FACULTY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED EDUCATION

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN VALUES AND NORMS DEPICTED IN AFRICAN

LITERATURE. AN ANALYSIS OF “THINGS FALL APART” BY CHINUA ACHEBE (1958), “JIKINYA” BY
GEOFFREY NDHLALA (1979) AND “WAITING FOR THE RAIN” BY CHARLES MUNGOSHI (1975)

BY

MLAMBO SIBONGINKOSI

REG. NO. R1731563Z

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE BACHELOR OF EDUCATION DEGREE IN ENGLISH

GWERU, ZIMBABWE OCTOBER 2021

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 MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED EDUCATION

APPROVAL FORM
The undersigned certify that they have read and recommended to the Midlands State University for

acceptation as a dissertation entitled: An assessment on the importance of African cultural values

and norms depicted in African text. Analysis of three text: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe

(1958), “Jikinya” by Geoffrey Ndhlala (1979) and “Waiting for the Rain” by Charles Mungoshi (1975).

By

SIBONGINKOSI MLAMBO

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the Bachelor of Education degree in English.

Student: ………………………. Signature……………………. Date…………………….

Supervisor………………………Signature……………………...Date…………………….

Chairperson……………………. Signature……………………...Date…………………….

External examiner………………Signature………………………Date…………………….

MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

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RELEASE FORM

Name of author: SIBONGINKOSI MLAMBO

Title of textual analysis: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe (1958), “Jikinya” by Geoffrey Ndhlala

(1979) and “Waiting for the Rain” by Charles Mungoshi (1975).

YEAR: 2021

Permission is hereby granted to the Midlands State University Library to produce

single copies of this dissertation and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly

or scientific research purpose only. The author reserves other publication rights;

neither the dissertation nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise

reproduced without the author’s written permission.

Signed: ……….………………………………

DECLARATION

I SIBONGINKOSI MLAMBO declares that this research report herein is my own work and has not

been copied or lifted from any source without the acknowledgement of the source.

………………….. ……./……../………

(Signed) (Date)

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DEDICATION
This study is dedicated to my loving parent Mary Mlambo. Without their support and

encouragement, this work would not have been accomplished.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Dr E. Hungwe for her patience,

constant supervision and guidance throughout the research. Your immense contributions enhanced

the quality of this work to a great extent. May your labor of love be rewarded by the Almighty God.

I also acknowledge the Faculty of Education at Midlands State University for their crucial impartation

of knowledge through the various modules that I took during the four-year course. This knowledge

has been of great help during the preparation of this article.

ABSTRACT

An assessment of the importance of African values and norms depicted in African literature. An analysis of

“Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe (1958), “Jikinya” by Geoffrey Ndhlala (1979) and “Waiting for the

Rain” by Charles Mungoshi (1975). Qualitative research design was used. It enabled the researcher to look

at various aspects of the study in their natural setting. The researcher used documents for the analysis to

create data. Data created was analyzed using textual analysis approach.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................i

CHAPTER 1.............................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1

BACKGROUND........................................................................................................................1

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.........................................................................................3

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.........................................................................................4

THEORETICAL FRAME WORK............................................................................................4

IMPORTANCE OF AFROCENTRIC THEORY......................................................................5

TENETS OF THE AFROCENTRIC THEORY........................................................................6

OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................................8

RESEARCH QUESTIONS........................................................................................................8

LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH.....................................................................................8

DELIMITATIONS.....................................................................................................................9

JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH..................................................................................9

LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................................................9

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................16

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS...........................................................................................................17

DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS.............................................................................................17

Values......................................................................................................................................17

Culture....................................................................................................................................17

African Literature.....................................................................................................................18

These are the works prepared for African audiences made with Africans using African
languages and borrowed languages whether these works are oral or written Chinweizu,
(1980: 11).................................................................................................................................18

Communism.............................................................................................................................18

CHAPTER 2...........................................................................................................................19
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THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS IN PRE-COLONIAL
AFRICAN SOCIETY AS DEPICTED IN THINGS FALL APART BY ACHEBE (1958)
..................................................................................................................................................19

HOW PRE-COLONIAL AFRICAN TEXTS DEPICTS AFRICAN CULURAL VALUES

AND NORMS: AN ANALYSIS OF THINGS FALL APART BY CHINUA ACHEBE......19

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................19

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR.....................................................................................20

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS ASPORTRAYED IN

THINGS FALL APART..........................................................................................................21

CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................26

CHAPTER 3...........................................................................................................................27

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS AS DEPICTED IN

JIKINYA BY GEOFFREYNDHLALA (1979).....................................................................27

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................27

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS DEPICTED IN JIKINYA

..................................................................................................................................................27

CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................32

CHAPTER 4...........................................................................................................................33

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS DEPICTED IN

“WAITING FOR THE RAIN” BY CHARLES MUNGOSHI (1975)?...............................33

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................33

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS DEPICTED IN

COLONIAL AFRICA “WAITING FOR THE RAIN”..............................................................34

CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................40

CHAPTER 5...........................................................................................................................41

CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................41

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................41

CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................41

RECOMMENDATIONS.........................................................................................................45
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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
The focus of the study is on assessing the significance of African values and norms as

portrayed in African literature novels. The backdrop of the research and the problem

statement are presented in this chapter, which serves as an introduction to the rest of the

chapter. The research's goals or objectives, as well as the research questions, are included. It

also includes an explanation for the study problem, theoretical frameworks, constraints,

delimitations, and research technique. Finally, it presents the chapter's finish, which includes

a description of essential terminology and a conclusion.

A research on assessing the importance of African values and norms as depicted by African

literature novels. This introduction works to introduces the chapter by giving a presentation

of what is going to be discussed in the chapter such as, the background of the research and

the statement of the problem. The aims or objectives of the research and questions are

included. It is also presenting the justification of the research problem related literature,

theoretical frameworks limitations, delimitations and research methodology. Then it is finally

presenting the end of the chapter with the, definition of key terms and conclusion.

BACKGROUND
Zimbabwe has been working hard to improve its education system for decades after

independence. The educational system that was passed down to me has been attempting to

strengthen cultural values and customs. It was proposed that education pursue an educational

curriculum that emphasized our society's heritage. The Nziramasanga Commission was

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tasked by the president in 1999 to research the issues challenging the educational system in

Zimbabwe among them was to investigate the implication of cultural values and morals in the

education of the youth to create cultured youth. The research aimed at improving the teaching

of values and norms from the research (Nziramasanga 1999).

The issues connecting to cultural values and norms have been a key in African literature

towards improving the African people from a tender age. The textual analysis will focus on

African works by focusing on how their works portray the importance of African values and

norms. Cultural values and norms are important in a way that they help in creating good

leaders who are culturally valued and build on good morality to lead and work with others in

the society. African literature throughout time has been used for the promotion of values and

norms among the African people. In Africa they are three types of literature these include,

oral literature, written literature in native languages and literature in other languages (Sone,

2009). Oral literature happens to be the first type of literature in native languages. In African

literature oral method have been the most important type of literature because of its ability to

provide self-understanding, relationships and pass values and norms, knowledge and modes

of practice for all age groups (Kimani, 2010).

Songs, folktales, and taboos were examples of oral literature that were used to establish

individual norms and values in Africa. “Folklore is the traditional, unofficial, non-

institutional part of culture,” according to Brunvand (1978:2-3). It includes all conventional

kinds of knowledge, understanding, values, attitudes, assumptions, feelings, and beliefs

passed down by word of mouth or by customary examples.” Folktales have thus served as a

means for African societies to examine specific values and morals that should be acceptable

in society for people of all ages in order to foster harmony and peace within the African

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social order. The oral type of literature was there before but due to the colonial system set by

the missionaries it was excluded in the African school syllabus.

