Anatomy of a Postcolonial State: Neo-Colonialism in Achebe`s A Man of the People

Authors : Ersoy Gümüş

Pages : 280-296

Doi:10.47124/viraverita.1769075

View : 132 | Download : 371

Publication Date : 2025-11-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article examines Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People (1966) as a critical allegory of the postcolonial African state, foregrounding its entanglement with neo-colonial structures of domination. Drawing on the theoretical insights of Kwame Nkrumah, Frantz Fanon, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the study situates Achebe’s narrative within broader debates on political corruption, cultural imperialism, and the persistence of dependency after independence. The analysis highlights how Achebe portrays the post-independence ruling elite—exemplified by Chief Nanga—as a national bourgeoisie that reproduces colonial modes of exploitation under the guise of nationalism. By tracing the manipulation of state institutions, the press, and the police, the article shows that governance operates less as a vehicle of emancipation than as an instrument of elite enrichment and foreign entanglement. Particular attention is also given to cultural continuities—in language, education, and practices of mimicry—that perpetuate neo-colonial subjugation at epistemological and everyday levels. Achebe’s satire depicts how the celebrated promise of independence, initially hailed as a moment of collective optimism, gave way to disillusionment as corruption and external dependency prevailed. Ultimately, the article argues that A Man of the People not only exposes the shortcomings of nationalist leadership but also illuminates the enduring dynamics of neo-colonialism in African political and cultural life.
Keywords : yeni sömürgecilik, yolsuzluk, yerel elitler, Chinua Achebe, A Man of the People

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL