Hybridity and Cultural Conflict in Hamidou Kane’s The Ambiguous Adventure

Abstract

Hybrid state of postcolonial Africa set the background for this paper. The study is literary, descriptive and analytic. The objective is to examine the role of cultural hybridity in the diverse social conflicts in modern Africa in the light of Hamidou Kane’s L’Aventure Ambiguë published in 1961 and later translated into English as The Ambiguous Adventure by Katherine Woods in 1963. The scope is the panorama of African civilization with an emphasis on the impact of European civilization. The scholarly textual method of data collection was adopted. Four research questions to serve as guide in the establishment of cultural hybridity, its causes and its relationship with the different conflicts identified in the novel were proposed. The findings established cultural hybridity and complexities caused by it in adaptation and lack of a sense of balance in modern Africa. These complexities include emotional stress, social conflicts, confrontations, violence and even fatality in the instrument were identified and submitted. The findings are analyzed in the light of Postcolonialism whose major goal is to address the domineering impact of western civilization in all formerly colonized societies. This article does not in any way intend to regret western civilization, no doubt, the development has contributed to African emancipation in no small measure. It does not equally solicit for despising African values in the name of any civilization. The recommendations and conclusion are, therefore, based on the orientation towards adaptation and a sense of equilibrium in the face of cultural hybridism and even globalization.