As a result, African writers had to begin creating novels and other literature works in order to

reach other young people in large institutions such as schools in order to defend African

values and morals. Because of the written literary answers, the chapter will centre on

Achebe's novel, which is an Afrocentric novel created to speak to Africans looking at African

society and emphasizing on African values and morals. The novel does not depict African

ways orally, but it does so through writing. Showing that writers like Achebe are utilizing

written literature to argue for African values and standards in the same way that oral literature

did.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study assesses the significance of African values and standards as expressed by African

authors. In Africa, where the Eurocentric approach portrays it as a dark continent, as

described in Joseph Conrad's classic "Heart of Darkness" (1899). As a result, the project

intends to investigate African society through African novels and novelists' perspectives on

the significance of cultural values and norms. The goal of the study is to demonstrate the

relevance of values and morals as they were depicted in pre-colonial times.

African literature serves as a vehicle for the movement of cultural values and norms as

recorded in African history prior to the arrival of colonizers. Native languages in Africa, such

as Zimbabwe's Shona, have excelled in this role through oral literature. The textual analysis

research aims to find out how modern African English novels portray cultural values and

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norms. This is explored through a selection of novels by Chinua Achebe, Geoffrey Ndhlala,

and Charles Mungoshi.

The research explores analysis of the importance of cultural values and morals as depicted by

African novels.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study assesses the significance of African values and standards as expressed by African

authors. In Africa, where the Eurocentric approach portrays it as a dark continent, as

described in Joseph Conrads classic Heart of Darkness & quote; (1899). As a result, the

project intends to investigate African society through African novels and novelists;

perspectives on the significance of cultural values and norms. The goal of the study is to

demonstrate the relevance of values and morals as they were depicted in pre-colonial times.

African literature serves as a vehicle for the movement of cultural values and norms as

recorded in African history prior to the arrival of colonizers. Native languages in Africa, such

as Zimbabwe Shona, have excelled in this role through oral literature. The textual analysis

research aims to find out how modern African English novels portray cultural values and

norms. This is explored through a selection of novels by Chinua Achebe, Geoffrey Ndhlala,

and Charles Mungoshi. The research explores analysis of the importance of cultural values

and morals as depicted by African novels.

THEORETICAL FRAME WORK

The Afrocentric theoretical framework was used in the textual analysis. The theory is an

African-centric paradigm that focuses on African society and cultural dynamics. Kete Asante

created the hypothesis in the 1980s. Because the theory is centered on African people, it is the

ideal theory for promoting African cultural values and morality. Afrocentrism strives to

develop African experiences found in African culture (Furusa, 2002). That is to say, the idea
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aims to restore lost values and conventions while simultaneously rejecting practices that are

neither culturally or humanly acceptable in Africa. Returning to the textual analysis of

African novels, which focuses on how they reflect African and acquired cultural values and

norms.

The theory highlights the centrality of African people and their cultures while paying

particular attention to the actualisation of Africans and everything that tend to be African

even the production of African literatures involved (Tembo, 2012). According to Asante,

(1995: 1) emphasized that it acts as “…pan-African idea of change which provides the proper

education of children and the essence of an African cultural revival and survival.” Therefore,

the theory is the best in depicting African values and morals as it is made to take back the

Africans to their very African cultures which was neglected by the colonial masters.

To add to this, according to Weems (1975), "MolefeKete Asante provided us Afrocentricity,

to assist us relocate ourselves from the periphery of European experiences to the centre of our

own..." (2004:15) the theory honours African writing that restores, teaches, and promotes

African culture. It is therefore expected that in a school situation, literature selected for study

should be educating the African way of living in order to promote African values and morals.

This is going to be argued as the textual analysis analyse how African novels portray values

and morals basing on this theory.

IMPORTANCE OF AFROCENTRIC THEORY

The focus of the theory is on the use of language to restore social values and morals. Foreign

languages and their values, according to the theory's proponents, weakened African society's

social values and morals. The languages were designed to replace African values and morals

with European values and morals. Mawere, Mawere, Mawere, Mawere (2014). According to

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the argument, restoring language that supports African values and morals will aid in the

restoration of social values and norms.

Assisting with the research mandate to examine how African novels adhere to the

philosophy's requirements. Afrocentricity support inventive practice that leads to the renewal

of awareness. Making Furusa (2002) suggest that, language should be respected and that

language is not supposed to be abused by the users in literature and should be kept respected.

The theory is suggesting for the proper use of a language meaning that the writers should not

use vulgar language in their righting of African novels.

Therefore, aside from the respect of language the writer should also select words that inspire

African social life and their philosophy of life Furusa, (2002). The theory is in this manner

encouraging literature that focuses on the African people respectively their cultural values

and morals that they live to every day which are the African Ethics.

Afrocentricity scholars advise writers to use writing methods that are not difficult for readers

from various parts of the African community to understand the cultural concepts in the text.

Ngugi (1987) proposed that African literature should have simple plots that are clear but with

strong narrative sentences, practicality of social and physical features, and borrowing details

from oral narratives can be effective in communicating cultural values and morals.

TENETS OF THE AFROCENTRIC THEORY

The theory tries to bring the Africans who are alienated by the Eurocentric perspectives. The

theory centres the Africans and their cultural values and morals for Africans to be recognised

in the world. According to Asante’s (2007: 29-30) said that, “Afrocentricity seeks to address

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the world order by repositioning the African person and the African truth from the margins of

European thought, attitude and doctrines to a centred, therefore positively located place

within the realm of science and culture.” Making African literature to focus on the African

cultural perspective.” According to Mawere, (2014: 26) That is to say literature is supposed

to offer the real “African cultures and indigenous knowledge’s which were despised and

relegated as superstitious, primitive, irrational and unscientific.”

. The theory alert all Africans to stand against the white man colonialism, slavery and

exploitations on the African people Gudhlanga, (2016). The Africans in and out are supposed

to act and go against the oppression of African people and the novels should take a stand

against African oppression in all aspects. Also, Africans are to be alert of the polished

method to oppression which is globalisation that the West and Americas are take advantage

of to impose their values and culture on Africa. Asante, M (2007: 17) argues that “African

people must be viewed and view themselves as agents rather than spectators to historical

revolution and change”. That means they must be keen to participate in the rebuilding of their

history. Henceforth, Africans should stand on a pivotal role in the uprising for self-freedom.

Which can be made possible by African literature novels works.

. According to Asante, M. (2007: 48), "when the Afrocentric speaks of'all African

experiences,' this is not a phrase to be understood as indicating a patriarchal point of view...",

implying that the theory also considers women's rights.

The theory focuses on embracing all things African while opposing white-man attitudes on

Africans and their values and morality. According to Hudson-Weems (2004: xx), defending

the Afrocentric theory, it is supposed to support our own point of view: Which is our true

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mission, and it also allows for better monitoring of interpretations of our works in order to

keep them both authentic and accurate in order to maintain their originality in meaning and

value.

With reference to Furusa, (2002) suggest that, African scholars are fortified to create their

own ways of analysing literature unlike those of foreign cultures as most literature theories

occur and work within a framework of beliefs.

OBJECTIVES
1. To be able to provide a clear analysis regarding the importance of African cultural

values and norms depicted in African texts.

2. To be able to assess the importance of African cultural values and norms using the

pre-colonial text.

3. To be able to relate African cultural values and norms to text or literature works

written during colonialism.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. To what extent does African literature text depict the importance of African cultural

values and norms during the pre-colonial era in African communities?

2. To what extent is modern African literature depicting the importance of African

cultural values and norms.

3. To what extent do African literature text depict the importance of African cultural

values and norms during the colonial era?

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LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH
The research was done basing on three novels which are African novels by African writers.

The research for so that it may not be more exhaustive it focused on three novels.

DELIMITATIONS
The researcher focused on the perspective of only three novelists to explore the importance of

values and norms. The research is using three novels from all the novel each of the writers

wrote whereas, a number of novels from the writer depicts African values and norms.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH

As emphasized by Zimbabwean education that every novel that is to be studied in schools is

supposed to be morally backed. In the same manner, the study is analysing how novelists

depict cultural values and morals in their literary works.

