Disagreement in Post-Colonial Conflicts: between Repression and Resistance in Osiris Rising and KMT: in The House of Life

Abstract

This article examines the disagreement between individuals that resort to physical repression and the activists that wage moral resistance, in postcolonial conflicts which in effect, turn the protagonists’ relationship into permanent encounters in Osiris Rising and KMT: in The House of Life by Ayi Kwei Armah. It also assesses the complex issues of conflicts and liberation movements’ strategies in independent Ghana that come up with encounters of different natures. Besides, the rise of capitalists’ theories and socio-cultural and political changes place material ownership and egocentrism at the centre of society’s concerns. Yet, it argues that the success of the liberation struggle will be possible if Africans take advantage of exploring specific strategies that are culturally and socio-politically in line with the concept of “the way” which includes effective pan-Africanist ideologies, and cooperation. To examine the nature of conflicts in the novels, this study uses anti-colonialist, Marxist and Afro-centrists approaches to provide an effective method of struggle which is the foundation of Armah’s ideologists. Ultimately, moral resistance seems to be the most appropriate weapon against Western cultural hegemony, because of its ability to meet the demands for Africa’s cultural liberation, and political strategies for progress and social cohesion.