Humanism in Contemporary Africa: A Study of Teju Cole’s Every Day Is for the Thief

July 31, 2020

Iliya Kopdiya

Greener Journal of Language and Literature Research

Vol. 6(1), pp. 29-37, 2020

ISSN: 2384-6402

https://gjournals.org/GJLLR

Humanism in Contemporary Africa: A Study of Teju Cole’s Every Day Is for the Thief

Lomka Iliya Kopdiya

Department of English and Literary Studies, Plateau State University Bokkos

ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

Article No.: 022720040

Type: Research

This study purposively samples excerpts taken from Teju Cole’s novel, Every Day is for The Thief to discuss and demonstrate humanism in the worldview of contemporary Africa. The study explores secondary texts and critical works to examine humanism as the philosophy which affirms the dignity, freedom and value of all humans with emphasis on reason as the most significant of all human faculties. Humanism aims at encouraging the all-round development of the individual which will in turn enhance positive development in the society. Contemporary issues in Africa are part of the post effects of colonialism, therefore the postcolonial theory adequately provides useful knowledge about some of these issues as reflected in the novel. Cole’s Every Day is for The Thief illustrates the message that the socio-political problems in Africa will wither if individuals, especially those saddled with leadership responsibilities appreciate the philosophy of humanism as well as the humanity of the people they lead. The implication as revealed in the novel is that without a humane-centred philosophy to influence the worldview of the people, Africa will remain an underdeveloped continent where every day belongs to the thief and there is no day for the owner.

Accepted: 29/02/2020

Published: 31/07/2020

*Corresponding Author

Lomka Iliya Kopdiya

E-mail: lomkailiya@ yahoo. com

Phone: 08061584492

Keywords:

Humanism; Contemporary Africa; Materialism; Religious hypocrisy

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Cite this Article: Iliya Kopdiya L (2020). Humanism in Contemporary Africa: A Study of Teju Cole’s Every Day Is for the Thief. Greener Journal of Language and Literature Research, 6(1): 29-37.

Journal Name : citation_journal : Greener Journal of Language and Literature Research

Publication Status/Date : usp_status_date : 31/07/2020