The study is analysing importance of cultural values and morals which are the fundamentals

of the African society as with regard from the past experiences of the African people. Values

and norms in the past society formed the society and every one wished to leave a good legacy

for themselves because values were very important Gelfand, (1972).

LITERATURE REVIEW
The area of values and norms is not a new thing they happen to be a lot of researchers which

cover the same issues like this. It is for the researcher to also gain knowledge from such

works to gain more insight.

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A number of scholars describe values and norms as part of the African culture. Furusa (2002)

describe values and norms as African culture which was taught before the coming in of the

Europeans in Africa.

Chimuka (2001) makes a case for the African values and norms way of life, claiming that it

still has some principles worth promoting. Makaudze's master's thesis, “A Comparative

Analysis of Selected Cultural Values Celebrated Among African Societies,” examines

“Kunene's Emperor” “Shaka the Great,” “A Zulu Epic” and Niane'sSundiata: “Old Mali” also

discusses the suitable and intolerable African cultural aspects in the context of the selected

literature. His research provides an abstract basis for this study as it touches on values and

norms. However, his discussion of values and norms aspects focusses on literature from other

African societies. Hence this research discusses how the values and norms concept is

depicted important in African literature.

There have been a lot of consideration researches on oral literature as to the importance of

values and norms. This consist of song and dance, the poems by the Shona, the African well-

known proverbs, other African folktale and taboos. A number of authors such as, Makaudze,

Konyana and Mawere discuss oral literature as a central part in African traditional values and

norms. It carries the various notions of values and norms such as putting great value on a

person’s right to exist, perseverance, a large sense of communality, humility, and expression

of gratitude, hospitality, political behaviour and resolution. In Gudhlanga and

Makaudze(2012) recognise that oral literature matures young children into acceptable

citizens. Batidzirayi (2002) summon the role of poetry in conflict resolution.

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Values and norms has been functional in other arenas as a fundamental attitude or code of

conduct. This consist of social work, business, environment, knowhow and health (Konyana,

2013). This include Konyana (2013); Sigger, Polak and Pennik (2010) call for the application

of values and norms in business advertising. In Mawere (2013) he encourages people to

exercise values and norms in the treatment of the environment. Mugumbate and Nyanguru

(2013) argue that there are a lot of benefits from applying values and norms in social work.

Chiyadzwa and Dube (2014) show that social media has worn the cultural values and norms

of the African people. At the same time as all these scholars focus on the importance of

values and norms in different fields, they did not consider values and norms the specifically

in literature education such as in education as a whole.

The poststructuralist and constructivist theories have make it clear that our common ‘facts’

are old to an unrealised extent culturally constructed, the more the necessity of values that

provide individual and communal orientation has become felt. At the same time, the weight

of traditional values has become more challenged and the readiness of people to be directly

preached to is weakened significantly Grabes and Nünning (2009). highlighting that literature

somehow is an eye opener of values and morals in the society and thereby criticizing the

known values and morals within the people as the textual analysis is about to do to analysis

how the novels are depicting values and morals to see if the novel is criticizing or promoting

a certain values or moral in the society. In that way, the theories support literature novels to

be a vehicle of value and norms.

Literature and art have been the most favourable tools because of literature’s wide aesthetic

and the reader can listen making it easy to bring in moral and value lessons. So the novels

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make it easy for the indirect teaching of values and morals so as novelist they take advantage

of the ability of literature as a facilitator of cultural values and norms.

The novels basically use techniques and point of view at a very profound level to depict their

moral values in a society Müller, G. (2008). The point of view can be portrayed using an

omniscient narrator to the readers or the of view narration that make the reader to decode the

norms qualities and values. By this means, the novels are supposed to showcase the values

and morals based on the writer’s choice of techniques for the readers to be able to drive

values and morals from a story. Therefore, literary texts have different norms and values by

textual means and but can share literary literature techniques. That is to say literary works

sometimes spread socially sanctioned and unsanctioned repressed forms of life as well as

their supporting values and norms. Therefore, they can be viewed as “experiments in life”

Eliot and Nünning (2008). Literature even from its past experience have been well known for

making social order and stability as it acts to depict values and norms in most societies. As

the textual analysis is going to analysis the novels depiction of values and norms.

Novels in the post-colonial era normally looked on how values and norms can be restored

among the African people. They also focused on going against dictators and poor

governments in African leaders. Kehinde (2008) describes the present African literature as an

authentic tool for portraying the postcolonial poor governance in a number of African

nations. He feels post- colonial African literature falls into two different kinds that is, socio-

realistic narrative and neo-colonial narrative. The African society was more in the oppression

of its people by the neo-colonial rulers in Africa (Kehinde 2008).

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Chiwome (1984) and Mavesera (2009) observed post-colonial literature in Zimbabwe

portraying the problems of the social order. That is to say they were trying to correct the bad

things done by the colonial government such as the doing away with the African perspectives

such as African morals and values both religious, social and political. Thereby, the textual

analysis is focusing on how these novels balance the social values and morals using the

African novels.

The novels are used to mould and make great African leaders and people with great African

values and morals at work places. According to Kehinde (2004: 241) “…there is a recurrence

of undisguised bitterness against the black African rulers who have betrayed their nations;

this is reflected in the characterisation, tone and language of the novel.” Novels are used to

portray how the African people can live and correct the people who are losing cultural values

and morals by bring them back to acceptable cultural values and morals as portrayed by a

number of African novels. Showing that novels are acting as vital in the depiction of values

and norms.

Nebbou (2013) describe African writers’ especially West African writers as “citizens of two

worlds” which is to say they focusing on shaping the world for what is right. Thereby, the

textual analysis is going to focus on how the text or the novels are portraying the importance

of the African cultural values and norms.

The novels are used to mould and make great African leaders and people with great African

values and norms at work places. According to Kehinde (2004: 241) “…there is a recurrence

of undisguised bitterness against the black African rulers who have betrayed their nations;

this is reflected in the characterisation, tone and language of the novel.” Novels are used to

portray how the African people can live and correct the people who are losing cultural values

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and norms by bring them back to acceptable cultural values and morals as portrayed by a

number of African novels. Showing that novels are acting as vital in the depiction of values

and norms.

The African novels mainly focus on showing the good of both cultures which are African

cultures and borrowed cultures. African novels depict African values and borrowed values

and morals in a sense of eliminating and adding to what is not acted accordingly in African

societies such as feminism and womanist approach which was not important in African

literature. Nebbou (2013) describe African writers’ especially West African writers as

“citizens of two worlds” which is to say they focusing on shaping the world for what is right.

Thereby, the textual analysis is going to focus on how the text or the novels are portraying the

importance of African cultural values and norms.

Culture is a universally acknowledged concept. The phenomenal importance varies

depending on the society. What is acceptable in one society may be considered a heinous

crime in another. This viewpoint stems from the fact that, in terms of man, culture is an all-

encompassing concept. It includes every aspect of man's life and experiences. This may

explain why different scholars have come up with different definitions for the concept, but

they all revolve around the same meaning. We prefer Tylor (1958) and Malinowski (1931)

definitions for our purposes. Culture, according to Tylor (1958), is a complex whole that

includes knowledge, belief, art, morality, law, custom, and any other abilities and habits

acquired by man as a member of society (Tylor, 1958).

The majority of African cultural values and customs were passed down to the next

generations through oral techniques such as folklore, songs, and dance. Gudhlanga and

Makaudze (2012) agree that oral literature, such as folktales, helps young children grow into

14
responsible citizens" According to the authors, African folktales are "vehicles of moral

lessons for life" even though they portray the African people's philosophy "as lived and

celebrated in their society," and they see the folktale as a vehicle of socialisation, with "basic

initiation, instruction, lampooning, and satirizing of anti-social behavior among members of a

community" (ibid: 22292). The two think that the folktale taught children about their society's

cultural views and values. Mapara (2013), like Gudhlanga and Makaudze (2012), emphasizes

the importance of Shona folktales in the transmission of cultural values and standards to

children. He demonstrates this by using themes in some folktales which are major aspects of

cultural values and norms. Folktales carry the theme of humanness, teaching on respect for

the disadvantaged, looking after one’s family, refraining from shading innocent blood, acting

responsibly, avoidance of violence, hospitality, repentance, communalism, adhering to

taboos, child discipline, talent identification, the individual and the community, social values

and environmental education (Gudhlanga and Makaudze 2012; Mapara, 2013).

