status of

groups in a given society. Next, structural racism that denotes the systematic organization of

22
society based on fixed standard and that distinguish one category from another in several fields:

job opportunity, health, education..etc. Then, institutional racism which refers to the way the

social and political institutions operate within different racial groups. It can be illustrated in the

actions and behaviors that produce racist stereotype image against the blacks purposely or not.

Finally, individual racism, this form covers the apparent forms of racism. It is about describing

the relationship between individuals from various racial classes, and how they interact based on

racist discrimination created by the structural, historical and institutional racism.

Conclusion:

Colonialism is the strength of state structure that paves the way for an imperial rule to

get control over another weak country politically and economically. By 1940 most of the African

states are colonized by Europe. During the cold war the majority of the African states start to

struggle for their independence. Although they face many difficulties, such as: the lack of

infrastructure, the cold war, the energy dependence and the inexperienced leaders.

Postcolonialism is the study of literary texts produced by writers from former colonized

countries. It reexamines the history of decolonized nations, and it discloses the stereotypes

developed in the colonial discourse. The most notable figures I use in my study are Frantz Fanon,

Edward Said and Homi Bhabha due to their crucial contribution in postcolonial literature. Fanon

develops a psychoanalytic theory that analyzes the psyche of both colonized and colonizer

people. Said reveals the false image about the colonized people created by the colonial discourse

in his book Orientalism. In addition, Bhabha creates many concepts that tackle the colonial

discourse: hybridity, mimicry and ambivalence. Then, I move to explain some important terms in

postcolonial studies. I discuss the colonial discourse, ambivalence and hybridity. Colonial

discourse is a set of beliefs and assumptions developed by the colonizer systematically in his

23
agenda to impose his culture and identity on the colonized people. Ambivalence is the

contradictory ideas within the colonial discourse. While hybridity exits within the world cultures

which were previously subjected to colonialism, and that there is no pure culture. Finally, I give a

general overview about mimicry and racism in postcoloniality. Mimicry occurs when members of

the colonized society start taking on the language, culture, values and customs of the colonizer.

For Bhabha mimicry fails because, on one hand, it produces a blurred copy of the colonizer

subject and not a full copy, and on the other hand it disrupts the authority of the colonial

discourse. Racism is an ideology that distinguishes the white race over the black one, racism

occurs in different forms and dimensions: structural, institutional, historical and individual.

24
Chapter Two: An overview about the Novel Our Sister Killjoy; or, Reflections

From a Black Squint: Summary, characters, Themes.

Introduction:

The novel is about a young Ghanaian woman named Sissie who gains a scholarship

to better herself with European education. Then, she returns back to Ghana after a shocking

journey. Through her trip she deduces one big fact that in Europe the African students and

immigrants in general can gain the knowledge of cold, poverty and bitterness. Aidoo asserts that

‗The Been toes‘; or, the African educated elite in Western countries must adhere to the elements

of their original identity and culture, when they return back home.

1-1Ama Ata Aidoo:

For the Editors of Encyclopedia Britanica, Ama Ata Aidoo is a Ghanaian writer born

on March 23, 1942, Abeadzi Kyiakor, near Saltpond Gold Coast ( now Ghana). She affirms the

contradictory attitude of the modern African women through most of her literary works. Aidoo

focuses on the character of ‗the Been Toes‘ ( African elite educated abroad, when they return

back home), and this is strongly embodied in her first experimental work, Our Sister Killjoy; or,

Reflections from a Black Eyed Squint ( 1966). Aidoo wins a scholarship to Standford University

in California, then, she returns to teach in Ghana ( 1970-1982). Through her notable literary texts

Aidoo is interested with the role women play in the society. Aidoo declines the argument that the

Western education liberates the African women. Furthermore, she compromises the imposition of

the husbandless women in upbringing their children alone. Some of her works are: the Eagle and

the chickens (1986) ; a collection of the stories of kids), Birds and other poems(1987), the novel

25
changes :A Love Story (1991) ,An Angry Letter in January and other poems (1992) , The Girl

who Can and other stories (1997), and Diplomatic Pounds and other stories (2012).

1-2- Summary of the Novel :

Our Sister Killjoy Or Reflections from a Black Eyed Squint , the debut novel of a

Ghanaian young author, play right and a formal minister of education Ama Ata Aidoo, published

in 1977. The narrative is a combination between verse and prose, the language is quite difficult.

