Revolutionary Consciousness in Ousmane Sembene’s God’s Bits of Wood

Abstract

The contemporary African novelist has accepted the responsibility of projecting the realism of a world torn by class antagonism and inequalities in access to property. The revolutionary literary work of art is a depiction of the contradictions inherent in a world dominated by class structure and capitalist exploitation. Unlike the traditional African characters portrayed in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God, who are easily broken up due to lack of solidarity, Sembene demonstrates in God’s Bits of Wood the emergence of a new African labour force committed to a cause, the cause of economic and social liberation from the shackles of colonialism. This revolution requires solidarity and determination in order to succeed. This is aptly portrayed in the manner and doggedness the all the people defy the gun-fitted bayonet to actualized their set goal.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n2p171