Africans have a variety of moral and cultural standards that are intended to control

interpersonal relationships and ensure the survival of the entire group. Africans have a set of

rules or norms that must be followed. These standards or norms are intended to promote

social cohesiveness and communal efficiency. They are intended to prevent community

members from revolting and harming the society's well-being. Every member of African

society follows a set of ideals that influence their actions. Values such as hospitality, virginity

before marriage, truth, and respect for the elderly, covenant keeping, hard work, and good

character could all be mentioned. Proverbs and maxims are utilized in African communities

to install social and moral ideals and control interpersonal relationships. Gora (2013)

expresses the importance of oral poetry in encapsulating African cultural values and

conventions. She considers oral poetry to be the foundation of social control, allowing people

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to live in peace. In Africa's pre-colonial society, oral means were utilized to demonstrate the

importance of values and customs. She describes how different varieties of oral poetry

represent many aspects of cultural values and conventions, such as environmental

stewardship, respect for elders and the deceased, patriotism, peace, togetherness, hard labour,

identity development, fidelity, and love. While the aforementioned researchers explore

various oral art forms as cultural preserves, this study looks at the significance of written

literature in text in portraying the relevance of cultural values and standards. Because it

contributed so much to African ways of life, African cultural values are depicted as vital in

ancient African society.

The value of African literature as reflected by African authors is the topic of this study.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research shall use qualitative analysis to collect data. Qualitative data analysis is a

method of gaining knowledge about how individuals make sense of and express life and life

experiences by deciphering the words, symbols, and/or imagery found in texts. Visual,

textual, and spoken information all provide hints as to how communication can be

deciphered. Messages are frequently interpreted as impacted by and reflecting wider societal

institutions. Messages, for example, reflect and/or question the historical, cultural, political,

and ethical settings in which they are delivered. As a result, the analyst must be aware of the

larger social processes that shape the signals in the text under analysis.

The Therefore, to add on to the above research use the qualitative analysis where the research

implores a textual analysis of the selected primary novels on the bases that they depict

African cultural values and norms. The text is analysed in the key structure of focusing on

16
their depiction of African cultural value and norms. The research is guarded with the strict

focus on African culture and African writers with their novels.

The analysis used is a textual examination of the major novels chosen for the analysis

because they portray African cultural values and norms that is a focus on how the text give

out an analysis on the way respect, patriotism, empathy, religion, liberty and national identity

is pivotal in the novels. this are the key structures used in the analysis of African cultural

values and norms. The research is closely guarded, with a particular concentration on the

importance of African culture as depicted by African novelists.

The project attempts to provide a textual analysis of three novels: Chinua Achebe's "Things

Fall Apart," Geoffrey Ndhlala's" Jikinya," and Charles Mungoshi's "Waiting for the Rain"

(1975). The emphasis is on how they use their works to reflect African beliefs and

conventions. In addition, relevant dissertations and theses will be examined in order to

produce an analysis from many angles.

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
Textual analysis is a method of gaining knowledge about how individuals make sense of and

express life and life experiences by deciphering the words, symbols, and/or imagery found in

texts. Visual, textual, and spoken information all provide hints as to how communication can

be deciphered. Messages are frequently interpreted as impacted by and reflecting wider

societal institutions. Messages, for example, reflect and/or question the historical, cultural,

political, and ethical settings in which they are delivered. As a result, the analyst must be

aware of the larger social processes that shape the signals in the text under analysis.

17
The research aims at providing a textual analysis the three novels which are “Things Fall

Apart” by Chinua Achebe (1958), “Jikinya” by Geoffrey Ndhlala (1979) and “Waiting for the

Rain” by Charles Mungoshi (1975). The focus is on the way they depict African values and

norms using their works. Also, relevant dissertations and theses will be analyzed to come up

with an analysis from different perspectives.

DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

Norms

They are rules or expectations that are socially enforced in the community Oxford (2011).

Values

These are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate an individual in a society

Mints, S. (2018)

Culture

A system of knowledge shared among a relative group of people Li and Karakowsky, (2001)

African Literature
These are the works prepared for African audiences made with Africans using African

languages and borrowed languages whether these works are oral or written Chinweizu,

(1980: 11).

Communism
It is a theory or system of social organization in which everything is owned by the

community and each person contributes.

Oral

It refers to spoken words it is something not written (Oxford).

18
Conclusion

The chapter focused on introducing the research background of the statement of the problem.

The aims or objectives of the research and questions are included. It also presented the

justification of the research problem related literature, theoretical frameworks limitations,

delimitations and research methodology. Then it finally presented the end of the chapter with

the, definition of key terms. And, it ended by giving the conclusion also known as the

summary

19
 CHAPTER 2

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS IN PRE-COLONIAL

AFRICAN SOCIETY AS DEPICTED IN THINGS FALL APART BY ACHEBE (1958)

HOW PRE-COLONIAL AFRICAN TEXTS DEPICTS AFRICAN CULURAL

VALUES AND NORMS: AN ANALYSIS OF THINGS FALL APART BY CHINUA
ACHEBE

INTRODUCTION
The previous chapter focused on introducing the textual analysis this chapter focus on the

analysis of the textual text “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe (1958). The chapter

clarifies on how literature the pre-colonial literature advocated for the importance of cultural

values and norms. The chapter will depict the importance of African values and norms by

providing an analysis of how pre-colonial Africa used their literature to depict cultural values

and norms, then the background of the novelist followed by the summary and the textual

analysis of the novel ending with the summary of the chapter.

Cultural values and norms have been describedSibanda (2014) as the guiding principles that

guard a society in a number of societies they define what is expected of an African in a

society. These values and norms are viewed as responsibility, hardworking, humble, devoted

to the family and the warfare of the society, a cooperative spirit everywhere and solidarity

and trustworthy.

In the mind set of Africans, they understand that literature is actively supposed to make the

social, historical, political and economic values of a culture, and responsible for the

20
reservation and passing of these standards from different ages (Amuta, 1989). This makes the

research more relevant as it views if these values and norms are being depicted in the novels.

African novels unlike other novels which are world novels tragedy normally happen on

people who are wronging the society and its ethics. In most countries values are taught using

literature be it as in art work or written works. Literature acts as a middle-point of world

construction Grabes and Nünning (2009). Literature is used to bring back cultural values and

morals by this means, it is making a peaceful world in some societies. However, even though

the actual world and the story or novel world which are thought, action and feeling of how

people live there day to day live whereas, the real world is not a story of thoughts and mental

feeling but real actions with actual or real affective results.

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

The author of the novel Chinua Achebe who happened to be Nigeria novelist, poet and a

modern African literature main figure. Him being born November 16 1930 in Ogidi Nigeria

he grew up in an Igbo town. He died in Boston U.S.A on March 21 2013. He is the fifth child

of Isaiah Okafor Achebe and Janet Iloegbunam Achebe. His father was a teacher in Christian

catechism for the Church Missionary Society. Nigeria was a British colony during Achebe's

early years. Achebe’s parents were educated and they occupied a privileged position in the

Nigerian power structure. His parents even named him Albert, after Prince Albert, the

husband of Queen Victoria of Great Britain but he chose the Igbo names in his works.

Achebe joined the Church Missionary Society's school where the primary language of

instruction for the first two years was Igbo. At around eight, he began learning English. His

comparatively late introduction to English allowed Achebe to develop a sense of cultural

21
pride and an appreciation of his native language values that may not have been cultivated had

he been raised and taught exclusively in English. Achebe's home nurtured his understanding

of both cultures: He read books in English in his father's library, and he spent hours listening

to his mother and sister tell traditional Igbo stories.