The work is devided into four main chapters :"Into a Bad Dream","The Plums"," From Our Sister

Killjoy" and" A Lover Letter". The novel tells the story of a young Ghanaian student named

Sissie, she is awarded a fellowship to travel to Europe –a big deal at that time (the late 1960), to

better herself with western education. When Sissie arrives to Europe , she is shocked by the

number of Africans their, whome they lose their own past and identity, she sees a lot of women

they are badly dressed up, their choes are from plastic materials, their minds are shaped by the

western ideologies and thoughts. She is very anxious by the hypocrisy of the Afican elite, and

their believes in white race superiority. Besides, Sissie is surprised by the way Europeans cope

with the blacks, she insists that they treat animals like people and vice versa. Sissie reveals one

big fact in the process of her journey, which is colonialism is still exists in post independent area ,

in particular colonialism of the minds .Also, the Western opinion is shaped by the fact of white

supremacy in all the domains that build up the structure of lives. Moreover, the African elite

abroad can learn the knowledge of poverty, slavery and racism.

1-3Main characters presented through the novel :

1-3-1 Sissie: Sissie is the protagonist in that novel, the herro, she is a brave, anxious

and serious person. Her opinion is shaped by the Western encounter, that Western civilization

26
goes in parallel with negativism, this later one is more malign like cancer disease. Sissie tries to

assert her identity in Europe through her reactions and her changing mood towards different

situations. This can be illustrated in the first chapter, when Sissie feels uneasy about her

countryman Sammy because she notices him making weird gestures, speaking the foreign

language very well. as well as, while Sissie feels superior about herself being the only black

person and insignificant guest in the party. Then, when Sissie arrives to the villege where she

supposes to stay in Germany, she thinks that this place is thousand times better then her country.

But suddenly this mood changes to anger because Sissie observes a woman telling a young girl

who might be her daughter black girl, then she beats her. In the second chapter, Sissie describes

the longing and love for her country to Marija, at the same time she feels cold because she misses

her homeland. Next, Sissie feels so comfortable in Marija‘s home, but suddenly she is puzzled

because she orders water, and Marija suggests for her the drink juice but she refuses. In the third

chapter, Sissie goes to England, she is shocked by the number of the African immigrants their,

and who they seem to be wretched fighting the hard conditions of life. Sissie spands sleepless

nights overthinking about those immigrants who left the warm in their country. Besides, Sissie

loses her speech, noticing how the black man suffers when a white Christian doctor tears his herat

to a dying white man. In the firth chapter, Sissie attempts to convince her precious friend and

those African people to go back home through her serious speech in a lover letter. Sissie tries to

convince self African self exile to rebuilt their own economy and country.

1-3-2- Sammy : A minor character who is an African character, the fellow countryman

of Sissie. Sammy seems to lose his own properties of identity. Sammy carries weird gestures, he

laughs all the time, and when stopping he makes permanent look of being well and superior.

27
Sammy speaks the foreign language and he appears to be familiar with the European ideologies

and style of life.

1-3-3-Airline Hostess: a minor character, she appears to be kind and polite as well as

civilized person, she tries to offer civilized upbringing on board, because she wants to see the

comfort of all her passengers, she advices Sissie to join the two handsome Nigerian men who are

going on the same program she is on.

1-3-4- Marija Sommer : a major character, a young Germany mother whose husband

is never be at home, it appears to be significant character in the second chapter The Plums. Marija

character appears to be not racist, because she befriends Sissie in her journey in Germany. Marija

invites Sissie to her home several times, and she takes care about her. When Marija wants to

leave, Marija gives her a bag filled with plums and fresh fruits. So, the psychoanalysis of the

character of Marija has no relation with the ideology of white supremacy. She respects the other

races. Although, she suffers with loneliness at home because her husband big Adolf is never be at

home.

1-3-5-Big Adolf : The husband of Marija Sommer, he seems to be egocentric and

ignorant about his wife, Marija tells Sissie that he would come home certainly but very late, so he

will not even eat. the analysis of his mind can be traced as the following: Big Adolf comes home

very late because he works very hard and he is affected by white race identity.

1-3-6- Little Adolf :is the son of Marija Sommer, is a beautiful baby, her mother

appears to carry him out in a pram quitly often, little Adolf is going to be the only child of Marija

because she suffers from health complications.

