KMT: In the House of Life by Ayi Kwei Armah

[Simba Nerevu]

From the publisher:
A revelation, in fiction based on historical research, of hidden linkages between the pharaonic scribes of ancient Africa, the oral traditionalists of the feudal empires, and the scholars of contemporary Africa.

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

Originally Posted by Simba Nerevu

From the publisher:
A revelation, in fiction based on historical research, of hidden linkages between the pharaonic scribes of ancient Africa, the oral traditionalists of the feudal empires, and the scholars of contemporary Africa.

Meda ase for this. What were your reflections on this text?

Obadele

[Simba Nerevu]

I think that this book did a good job of narrating the malaise that was induced by colonial education in Afrika. It also provided an interesting discussion of the formation of Kmt as a nation-state and the concentration of power in the hands of the society's military, religious, and political elites. It also captures the circumstances and nature of the successive waves of out-migrations from the Nile Valley that contributed to the growth of various societies in West Afrika.

Did you have any thoughts on this work?

SN

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

I thought that Armah was much more out front in terms of his critiques of contemporary problems plaguing society such as the elites and heirarchy. As opposed to craftily putting his thoughts in the mouths of protagonists such as Isanusi, he just outright has entire sections of the text which is clearly just him talking.

Some said they were disappointed in this work after Two Thousand Seasons and The Healers. To me, he stayed true to the cause and will go down in history as a seer, a hearer and an utterer who attempted to get us to see hear and utter through means of inspiration.

/me