The growing nationalism in Nigeria was part of Achebe’s life. At the university, he let go his

English name "Albert" in favour of the Igbo name "Chinua," short for Chinualumogo. The

same as Igbo names in Things Fall Apart have literal meanings, Chinualumogo is translated

as "My spirit come fight for me."

Achebe letter after he acquired his degree in Bachelor of Arts he joined the Nigerian

broadcasting team and letter he raise as the cofounder of the Voice of Nigeria. Achebe

received many awards from academic and cultural institutions around the world. In 1959, he

won the Margaret Wong Memorial Prize for Things Fall Apart. Then after the publication of

its sequel, No Longer at Ease, he was awarded the Nigerian National Trophy for Literature.

His book of poetry, Christmas in Biafra, written during the Nigerian civil war, won the first

Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1972. In more than twenty universities in Great Britain,

Canada, Nigeria, and the United States have awarded Achebe honorary degrees.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS AS PORTRAYED IN

THINGS FALL APART
The novel drove its main themes at how the Igbo are very much concerned with farming,

inheritance, and respect for the many gods. The novelist by depicting themes and cultural

values and norms such as people who are hardworking, humble and peaceful shows that

African communities are well valued and normed. Depicting that in Africa values and norms

are very important in providing light to the continent.

22
The analysis will first focus on how inheritance is very important and portraying hard work

as a cultural value and norm in the given society by the writer depicts the value and norm as

an important cultural value and norm. The novel begins by showing that Okonkwo was born

without an inheritance and had to beg yum for him to grow and bring it after harvest his hard

work shows that the protagonist wanted to leave an inheritance for his children. Inheritance

are regarded as an important value and norm for one to be recognised in the society as some

as emphasized that African values and norms are there for the recognition of one as part of

the society Sibanda (2014).

In line with the above, the fact that Okonkwo’s father was unable to leave anything for the

family especially the son shows that he was not a well valued and normed person in the

society it emphasized that the father failed the norms and values regarding the social beliefs

that make it invalid it shows people who viewed values and norms as thing that are not of

much importance a as they values and norms are supposed to be regarded. The novelist

depicted him as someone who is not respected by the society as someone who is did not

archive and someone who will never be remembered for anything good in the society depicts

how the novelist view the values and norms as very important. Achebe in the text values and

norms as very important in one’s life in whatever they do in Africa showing a society which

follow certain norms and values to leave in peace and regard of each other’s work by

appreciating the next person and forget those who do not follow the path.

The protagonist by having the knowledge of African values and norms he is working towards

creating heritance to the children as evidenced by how he focusses on training his child

Nwoye the first son how to farm. In a virtue of training him to inherit the farm the father

23
would have left for him and move the family legacy and name to be rewarded as very valued

and normed in the way of the people with values and norms making the family selected for

the societies privileges because the ones who straggle to make a values and norms were

viewed as the list in the society. The African cultural values and norms are very important as

depicted in the paragraph marking that the African cultural values and norms are important to

the extent of giving a good or bad name to your family.

The next important African cultural value and norm is that of hard working as the Igbo

people are describe as very great farmers who were great with farming in their society. It is

important that one consider hard work as very important among the Africans. This happens to

be a very important value and norm as it labels you in the society as important and deceiving

to associate with greater people in the society.

The novel depicts Okonkwo’s father Unoka as a lazy person who could not maintain the

agrarian tradition of the Igbo people which is also condemned. The belief was that it was of

him carrying the “chi” a curse that even followed him to death Achebe (44). Due to that every

year he never had a good harvest in his farm he always had bad harvest. The depiction of him

being labelled lazy shows that the African society was more concerned with people who work

hard in all they are involved in. The theme of hard work is very important specially to avoid

labelling as the people do not make heroes of people who are lazy.

In line with the above, African literature always models the hardworking people who were

known as the role models in the society. Okonkwo’s father because of him being a lazy

person makes him a villain in the society a harm to the praises of the society. He made a story

which was very bad and uncomfortable for the next generation he was living taking the

24
confidence of the child or son concerning the family. Thereby, hard work is being depicted as

important in the society in the framing of social values which made the people regarded as

people in the society from the set cultural values and norms to define people Mukusha’s

(2013). The father was not regarded as a human being showing that African cultural values

and norms do not compensate with laziness but award hard work.

However, his son Okonkwo because he was hard working the novelist depicted him as an

example of the Igbo society. The fact that he was a great farmer who despite that the father

left him nothing he is working hard and managing to acquire a farm which the parents did not

left him shows that he was very hard working and focused African man it shows that unlike

the portrayal of the Eurocentric theory on African continent and people that depicts Africans

as heartless and a dark continent the novel depicts an Africa with a society that support good

social values and norms. A society that supports people who want to be great and fight for a

legacy.

Furthermore, he is also portrayed as a great wrestler of the nine villages making him a strong

man who happened to be an African hero and someone with values and a good moral

standing within the African community. Unlike, him Okonkwo’s father is depicted by the

novelist as someone who have failed the African society and a disgrace to the family because

of how the write depict him as a drunkard who do not care about the family and the children’s

pride in the society. Among the African people values very important in the building of your

moral standing such as even when you die they will still live on for you so did with Unoka

who died a death that no one will remember because of his values and norms which were not

in line with the community expectations as highlighted by the novelist there by values and

norms are being depicted as very important.

25
The third is an emphasis on the value and norm humility as Okonkwo defiles it as in the

cultural set up they also regarded very important that the person who defile the co-operation

between the spirits that is the many gods they worshiped was important to an extent that the

society would even exile a person that defiles such important cultural guard. The novel

depicted a theme of equality among Africans that the set values and norms are never

supposed to be violated no matter the title of the person. The protagonist who was a hero and

a leader of his community is turned into a villain by the behaviour he depicted during the

peace day that he violates by acting violent towards the woman who he beat. In that way, he

is punished and he brought a curse on his people and the society leading to his decline and

fall. The novel portrays the African cultural value and norms as the key to people’s survival

and things that makes Africans to be Africans. In an African society for one to be regarded as

a human being the person is supposed to have cultural values and norms which are

generosity, humanity, honest, dignity, love, and hard work (Chitumba, 2011). The protagonist

provided to be very prideful and above every one violating the value and norm of humility.

In the same vein of analysis, the novelist depicts another act of pride by showcasing the

protagonist disrespecting Osogo because he had no title that the whole meeting had to stop

going against Okonkwo despite him being a king. He is in the same manner described by an

old man who used the proverb that say, “Looking at a king’s mouth one would think he never

sucked at his mother’s breast” (Achebe 1958, p26). With such a mythical description defines

Okonkwo lost his values and norms as king or a leader of the society. The king a one who is

supposed to be the role model of cultural values and norms he was supposed to depict

humility and show that he also gives attention to the lest as someone who is said to be sitting

at a stage of a great person who can make the society a well valued and normed society.

26
CONCLUSION
The chapter discussed the importance of African cultural values and norms. The chapter

showed how the pre-colonial society depicted the importance of African cultural values and

norms. African values and norms such as hard work among the African people as a key to

survival and also how the chapter emphasized on fairness among Africa societies. The novel

Things fall apart depicted how pre-colonial society view African society at that time

highlighted the importance of cultural values and norms as depicted by the above account.

27
 CHAPTER 3

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS AS DEPICTED IN

JIKINYA BY GEOFFREY NDHLALA (1979)

INTRODUCTION
The previous chapter focused on the importance of African cultural values and norms in the

pre-colonial African community as depicted by African novels using Things fall apart. This

chapter is focusing on the portrayal of the importance of cultural values and norms depicted

in Jikinya.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS DEPICTED IN

JIKINYA
The text by Ndhlala is focusing on the depiction of various cultural values and norms as

depicted by different African society. The text which is centred on an African family is

depicting the importance of African values and norms in and out the family setup. These

include Africans as people who are welcoming, hardworking and also people who are brave

as going to be depicted as the chapter unfolds. The novel is acting towards showing the

world how important the African cultural values and norms are. And, the chapter works on

analysing how text show the life style of the African people as a respond to the view of the

European texts on the portrayal of the African society.

