OPPRESSION AS POLITICAL IDEOLOGY IN TIYAMBE ZELEZA'S SMOULDERING CHARCOAL

Abstract: Using Marxist literary criticism, this paper aims at exploring and showing that Tiyambe Zeleza’s Smouldering Charcoal is depicting postcolonial African realities in terms of the misuse of power and the ideology of personal cult. The work has revealed that oppression has become an ideology and a working tool for the new African leaders in their quest for eternal power. These contemporary African leaders use their position to maltreat the masses and at the same time maintain them in abject and voiceless position. The unique choice these downtrodden masses have is to keep quiet and content themselves with their pitiful created conditions. The study has furthermore shown that poverty has also become a creative means to control these masses. Rebellion and resistance against these heartless leaders are some of the appropriate means the masses need to get out from these inhuman conditions in which they live.