28
 1-3-7-The Christian White Doctor :a scientist, racist character, he makes a surgery

of heart transplantation .He tears the heart out of the chest of a young coloured young man, and

insteels it in the chest of an dying old white man. However, he feels happy about his experiment

the psychoanalysis of his mind is to be familiar with the Western ideology that glorify the white

race and its language, religion, culture and identity in all the domains. As well as, he believes in

the black inferiority.

1-3-8-Knule: The antagonist character in that novel, African self exile, a londeer, who

lives in London for seven years. His thoughts are constructed by the western ideology. Knule

identity seems to be hybrid and combined with Western thought. In some point his psyche is

racist, when he defends the white doctor experiment, Knule resembles the black skin people with

dogs and cats, and he tries to convince Sissie that the white doctor is guilty. In the other hand,

Knule attempts to return to his original identity when he claims that such experiments can solve

the problem of color all around the world.

1-3-9-The Precious Friend : An African self exile, a friend of Sissie who decides to

stay in exile, he is a meek, a harder worker, he is adapted with life overseas. He tries to convince

Sissie several times that he is in the right place which can offeres him the desent life. Although,

he tries hard to go back home to rebuilt its economy. His character can be analyzed through

identity. This friend psyche is combined with the psyche of the white people, as an example,

when he tries to convince Sissie that at home there is nothing, and in Europe life is elegant. In the

other hand, he tells her that he makes an effort to go back home and rebuilt the remnants of

colonialism there.

1-4-Main Themes Presented in the Novel :

29
 1-4-1-Colonialism,in particular Colonialisation of the minds :

When colonialism sets up foot in the country of the colonized people, colonizer

people attempt to impose their ideologies, views towards life, and their cultural heritage in the

minds of the colonized. I can notice that in the novel "They say that after all, literature, art,

culture, all information, is universal. So we must hurry so lose our identity quickly in order to

join the great family of man. "(121). From this quote, I understand that the main goal of the

oppressor is to produce the brain drain and a postcolonial thinking that is fragmented and mixed.

And that is done by imposing his language, culture, art on the colonized territories ; and claiming

that his ideology is universal and appropriate to all kinds of human being.

Colonialism of the minds is embodied through the novel like in the phrase "What is

frustrating, though, in arguing with a nigger who is a moderate is that since the interests is so

busy defending are not his own."(6). From this I can grasp that the African man abroad is too

busy and preoccupied with the development of Western culture and not with his own identity.

Also, colonialism is embodied through the characters of, Sammy, Knule, and the other African

self exile. Sammy carries weird gestures, and he speaks their language very well, in a way that

makes Sissie feels uncomfortable about him. Knule whose view is Westernized, that is when

Sissie and her friend asks him about the racism of the white Christian Doctor, he defends him that

he is doing his job that can solve the colour skin problem all around the glob. Colonialism of the

minds, also appears in the character of the self African exiles, who seem to lose their identity and

dignity, they sacrifice living bad conditions overseas, just because they are too busy defending

the western thought.

30
 1-4-2-Loneliness : Loneliness is a state of being too emotional feeling lonely, even if

you are surrounded by a lot of crowds. In the novel loneliness exists in some points of the plot.

First, in the character of Marija, when Marija Summer wants to be alone just a

moment, even from her child little Adolf in order to to talk with Sissie. As well as, when Marija

is crying silently, because she feels lonely at home, she is ashamed because her husband big

Adolf never be at home, he comes too late, and goes to his bed. She orders Sissie to not tell her

family, when she goes back home, that she was in the Hausfraud home in Germany.

Second, in the character of Sissie, she confesses that she passes through very hard

times abroad, living loneliness with all its deep meanings. " Though I confess too that I am

convinced these cold countries are not places for anyone to be by themselves. Man, chicken, or

goat. There is a kind of loneliness overseas which is truly bad. "(119).Sissie confirms that she

passes sleepless nights overthinking about those Africans who stay abroad after finishing their

studies, struggling with the hard life conditions.

1-4-3 Love: love occurs when we extremely desire something or someone. Love is a

prominent theme in literature. Love is presented through the novel. In the second chapter when

Marija expresses her love towards the two Indians who works in the supermarket last winter.

