The Repressive State in African Literature: A Philosophical Reading

Abstract

The evolution of the African state is complicated and conventional political analyses are inadequate to understand it. The issue of the repressive character of the African state, for instance, lies outside mainstream socio-political ideological discourse. As such, understanding the oppressive tendencies of the state—their roots, growth, practice, and persistence—requires, above all, an imaginary account. The chapter explores the nexus between African literature and philosophy and the possibilities they hold in promoting African self-understanding. The socio-political realities in South Africa, perhaps, best capture the far-reaching effect of a repressive regime. A post-conflict environment like South Africa cannot be characterized as one in which life automatically returns to normal. In this chapter, Okolo grounds discussion on the repressive state on Peter Abrahams’ Tell Freedom as well as other literary works by African writers. The choice of Tell Freedom is based on its continued relevance in any attempt at understanding the character of the socio-political realities in South Africa.