Postcolonialism In The End Of Skill

The colonial era of white Europeans colonizing new territory and new peoples has had a prolonged and detrimental effect throughout the world, which is known as postcolonialism. The Europeans developed a sense of superiority and felt that their religion and culture was dominant because of their more advanced technology. This provided continued motivation for their conquest and expansion because they felt they had a “white man’s burden”, meaning they have a responsibility to save or civilize a group of savage natives. West Africa was subjugated by European powers and in the process their society and culture was destroyed. Postcolonialism examines the aftermath of colonization and how the native people continue on with their lives and how

Jimmy has been raised in two separate worlds, that of his father’s home and native village, where weaving is a respected and sacred practice, and the western world, whose influence has persisted long since colonialism and causing the spread of ideas, economics, and aspirations. Jimmy cannot deny that he “love[s]” weaving, yet he has bigger dreams of “liv[ing] in the city, own[ing] a car and a beautiful house, travel[ing] abroad” (Kabu 15). Jimmy forsakes a life as “a respected village master-weaver” because his dreams for the future have been influenced by western ideas (Kabu 15). The american dream has been spread across the world, as a result of postcolonialism, and in the process it has eclipsed former cultures and their ideas of a fulfilling life. Jimmy would likely be satisfied living as the village weaver because he evidently loves the tradition, and he understands that there is something sacred about the custom of weaving that should be

After Jimmy gives in to his desire for economic success, he begins to ignore the purpose that these knew clothes are serving. He awakens to the cost of his success when he witnesses his new girlfriend Vanessa wearing a Kente bikini. He tries to ignore the fact that a once sacred piece of clothing reserved for Kings is being used in such a way, but he can “not shake a niggling feeling of discomfiture” and he feels ashamed (Kabu 19). He cannot help but think of his father and what he would think of this use of Kente cloth. Jimmy begins to feel the burden of his double conscious, as two antagonistic parts of his identity are confronting him. His value system is being questioned and he must try to find a balance between the sacred nature of Kente cloth and the american value system, which prioritizes economic success and competition above all else. Jimmy is able to ignore this problem since he did not make her bikini, but later on when a magnificent piece of cloth woven by his father is used as a rug, he cannot help but feel “torn” with “conflicting thoughts buzz[ing] around in his head” (Kabu 24). His father summarizes the ignominy that Jimmy feels by claiming, “we have made a lot of money but we have also paid a price” (Kabu 24). Jimmy has embraced two diverging value systems and he