Second, when Sissie expresses her love towards the fresh plums and pears. "It was midsummer

and the fruit stalls were overflowing. She had decided that being fruits, she liked them all,

although, her two loves were going to be pears and plums. And on those two she gorged

herself. "(39).Third, when Sissie describes the work of Marija with the visible love, she works

hard in her garden, to make her plums softened, and also rid them of their fresh tangy taste,

preserving a soothing sweetness. Also, love occurs when she describes Nigeria and

31
Ghana. " Nigeria is our love. "(52). then; she feels cold because she misses her country. Sissie

speaks about love occurs in the cobbled corridors near the youth castle. Finally, love is touched

when Sissie writes her letter to her precious boy friend, to make him realizes that she adores him,

and she wants him to go back home as soon as possible .

1-4-4-Gender : Gender is one of the striking themes that emerges in literature.It is

presented through the novel, when Marija tells Sissie that she would have only one child, because

of the health complications she has, although, she seems very happy he is a boy. Sissie argues

with Marija desiring his only child to be a boy, despite the fact that in those alien places being a

woman is too hard under the bad circumstances.

In addition, gender appears in the character of Marija when she tells Sissie that she

will not cook super today, because her husband big Adolf will not eat at home, he would come

too late.

1-4-5-Appearence verses Reality : This theme is well explored through the whole

novel, it shapes the aim of writing Our Sister Killjoy by Aidoo, which is to rise her people

consciousness about their lost dignity. In one hand, Europe appears to be super, it is the place

where humans can gain knowledge, and they can operate meaningfully in all domains, with high

wages. Life in Europe can built the people structures lives. This can be well illustrated when

Sammy tries to convince Sissie that going to Europe is like going to paradise. In the other hand,

Reality is the opposite thing. The African black immigrants in the west seem to be wretched, they

wear pitiful neo-colonial outfit, with plastic version shoes. They suffer from hard situations, life

their is full of bitterness.

Conclusion:

32
 Ama Ata Aidoo in her notable work Our Sister Killjoy; or, Reflections from a

Black Eyed Squint exposes the stereotypes developed in the colonial discourse, and that the West

is a place for poverty . Also, she attempts to restore the African dignity through her interest in the

African elite educated abroad; or ―the Been Too‖ (she advices them to return back home and

rebuilt their countries). Moreover, Aidoo tries to raise her people consciousness towards their

homelands all over the novel, and that is through giving them the bitter reality of the Africans in

Europe. Also, Aidoo embodies in her work racist ideologies and actions against the blacks

practiced either by the individual or the government structures. Aidoo uses different types of

characters and themes in order to wake up her people.

33
Chapter Three:

Analysis of Racism and Mimicry in the Novel Our Sister Killjoy or

Reflections from a Black Eyed Squint by Ama Ata Aidoo

Introduction:

Aidoo across her embodiment of racism in her novel Our Sister Killjoy; or, Reflections from a

Black Eyed Squint manages to disclose the lies of the colonial discourse, and she gives the reality

of the African abroad, and how they struggle with the difficult circumstances overseas. As well

as, Aidoo illustrates how the the Western ideology is deeply rooted in the minds of the

decolonized people through her incorporation of mimicry.

1-Analysis of Racism:

Racism is presented a lot in the novel. In the first chapter, It appears in the following

quote: ―Suddenly, she realized a woman was telling a young girl who must have been her

daughter: ‗Ja, das Schwartze Madchen.‘ From the little German that she had been advised to

study for the trip, she knew that ‗das schawartze Madchen‘ meant ‗black girl‘. She was somewhat

puzzled. Black girl! Black girl! So she looked around her, really well this time. And it hit her.

That all that crowd of people going and coming in all sorts of directions had the colour of the

pickled pig parts that used to come from foreign places to the markets at home.‖ (12). So racism

here is embodied through the character of the woman when she calls her daughter ‗black girl‘.

then, she strikes her. Besides, the woman describes the color of the people coming from different

parts of the world with the pig animal. Finally, she wants to regurgitate from the sight.

34
 For Professor Zohrreh T. Sullivan and Romaissa Sillin in their essay The Problems of

Colonial Legacy in Our Sister Killjoy, Aidoo discloses the racist actions and attitudes practiced

on the Africans abroad, she insists that Africans are recognized by Europeans through their color

of skin. In that first chapter, Sissie confronts racism just from the beginning in the airplane, the

hostess demands from Sissie to sit with her friends in the back, who are two handsome Nigerian

black men. Sissie is astonished by the act of this air hostess because she does not know these two

men(6). So this is a kind of a moral racism the black race is identified through its color which is

known by Fanon in his book Black Skin White Masks as the ‗Trauma of Blackness‘(1).

