COMPOUND EFFECT AS AN EMERGING TREND IN POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN LITERATURE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WOMAN AT POINT ZERO AND LES SOLEILS DES INDÉPENDANCES

Abstract

The dynamic nature of literature and society has consistently impelled man in the search of new vistas of opportunities to further the cause of humanity. It is therefore no gain saying that the African literature though from its beginning was focused on the criticism of colonization and its structures, but the postcolonial literature is strongly characterized by some important innovations. The narrative moved from colonial heritage to self-constructed heritage, from hetero-criticism to auto-criticism. The concept of “Compound Effect” which is the effect of the build-up of multiple actions, as postulated by Darren Hardy is one of the emerging trends that has been consciously or unconsciously demonstrated in the literary universe of some postcolonial African writers. A critical analysis of Nawal El Saadawi‟s Woman at Point Zero and Ahmadou Kourouma's Les Soleils des indépendances will convince you. This study sets out to analysis the representation of the phenomena of “Compound Effect” in the works of El Saadawi (Woman at Point Zero) and Kourouma (Les Soleils des indépendances) using a duo literary approach that combines postcolonial and psychanalysis theories. The research therefore exposes varied subtle forms of violence meted on both El Saadawi and Kourouma‟s feminine characters. The study concludes that, multiple insignificant actions could make or mare someone‟s destiny.