Depiction of Religion and Colonialism in the Novel Houseboy By Ferdinand Oyono.
The study examined the depiction of religion and colonialism in Ferdinand Oyono's novel "Houseboy" with two primary objectives: to investigate the role of religion in the novel and to analyze the impact of colonialism on African culture. A qualitative research design was utilized, all...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_US |
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Kabale University
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/2072 |
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| Summary: | The study examined the depiction of religion and colonialism in Ferdinand Oyono's novel "Houseboy" with two primary objectives: to investigate the role of religion in the novel and to analyze the impact of colonialism on African culture. A qualitative research design was utilized, allowing for detailed information collection, analysis, and interpretation based on the novel's text to describe specific issues. Document analysis, a form of qualitative research, involves interpreting documents to provide them with voice and meaning around the study's topics.
The findings revealed that religion is a central theme in "Houseboy," significantly influencing both colonial administrators and indigenous people. The Catholic Church emerges as a prominent institution within the colonial setting, closely linked with the colonial system. French colonial officers are portrayed as hypocritical, using religion to justify their exploitation of the African population. The protagonist, Toundi, becomes intrigued by Christianity and the Catholic Church, leading to a complex and conflicted relationship with the religion as he delves deeper into its teachings.
The study concluded that Oyono's "Houseboy" offers a nuanced portrayal of the intersections between religion and colonialism in the African colonial experience. Through Toundi's perspective, the novel explores the complexities of power dynamics, cultural assimilation, and resistance within the colonial context. The study recommends using religion to teach moral values to society, helping to preserve these values, and cautions against using religion to justify punitive actions and emotional torture within families. |
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