In the second chapter, racism is traced in the following words: ―we are the victims of our

history and our present. They place too many obstacles in the way of love. And we cannot enjoy

even our differences in peace‖.(29). That is to say say that the African immigrants in those alien

places suffer a lot from racist acts that are resulted out of the history of colonialism either by the

government or by the individuals. Next, racism is explored through the character of her Indian

friend who is in Germany for a quite of years, and is evident in:

―And he, my Indian, in a

Social order that

Froze a thousand years gone, would

Starve

Today

Should he open a private practice

Anywhere at

35
 Home.”(31). The Indian Doctor insists that in these foreign places the blacks are too

occupied with work for the favor of the Western society , and at end they treat them like a shit.

In addition, we can touch racism when Marlyn takes Sissie to visit her teacher training

college one evening. The first thing the teacher does is to point out for Sissie the only black girl

on campus. “It happens all the time

At first a showpiece

At eighteen a darling

What shall you be

At night ?

A dog among the masters,

Most masterly of the dogs." (42). Here the Teacher resembles Sissie with an animal that

is the dog, and on the contrary the white people are the bosses. This is an example of the

individual racism.

Also, racism is highly presented through the relationship between Sissie and Marija.

Marija considers Sissie as a stranger, at first Marija introduces her man as ‗Big Adolf‘ that refers

to Hitler who glorifies the white race, and then she introduces her son as ‗Little Adolf‘refers to

the descendants of Hitler who share the same ideology. So, Marija wants to improve that she is

superior than Sissie. (Sullivan and Sillin.p.(6).).

Besides, when the director of the local branch of the banks wonders why Marija

always walk with the black girl, then he says that she shouldn‘t take her house every day.

36
 " She must not take her to her house every day !

She must be getting neurotic !

It is persevere.

Someone must tell her husband". (44).Here the director insists that Marija should not

take Sissie to her home because she is black and that can be dangerous. This is an example of

structural racism acted by the society against a minor ethnic race.

Moreover, I can see racism when the three friends say,

“We have heared too,

Have we not heared of countries

In Africa where wives

Of presidents hail from

Europe

Bringing their brother or…who knows ?

To run the

Economy

Excellent idea…

How can a

Nigger rule well

37
 Unless his balls and purse are

Clutched in

Expert white hands‖? (55, 56).

From this quote, I can deduce a devaluing of the Nigerian man, he cannot rule his

country, unless he has white hands above him that touch the law. Because , the black is ignorant,

uncivilized according to the Western ideology. This is can illustrate the institutional racism

practiced by the government leaders.

Also, I can touch racism in this following quote,

“In the capitals,

Ex-convicts from European

Prison drive the city buses, and

Black construction workers

Sweat under the topical sun, making

Ice-skating rinks for

The beautiful people…

With vacant stares

Or

Busy, spiting their lungs out.

38
 Just like the good old days

Before independence." (56). That is to say that the black workers suffer a lot under a

hard work condition, they spend a lot of hours under the sun. Herte Aidoo resembles those hard

workers as they still fighting against colonial power

Further, I can strongly see racism in the following quote: ―Above all, what hurt our

sister as she stood on the pavements of Londen and watched her people was how badly dressed

they were. They all poorly clothed.‖(88). In one hand she notices her people suffering with

poverty and bad life circumstances. On the other hand, the natives of those alien places seem to

have guilty and sheen material possession, ‗the Mercede Beinz.‘

In addition, I can taste racism in that passage:

―We are used to

Tragedy, you know

The scale hardly makes a difference

But the heart transplant. The heart transplant. The evening papers had screeched the

news in which a dying white man had received the heart of a coloured man who had collapsed on

beach and how the young coloured man had allegedly failed to respond to any efforts at

resuscitation and therefore his heart had been removed from his chest.‖(95). Sissie here talks

about the hard circumstances the blacks face in the West due to the fact that they are used for

entertainment as well as for working hard under the sun. Then, she describes the recist

experiment of the white doctor when he tears the heart from a young colored man and implants it

in a dying old white man.

39
 Next, we can feel racism when Sissie observes the way the Europeans cope with

African blacks. ―My brother, I have been to a land where they treat animals like human beigns

and some human beings like animals because they are not Dumb enough"..(99).So, Sissie tells the

story when she notices in that strange cold place dogs and cats seem to eat better than many

colored skin people. As well as, when she observes how these Africans are badly treated by white

people, society and the government.