"Jikinya" is a narrative about people from many racial, ethnic, and cultural origins clashing.

Ndhlala debunks statements made by European anthropology, promoted by missionaries,

explorers, and hunters, among others, that Africa is a dark continent populated by backward,

barbarous, and savage people, in his text “Jikinya”

28
'Take it as it is, Captain,' he argued. That is not an appropriate method of requesting a respon.

'The man is tired and hungry,' says the narrator'An honest man who loved peace and goodne,'

the soldier is characterized. True, he did point his gun at other guys in the past, but he did so

because he understood it was either the other man's neck or his own. He was certain that the

was no need for superfluous demonstration in this situation. He had been in agony as he watc

hed the events unfold' (p.11).

This phrase is showing the African cultural values and norms how they are important within

the making of the African people as they grow with a respecting attitude towards each other

in a sense of unity, love and honest to each other.

According to Garusa, (2019) Ndhala writes on black people's love, kindness, generosity, and

tolerance amongst themselves, as well as towards any remaining beings, in order to assert

their humanity. For example, when Chedu sees the tragedy that has befallen the Wilsons'

homestead, we see an exposition of human love and feeling for other humans. Chedu is

haunted by the idea of people killing each other because people die of diseases where he

comes from (p.6). “The man's face was clouded with melancholy and uncertainty, and he

proceeded slowly as he studied the ruins” (p.5). This signifies that human life is sacred where

he originates from (Ngara village). It is highly valued by them. Chedu's attitude and

behaviour can be compared to John's later chapters, when he sends militants to destroy the

village that treated Jikinya, a white girl, as if she were one of their own. Chedu chose to adopt

Jikinya as his own daughter, rescuing her from the Wilsons' ravaged and ruined home.

Showing a society which respects African cultural values and norms among the people.

29
The act done by the back of not neglecting an individual due to the tone of their skin shows

that the black race is greatly following cultural values and norms as emphasized by how he

took the Garusa (2019). Chedu decides to bring baby Jikinya home after spotting the warriors

who may have wreaked devastation at the Wilsons' home. Chedu's family is full of joy,

happiness, division of labour, and understanding. (p.12) That is confirmed by the warm

reception he received at his home after arriving unusually late. "His wife notices him as he

enters the yard," the third person narrator says, "and she instantly puts the pestle on the

ground and runs up to him with open arms.""Chedu!" screamed the wife. What were you

doing? I've been looking for you all night yesterday and all day today!" (p.13). Tsitsi's

behaviour is an early indicator of her personality. Garusa (2019) expressed that she was a

thoughtful and gorgeous wife to her husband and family a depiction of African cultural

values and norms in the text.

Moreover, children are children despite the colour tone of the person they are still people

highlighting on the very vital issue of how African individual are considerate and concerned

about others. As, emphasized by Chedu when she expressed, "She is not an albino," "She is

from a tribe with skin that is lighter than ours and hair that is long and straight and much

lighter than ours" (p.14). showing that despite the tribe and colour humanity saves all as portrayed

by the novel Ndlala (1979). "Her eyes are blue like the sky," he said later at the meeting

location. Her hair is gold or dawn in colour. Her skin is paler than ours, to begin with. She's

unlike anything I've ever seen, but she's no different than the rest of us. She's just liked any

other infant you've ever met. She wails and takes milk like any other baby, and she acts like

any other baby. I couldn't tell the difference between her and my own child" (p.22). Even

when Chedu encounters someone of a different species for the first time, he is intelligent

30
enough to see their humanity. All that separated Jikinya and her parents as fellow humans

was a variation in skin tone and other physical traits like hair texture.

In his narration or ruling after the falling voices opposing the concept of keeping the baby,

the older Tichafa expresses the same recognition as a human being. The story of Tichafa and

the eventual verdict portray a community that values the sanctity of human life regardless of

physical circumstances or attitude. In comparison, Mr. Wilson and other Europeans were

complicit in the enslavement and colonization of other peoples. This contrasts with Mr.

Wilson and other Europeans who used race as a scapegoat for the enslavement and

colonization of other peoples. People of darker races were seen as sub humans only fit for

labour and their so-called "civilization."

Tsitsi's brave act of breastfeeding baby Jikinya alongside her own child confirms her own

recognition of Jikinya as a human being, regardless of her personal doubts about whether or

not it is good.

The novelist introducesus to a family and community centred on strong ideals of

communication, respect, and dialogue, regardless of gender, class, or age. This is revealed by

Tsitsi, who is concerned that they should consult the community elders before feeding the

baby. She is concerned that they may have missed a significant community value or custom.

Chedu, on the other hand, is quick to remind her of the value of human life over customs. "It's

the best we can do, Tsitsi,"(p.20) he says. We can't afford to squander any more time because

the little one is hungry. Later, I'll explain to the elders. They understand that saving a life is

preferable to allowing it to be lost while you ask questions. We'll be forgiven. Don't be

31
scared.The passage gives interesting insights into the constitutional make-up of the Ngara

people; one that gives primacy on life over everything else. The society is focused on the life

of the people which is a cultural values and norm depicting the values in Africa as much

important.

Chedu and Tsitsi's relationship is remarkable. It is built on the principles of communication,

mutual respect, and mutual understanding. Chedu isn't lording it over Tsitsi, but they're

chatting as equals with varying roles and responsibilities. This is a symbol of the ideal family

that many people aspire for in today'sthe writer focused on the use of language or diction or

restore cultural values and norms Afrocentric (1980).

Tsitsi and Chedu decided to adopt Jikinya as their own child before speaking with the

community elders. All they have to do now is wait for the elders' verdict. Tsistsi is the voice

of reason who warns against being too happy in front of the elders. (p28) You want to keep

the child, and I want to keep the child as well," she warns her husband, "but the elders may

decide against us."(p.34) Who knows, they might even opt to kill the child because she is

seen as a bad omen by others. Let us enjoy the concept, but keep in mind that disappointment

is a possibility."

The imagery of “babies sleeping side by side" and "both sucking happily from the same

source"(p.17) suggests the possibility of racial harmony. In a world where races are coming

together, the black guy may help to foster this transition in how people see each other. Race,

as Ndhlala demonstrates, is a societal construct that obstructs harmonious coexistence and

should be abolished.

32
The location of the meeting venue is also crucial near the village's heart. It has its origins in

Shona folklore, which emphasizes unity and togetherness. The central fire becomes a uniting

symbol that can be found in any household or dwelling. Fire is depicted as a unifying element

between Chedu and Tsitsi's flaming love (p.20). The depiction shows how African values and

norms are very important.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion the depiction of the cultural values and norms is being depicted in the text by a

lot of acts being exhibited in the text. The narrators use of various techniques ended up

depicting the cultural values and norms in the African setup. The author managed to portray

how the Africans are mistreated by the non-African writers who write African as an evil and

barbaric continent it is a text that defend the values and norms in the African contextual way.

33
 CHAPTER 4

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS DEPICTED IN

“WAITING FOR THE RAIN” BY CHARLES MUNGOSHI (1975)?

INTRODUCTION
The chapter focuses on the portrayal of African values and norm during colonial era as

greatly depicted in Waiting for the rain. Waiting for the rain which is a text that was prevailed

during the colonial era to highlight how African families and communities lived. The novel

acts towards defending the importance of African cultural values and norms. The chapter

provides an analysis of the text showing how texts depict African cultural values and norms

as very important in the sharing of good African individuals. The chapter will also provide a

well- structured summon of the whole textual view of the chapter.

Without a question, colonialism influenced both beneficial and harmful changes in Africa.

More crucially, colonial rule was an imposition that dealt a fatal blow to African culture, with

the introduction of values like rugged individualism, corruption, capitalism, and oppression

as a result. The customary machinery of moral uniformity and practice was disturbed by

colonial control.

