Theme - Colonialism

• Kambili lives in postcolonial Nigeria, and the influences and aftermath of British colonialism play a large role in her life.

• 

  Colonial Nigerian Flag

  British influence in Nigeria began in 1807 and lasted until the country gained independence in 1960
• This included the slave trade as well as colonization - under the pretense of spreading Christianity and civilization, the British marched to the African continent in order to control resources.
• The country remained unstable for decades after, suffering a civil war and multiple revolutions resulting in corrupt leaders.
• It did not have a real, stable democracy until 1999

  

  Modern Nigerian Flag

• Consider how Kambili’s life may act as an allegory for colonialism and postcolonial instability
• What roles do the family members play?
• Think about the story of Jaja of Opobo - how does that manifest itself within the family?
• Aunty Ifeoma calls Papa “too much of a Colonial product” because of his obsessive catholicism and desire to conform to British ideals
• Could his idolization of colonialism impact his treatment of his family members?
• Could it maybe influence the role he plays in the colonial allegory?
• Is his view of religion similar to that of colonialist missionaries?
• Consider how Papa views the missionaries he lived with, as opposed to how his father views them.

Missionaries in Colonial Nigeria

PBS Timeline of Nigeria - slightly outdated, but covers up until the publishing of Purple Hibiscus

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