Finally, Aidoo strongly embodies racism , when Knule dies in a tragic accident in his

car, screaming , and no one hears him:

“Although civilized

Meeting

But it is long way from

Logos-and-Itadan,to,

A white Southern hospital.

And anyway-

Wherever they are from whatever causes,

My god,

Black people still

Die

So

40
 Uslessly‖ (108). Here Aidoo explores the structural and the institutional racism against

the black bodies. Knule doen not get any service, when he is about to die.

2-Analysis of Mimicry:

In the first chapter ―Into a Bad Dream‖, mimicry appears in the mindset of the

ordinary Nigerian man, and this can been seen in this quote, ―what is frustrating, though in

arguing with a Nigger who is a moderate is that since the interest he is so busy defending are not

his own, he can regurgitate only what he has learnt from his bosses for you. Like: the need for

law and order, the gravest problem facing mankind being hunger, disease and ignorance.‖(6). It is

clear that the African man in Europe is so attached to the Western ideology, and he is imbued

with the foreign identity. Consequently, he is occupied to save the western culture and

assumptions not his own origins. Also, mimicry can be seen in the character of Sammy (Sissie

fellow) who seems to be associated with the European family in the embassy. This occurs when

Sammy tries to convince Sissie that Europe is the perfect place to live. That appear in the

following quote: ―And that, somehow, going to Europe was altogether more like a dress rehearsal

for a journey to paradise‖ (9). In addition to that, Sammy masters the foreign language very well.

So through the character of Sammy it is obvious that he believes in the white supremacy because

he blindly take on the Western thought that glorify the West.

In chapter three intitled From Our Sister Killjoy, Aidoo embodies mimicry through the

character of the ―Been too‖, and this is evident in her words: ―So when they eventually went back

home as ―Been Too‖, the ghosts of the human that they used to be, spoke of the wonders of being

overseas, pretending their tongues craved for tasteless foods which they would have vomited to

eat where they were prepared best.

41
 Fish and chips.

They lied.

They lied.

They Lied.

The‗been-too‘lied.‖ (90). This passage speaks about the ‗Ben Too‘, those African

immigrants who forget their own origins and past, and they talk only about the miracles of life

abroad when they return back home. They are greatly influenced by Europe and its ideology,

culture, and beliefs, In spite of having a bitter life there.

More over mimicry appears in the character of Knule an African Londoner who has

being at London for seven years. Knule tries to persuade Sissie and her friend that the white

Christian Doctor is innocent, and experiment is scientific, not racist. This emerge through his

speech with Sissie and her friend, when she asks him about his vision towards the act of the

Doctor.― Knule answered them most eagerly:

That he was sure it is the

Type of development that can

Solve th question of apartheid

And rid us, African negroes

And all other negroes of the

color problem. The whole of the

42
 color problem.‖(96). From that quote it is clear that Knule believes that the experience

of the white Christian doctor that is about removing the heart from a color man and implanting it

in a dying white old man is totally natural, and it is a pattern of experiment that can saves the

blacks from the problems of racism in the entire world. So we deduce that, the vision of Knule is

shaped through his encounter with the Western world, that the white race is the center, and the

Western ideology that can cultivate people and solves the problem of race.

In the fourth chapter intitled ―A Lover Letter‖ mimicry is highly explored through the

character of Sissie‘s best friend who decides to stay overseas. The precious friend tells Sissie

about the factors that led him and the other African self-exile to stay in these alien places. He

says: ― so, you Sissie, I am making good money here and living as well as any black man live in

these parts.(122). Here her friend confirms that he is comfortable and happy about the situation

abroad. Such as the high income, and luxury life that Europe offer. So we conclude that the

African immigrants view is Westernised due to the fact that, they trust that all what is West is the

best. In the contrary, they underestimate their own countries and origins.

Mimicry is expressed across the character of the African leaders because even after

independence, they demand the principles and rules from their former colonizers to control their

countries( Sullivan and Sillin.p.1). Aidoo unmasks the serious problems Ghana faces after

colonialism. She insists that the colonizer legacy is still exists after the departure due to the fact

that there is a continuous submission of decolonized states to their former colonizers

economically, politically and culturally(2). Also, mimicry is presented across the character of

Ghanaian ministers, because they highly believe in the strength and the superiority of the Western

education at the expense of the Ghanaian system of education. Thus, they send their elite to

continue their studies abroad(5). (―The Problems of Colonial Legacy in Our Sister Killjoy”).