Moral inculcation was tainted, resulting in the abandoning of traditional norms and values as

a result of a systematic depersonalization of the African of its values. Instead of the prized

communalism that marked African life, for example, a new societal construct has emerged

that alienates and undermines the organic fabric of the spirit of we-feeling.

34
THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS DEPICTED IN
COLONIAL AFRICA “WAITING FOR THE RAIN”
“Waiting for the Rain” is set in 1960s Zimbabwe, but it was written in 1975, during the

Second Chimurenga. It revolves around the Mandengu family in its entirety. Uncle Kuruku

and Tongoona, whose spouses are Rhoda and Raina, are the children of the Old Man and his

wife Old Japi. Tongoona and Raina's family receives a lot of attention in the book. In

Tongoona and Raina's family, Garabha, the wild one, is the firstborn, while Lucifer is the

second. The families in the colonial African societies maintained a united, peaceful, and

welcoming family status in African communities.

In commencement, colonialism was deeply entrenched and motivated by notions about White

supremacy, and the colonialist posed as a super being to the African. This was due to the

psychological trauma that the Africans had experienced as a result of the colonizers' physical

and psychological violence. After being degraded and oppressed, most Africans lost all

feeling of self-worth and self-belief, and saw the Whiteman as a demigod who deserved to be

revered and admired (Fanon, 1968). By, showing that the colonial era African families lived

under a very fearful society and still strive to bring up the well standard family setup.

In line with the above, the seer Matandangoma's divining of the 'wronged ancestor' in

Mungoshi's Waiting for the Rain demonstrates the fate of the living (pp.138- 42). It is also a

strong deity in and of itself, the creator of life and the proprietor of everything on its surface.

To exist among the people, a vindictive deity must live in accordance with its laws, because

when insulted, "the Earth takes back its own" (p. 18). As a result, the earth/land is the driving

force behind cultural continuity. The African cultural values and norms where made

important by how the super being was much involved and was a part as it reward the good

and the bad.

35
The text is depicting how when one archives the whole community celebrate and appreciate

success. This is being depicted as the lucifer successes above the rest of the members by

going to further school which was a mark of a successful person. The theme of appreciation

and unity is being depicted as very important among the African community as everyone is

enjoying the success of the Mandengu family. The tale revolves around Lucifer's return

home. The family holds Lucifer in high regard because he attends a local high school. The

excitement builds as word spreads among Lucifer's extended family that a white acquaintance

has offered him the opportunity to study art overseas.

Furthermore, the theme of unity among the black individuals is being depicted in the novel.

Lucifer is returning home to say his goodbyes to his family. Mungoshi uses the chance to

gradually show the harmful and dividing impact of colonialism on the African way of life as

the family meets, reflects, and gossips about Lucifer's arrival from town and final departure

overseas. The portrayal of unity among the African individual reflect that the cultural values

and norms are very importance in the society as the family gather to reflect on the issue of

Lucifer as depicted above.

The novelist is depicting bravery which is a cultural value and norm among the people. This

value and norm is being depicted in the text by the story of the 1 stchimurenga whereby, the

Oldman is taking charge and is involved. The Old Man is well into his senior years, having

fought against settlers in the First Chimurenga in 1896. There is little doubt that the Old Man

fears the white man because of the savage quelling of the revolt by the use of greater

firepower by the whites. The nightmare he has, particularly the flapping metal bird that

torments him in the violent and frightening dream, could be a mirror of the impact of that first

36
and unforgiving meeting with whites. The nightmare could also be interpreted as a

dramatization of colonialism's whole narrative, in which Africans were subjected to severe

and ongoing anguish.

The tolerance of each other which is being depicted in the novel by the novelist shows how

important African values and norms are within the African community. John, Lucifer's cousin

and Uncle Kuruku's son, have been invited to Lucifer's homecoming. John approaches the

Old Man as a show of respect. It's worth noting that, despite the fact that the Old Man

pretends not to like John, he has a long conversation with him about national matters.

In the same vein, Mungoshi paints John in a bad light to avoid portraying him as a role

model; creating a model nationalist with revolutionary ideas would enrage colonial authority.

Following some political discussions with the Old Man, John mutters something about a

"defeatist mind-set" (Mungoshi, 1975:33). In terms of Mungoshi's style, this is pretty telling.

For starters, it is not mentioned who is the one with the defeatist mentality, and it is merely a

‘murmur.' It's merely a murmur, but it's a loud murmur in terms of Mungoshi's objective to

demonstrate why Africans are unwilling to fight. The tolerance of the two to each other

shows that the African values and norms are very important in the grooming and livelihood

of the black person.

The novelist is depicting how forgiveness is also important among the African people and the

society. Indeed, John is correct in revealing the Old Man's fear, which has nearly paralyzed

him to the point of making him appear insane in his nostalgia for a bygone era. The Old Man

has become so fixated on drumming that he has become unconsciously environmentally

insensitive. He's engrossed in the task of felling trees to make drums because he's already

felled nearly every large tree he can find here, and the shed is overflowing with logs, half-

37
finished drums, mortars, and other miscellaneous items. (Mungoshi, 1975:49). Africans view

that the society cultural values and norms are very important and nurture the Africans.

The loving and protecting of each other during hard times is an act of showing how African

are not barbaric but very concerned of each other. The Old Man is also enigmatic to the

reader, shedding his defeatism to warn John of the risks posed by complicit purveyors among

the Africans who would always wish to sell the cause out. In the inaugural Chimurenga, there

were indeed sell-outs. Indeed, if the effort is to succeed, John and his colleagues will have to

deal with spies and sell-outs. Mungoshi appears to be underlining the importance of unity in

the battle against colonialism in a subtle way. The paragraph shows how the society view the

cultural value and norms very important.

The novelist in the vein of depicting Africans not as savages and barbaric is being depicted

by how the society is not applauding John’s relationship. It's also worth noting that, despite

his revolutionary beliefs, John's own life is shrouded in secrecy. He's accused of selling out

his brother to the cops, and he's also accused of having an adulterous relationship with his

wife. Despite the fact that these allegations are unsubstantiated, they are enough to make John

appear 'harmless' in the eyes of colonial authorities. Such claims do not, however, disqualify

John as a nationalist. In reality, Mungoshi appears to be stating that nationalism is for

everyone; anybody, regardless of their flaws, can and should join the anti-colonial battle. The

fact that John is condemned it show that Africans are well cultured and that cultural values

are important.

The portrayal of hope as a qualified cultural value and norm as depicted by the writer's subtle

mobilization campaign can be seen in the exchange between the Old Man and John. The Old

38
Man's sarcastic observation that "Those white men brought everything else but the medicine

to cure old age and death" is a subtle deconstruction of the White man's myth of invincibility

(Mungoshi, 1975:32). This is designed to demonstrate that white people are mortal beings

who can be defeated. Even the Old Man thinks of the First Chimurenga: “Those of them we

killed, died, and those who survived, like Mataka who owns that big farm up there grew old

and died” (Mungoshi, 1975:32).

The portal of two generations in the text with different perspectives towards how to live a

well-mannered life. The first generation is that which belief in the African ways as the best

for African people. The generation is mostly being emphasised by the creation of the

character like the Oldman, his wife Japi and Old Mandisa these believe in an African society

which is very ancient.

The novelist depicts Japi one who is supposed to be a co-pillar of the African ways but she is

enjoying the western ways of life by enjoying sweets. This is a significant of how the

Africans change and follow a opposite way of life to Africans. The act emphasizes on the

failed aspect of the African people to maintain and play their own drum.

The Oldman gave an emphasize on the fact that African should not play the enemies

drum(p15). This explains that Africans are more falling for the wrong way of life and are not

concerned with what makes them successful in maintain the important cultural values and

norms. The text by emphasizing on the importance of drums to Africans it is an emphasize on

the importance of African ways and living in the colonial era as people with a drum bit were

dancing to more and confusing drum bits.

