African Intellectuals and the Re-Making of Africa: A Post-Colonial Reading of Ayi Kwei Armah’s Fiction

Abstract

Using post-colonial theory, this work has revealed that there are two types of intellectuals in the light of Ayi Kwei Armah’s fiction. The first type of intellectuals consists of these intellectuals simply referred to as parvenus academic. These intellectuals have nothing to offer. They are just concerned with their own interests bringing nothing as a contribution to their people as well as their society. Another type of intellectual defined by Armah is those who pave the way for development. These intellectuals are ready to sacrifice their life for the liberation of their people. They are deemed as torchbearers and work for the welfare of their counterparts. Armah in this perspective invites all Africans to put the common interest at the center of their preoccupations. Armah’s fiction is a call to African intellectuals, sources of corruption, to truly embark on the path of good governance. The methods which have been used are documentary research and data collection from the corpus texts and other internet resources. The study has concluded that there is a need for the redefinition of African intellectuals in terms of their role and responsibility in the safeguarding of the whole continent. For the betterment of the whole continent, it is important to sensitize new political leaders to work for the interests of their counterparts. This new political orientation will make it possible to reduce drastically corruption at all levels of society and move towards sustainable development