43
Conclusion :

This chapter explores mimicry and racism as prominent themes that emerge in

postcolonialism in the debut novel of a Ghanaian author Ama Ata Aidoo. Aidoo expresses racism

through her novel: First, through the characters of the the German woman who bits her black girl

, and then she wants to vomit due to the fact that there is many colored black people in the

supermarket. Next, through the character of the white Christian Doctor when he tears the heart

out of the chest of black man, and instills it in a dying white man. Finally, through the dames who

supervise the work of the campers in the nursery pine, Sissie claims that they work hard and

when they feel tired they take the work seriously. In addition, Aidoo explores racism through the

setting: when Sissie illustrates her people suffering from difficult conditions overseas, wearing

badly, treating as animals. Furthermore, Aidoo embodies mimicry in her novel across different

characters: First, through the character of the moderate Nigerean man who speaks only about the

Western civilization and ideology. Next, through Sammy who seems to be familiar with the

European family, and he masters their language very well. In addition, Aidoo embodies mimicry

when she talks about ‗The Been toes‘ those African elite when they return home, they speak only

about the wonders of Europe, and become ignorant about their own past. Finally, mimicry is

evident in the psyche of Knule ( An African Londoner who stays seven years in Londan), Kunle

develops ambivalent ideas about the experiment of the white Christian doctor: from one hand he

defends him, and from the other hand, he sees that type of experiment can solve the blacks

problems in the world.

44
 General Conclusion:

Through Aidoo embodiment of mimicry and racism in her postcolonial novel Our

Sister Killjoy or Reflections from a Black Eyed Squint, Aidoo manages to illustrate the African

immigrants in the West, and she gives a true image of colonialism and its bad repercussions on

decolonized people. Aidoo uses various techniques in her literary text, she combines between

poetry and prose as well as her use of different characters to embody mimicry and racism against

the African blacks abroad. My study is about postcolonial literature and its themes that emerge to

discuss the most prominent issues decolonized societies suffer from. Postcolonialism is an

approach to literature that focuses on the literary texts that are generated from former colonized

people, and it comes as a response to the European literature and its negativism about the

colonized world. In my study I discuss ambivalence, the colonial discourse and hybridity.

Colonial discourse is a set of assumptions and beliefs that shape our views of the world from the

point of view of the colonizer, and it is organized in a platform. Ambivalence is the contradictory

ideas within this discourse : the desire of the colonizer to produce a copy of him, and in the

contrary, it hides some principles from the colonized people. In addition, hybridity occurs with

the culture of the world that is previously exposed to colonialism, and it is the combination

between the cultures. Moreover, my study invistigates the prominent notable figures in

postcolonialism such as Frantz Fanon, Edward Said and Homi K Bhabha. Fanon develops a

psychoanalysis theory that is about analzing the psyche of the colonizer and the colonized.

Whreas Said writes his book Orientalism in which he deconstructs the binary opposition between

the Orient and the Oxident, and he exposes the lies developed in the colonial discourse. While

Bhabha promotes his concepts : mimicry, hybridity and ambivalence. From one hand, Aidoo

celebrated work investigates racism through various ways: the characters, as well as the setting.

45
First, through the character of the Christian white Doctor and his racist experiment Besides,

through the character of the dames who are supposed to supervise the work of the campers in the

nursery pine. Generally speaking Aidoo explore racism through the character of the African man

in the West and how he is treated like an animal. Aidoo also manipulates with the place to

express racism, and she asserts that overseas man can gain the knowledge of poverty and slavery.

From the other hand, Aidoo personifies mimicry through the character of the blacks abroad and

she calls them ‗the been toes‘ those who forget their origins and identity. Aidoo plays a great role

in raising her people awareness about their lost dignity in those alien places.

46
 Limitations of the study

There are few shortcomings that somehow slightly affected my study results:

Since the style of writing of Ama Ata Aidoo is difficult, the complexity of the lexicon and the

language, the shift from the prose and the verse in Our Sister Killjoy or Reflections from A Black

Eyed Squint.as a result, some parts of novel needs the critical reading, or the reading behind the

lines to grasp the meaning.

47
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