‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the Crow

In contemporary African nations, the functions performed by the state security apparatus have continued to cause trouble and divisions in the society. The state security apparatus , which is obliged to be non-partisan while carrying out assignments, has been manipulated by those in authority for the...

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Main Author: Emmanuel Chibuzor Okereke
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Association 2017-03-01
Series:Tydskrif vir Letterkunde
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/1936
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author Emmanuel Chibuzor Okereke
author_facet Emmanuel Chibuzor Okereke
author_sort Emmanuel Chibuzor Okereke
collection DOAJ
description In contemporary African nations, the functions performed by the state security apparatus have continued to cause trouble and divisions in the society. The state security apparatus , which is obliged to be non-partisan while carrying out assignments, has been manipulated by those in authority for their own profit. This anomalous attitude of the state security apparatus has been highlighted in fictional works of most African writers, as exemplified by Ng˜ug˜? wa Thiong'o. This paper therefore investigates the portrayal of the state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’s Wizard of the Crow. The focus is how the agents of s tate security strive to uphold state power and, in doing so, deviate from their other constitutional role of protecting life and property. The paper further explores how the characters representing the state security apparatus in Wizard of the Crow promote shady business deals and as well systematize corruption. The overarching argument in this paper is that state security agents serve as instruments of misrule, oppression, deprivation and class control.
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spelling doaj.art-63fdb84c56a648aba17e5fdca082c4bd2022-12-22T02:57:29ZafrTydskrif vir Letterkunde AssociationTydskrif vir Letterkunde0041-476X2309-90702017-03-0154110.17159/tvl.v.54i1.14‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the CrowEmmanuel Chibuzor Okereke0University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaIn contemporary African nations, the functions performed by the state security apparatus have continued to cause trouble and divisions in the society. The state security apparatus , which is obliged to be non-partisan while carrying out assignments, has been manipulated by those in authority for their own profit. This anomalous attitude of the state security apparatus has been highlighted in fictional works of most African writers, as exemplified by Ng˜ug˜? wa Thiong'o. This paper therefore investigates the portrayal of the state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’s Wizard of the Crow. The focus is how the agents of s tate security strive to uphold state power and, in doing so, deviate from their other constitutional role of protecting life and property. The paper further explores how the characters representing the state security apparatus in Wizard of the Crow promote shady business deals and as well systematize corruption. The overarching argument in this paper is that state security agents serve as instruments of misrule, oppression, deprivation and class control.https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/1936State security apparatuscorruptionsexploitationabduction and oppression
spellingShingle Emmanuel Chibuzor Okereke
‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the Crow
Tydskrif vir Letterkunde
State security apparatus
corruption
sexploitation
abduction and oppression
title ‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the Crow
title_full ‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the Crow
title_fullStr ‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the Crow
title_full_unstemmed ‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the Crow
title_short ‘The Maggot Within’: The state security apparatus in Ng˜ug˜?’ s Wizard of the Crow
title_sort the maggot within the state security apparatus in ng ug s wizard of the crow
topic State security apparatus
corruption
sexploitation
abduction and oppression
url https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/1936
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