39
The other generation is that which is the young generation with a lot of cultural dilutions and

mixed beliefs with people like Lucifer and other young people in the text depicted as young

people. The text is showing how these people are all striving towards making the society. The

novelist is showing how the individuals are all shared by their beliefs. That is with Lucifer

the western ways are the very best but Garaba though received a western education but still

believe in the power of the old culture and the significance of the drums in the African way of

life. Cultural background where the black people are divided to believe different ideas.

The generation of the Oldman works towards teaching the new generation towards the

importance of the African way of life. As, the Oldman is depicted as one who is educating

John on the way of life to know being African should be more a fight against beliefs go

against the African way. The Oldman is against the young John to act like a white man dog

like how the Oldman described Kwari as someone being used by the white man (p. 116-117).

The depiction of the two brothers by the novelist shows that the society was divided by the

portrayal of Lucifer and Garaba. The two are unable to interact in a way that they can

culturally understand each other. The two are highlighting how the society is in cultural

confusion showing how African values and norms are very important as they make the

African people focus on a one standard to create a good society.

Garabha embodies the values of the previous generation (old generation) in many ways. He is

a renegade from school who believes Western practices to be antagonistic to his basic nature,

as seen by his allergy to tea. Despite rebuffs, his concern for the dissolving house and family

is so strong that he makes clumsy attempts to convey his devotion for his contemptuous

40
brother. In the same manner, Garabha’s brother Lucifer was losing the African way and

inheriting the colonial white man values and norms.

Garabha is a Shona musician, composer, and singer, as well as a great drummer. As a result,

he is a literal embodiment of the Old Man's philosophy: March to the beat of your own drum

(p.85). His painting is based on the traditional African aesthetic of the artist as an important

part of his culture, representing the complete life of the community and producing communal

experiences through his art. This depicted that the society in Africa is controlled by cultural

values and norms in African families the way the values and norms are passed to all

generations.

CONCLUSION
The chapter analysed the text “Waiting for the rain” showing how the text managed to depict

the importance of cultural values and norms within the African society. The text show how

the society worked hard to maintain African ways of life such as portraying how people are

supposed to work towards focus on African culture to define life to have an African person

with good leadership skills such as, keeping one self and not diverting. The chapter showed

how the African values and norms are very important and how hard the society lived under a

new society code and that old one. The chapter emphasized how African values and norms

are by showing people kept each other even during the hard-colonial time showing how the

value and norm of unity is very vital and strong among the African people.

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 CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
The chapter focuses much on the conclusion of the whole textual analysis coming up with

summary of the whole research. The chapter focuses on providing the way in which the three

novels share certain themes, narrative styles and atmospheres in a bid to depicts the African

standard of life by highlighting how African literature is affected by African cultural values

and norms as the textual analysis is focusing on the importance of African values and norms

depicted by African novelists.

CONCLUSION
The texts are all centred on the African way of life looking at how Africans managed to

survive within their African context of life. The portrayal of how Africans are hardworking,

welcoming, brave and patient are themes is which are mostly appearing as most of the major

a cultural values and norms as major themes amongst a number of African societies as

depicted by the various novelists of the three texts as the textual analysis was progressing

these themes are being depicted.

The texts show how Africans are hardworking and very cultured people by how the novelists

depicts their three types of communities but still sharing the same themes the same standards

of living. In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by the way in which the Igbo community is

contributing towards one of them who is Okonkwo who the community see how hardworking

he is and do not mind giving him plants despite him not affording they gave him what to

plant and take it back after he have harvested. The portrayal of people in a society giving out

42
such love it shows that the African community is a community that is built within love that

shows love to be one of the greatest thing in the society. The depiction of hardworking

individual and a united community shows that African writers highlight how important

African cultural values and norms are very important.

The same is being depicted in the text “Jikinya” the text depict how the community accept the

young child who have been adopted despite that the child was of another race they see her as

one of their own. This theme is also being depicted by how Tsitsi is even taking care of the

child as her own in the way she was breast feeding the child juxtaposed to the child with her

own child which is a depiction of how Africans are very much loving of the others even those

who are not even of the same race with them.

The same theme of love is being furthered by how the Chedu took in a stranger baby who he

saw needed his love and care into his life. “The man's face was clouded with melancholy and

uncertainty, and he proceeded slowly as he studied the ruins” (p.5). this depiction shows how

attached to love Chedu was over the protagonist depict the tone of the skin he managed to fell

love of mankind and strengthen his hand to help.

The act of love as a cultural value and norm is being depicted in the text “Waiting for the

Rain” which is showing the way in which the Africans are also lovable towards each other.

The depiction of how the family is happy of another’s success as portrayed by how the

Mandengu family is happy as one of their own is going through a successful road which they

believed would make one more supreme the success of the child for filling his educational

journey show that the community is a happy community which is supportive of each other on

any journey one decides to take. Thereby, the depicting how Africans are supportive of one

43
another opposing the Eurocentric approach which portray Africa as an evil and dark

continent.

The portray of unity among Africans shows that Africans are motivated by unity and strive to

work together in a number of situations as depicted by the text “Things fall apart” by the way

the Igbo people are all uniting to banish Okonkwo after the abominable act of fighting the

wife during an important occasion which is the peace ceremony thereby showing how the

community is able to unity and remove any tyrant in the community.

The same theme is being depict the novel “Waiting for the rain” the text is showing how

John’s act of being a sell-out is a condemned among the African people. The way John is

being depicted and condemned it show that African values and norms are important and that

one who violate a cultural value and norm is not recognized in the community. John is

viewed as a weaker person and one who cannot fit in a proper African society. The fact that

unity is being the reason for one to qualify for such a reward it shows that unity is a central

value and norm in Africa and depict these cultural values and norms important.

However, the same three texts are “Jikinya” by Geoffrey Ndhlala (1979), “Things Fall Apart”

by Chinua Achebe (1958) and “Waiting for The Rain” by Charles Mungoshi (1975). They are

depicting the same base of analysis which are cultural values and norms they are different in

the period and time making some of themes face cultural dynamics due to social change. That

is to say the text “Things Fall Apart” is a text that is focusing on a cultural value and norm of

hard work as one of the greatest themes in the pre-colonial era in Africa. The theme of hard

works is being awarded in the whole text. As, the father of the protagonist is not hard

44
working and to show how important African values and norms are he is leaving nothing but

shame on earth as his legacy which is a bad thing in the African community.

Whereas, the text “Jikinya” is centred on the African cultural values and norm of love. The

text is more concerned by how the community is loving of one other and how the community

is focused on helping each other even in the hard time due to the love the people have

towards each other.

But, the third text “Waiting for the rain” is centred on the theme of unity as it is taking its

ideas for the colonial African community. The novel is very much concerned by how the

people are strongly working towards showing each other how disunity is a serious offence

and not allowed among the people. The way the novelist portrays John as a villain of the

community because of how he sell-out his people. And, the depiction of how the Africans are

ready for the Chimurenga as they united to be involved in the first Chimurenga.

The textual analysis worked towards helping the researcher come up with an analysis of the

African community’s standards of life as depicted by the African novelists in their works.

The textual analysis managed to give an account on how Africans within their communities

are working towards having a society that is accessible and acceptable to the world and the

novelists successful highlighted that by how the three texts shared most of the values and

norms as something in common.

The researcher found out that the various text which were analysed which are “Things Fall

Apart” by Chinua Achebe (1958) and “Waiting for The Rain” by Charles Mungoshi (1975).

The novelist is altogether depicting importance of cultural values and norms such as how it is

important for an individual to unity, respect, equality, honesty as depicted by the novelist in

45
the above textual analysis. Therefore, portraying that the African society is a society which

excite even before the coming of the white people and their philosophy on Africa as a dark

continent are not true to a greater extent.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The researcher suggested the next recommendations:

1. Future research can investigate how oral culture can also be evaluated to determine

the importance of African standards of life.

2. The research looked at the importance of African cultural values and norms through

written literature and found out that the texts are very effectively used to depict

cultural values and norms. However, future research can select from African drama

and poetry to assess the extent to which written literature as a whole can be used to

show the importance of cultural values and norms.

46
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