Literature African the Healers by Ayi Kwei Armah Term Paper

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Healers

Much has been said about the history of Africa, and the centuries of slave trade which occurred at the expense of the African peoples. From the time of early colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, and later the British, the African people were taken advantage of, and sold as slaves to fuel the growing economies around the western world.

While nothing can ever be said to correct, or make full reparations for the contempt shown to the black peoples, Ayi Armah's book The Healers takes a deeper look at the cultural issues which arose on the African continent which fueled the disintegration of the African culture.

When we look back at a difficult, unjust, or painful situation we have encountered, the tendency is to look for reasons outside of ourselves in order to explain the pain. When a child is caught smacking another playmate on the playground during recess, the child will inevitably cry "But he started it!" In the same way, much of the commentary regarding the pain of slavery, and the destruction of the African culture has been laid at the feet of the colonizing white Europeans, and the American slave market which made the slave trade possible. However, the slave trade would have likely encountered significantly more opposition if the tribal Africans themselves were organized, and supported each against the European settlers.

Armah's book is a detailed cultural examination of the tribal wars between African groups. Armah chose the title The Healers because his book seeks to answer the questions regarding who were those who harmed the African's the most, the whites, or the blacks themselves. Before progressing much further, this writer wants to make perfectly clear that there is no justification for the evil, and harms which slavery, and the slave trade brought to the African citizens. Treating men as property, and carrying them away from their families and homeland for profit is an unspeakable evil. However, the question, and illustrated by Armah is whether the white men posed the greatest threat to the cultural unity, and well-being of the African tribes, or if the tribes themselves were the greater source of ongoing destruction.

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Armah's hero is Densu, an African male who seems to be more a narrator who facilitates the story, than a key player in the events. We meet Densu as he declines to participate in what could be compared to the tribe's annual Olympic Games. He is one of 9 men signed up to participate in the wrestling tournament, which seem to be the ticket event. He is introduced standing in line waiting to be certified for the event. As the judge comes by, he says,

"I am making the sign of defeat."

"But you haven't fought" says the judge.

"I do not wish to fight." said Densu.

"You aren't going to concede, just like that?"

"I am conceding defeat."

Armah seems to making a statement about the entire region's African tribes in his opening scene. On his way to the match, he came across the dead body of a prince -- friend in the jungle. Not aware of how he died, or who was responsible, as Densu concedes defeat, Armah is making a statement. As tribes fight themselves, everyone is a looser. The dead prince in the jungle was undoubtedly killed by human, not animal means because the body was left, and not eaten. Densu, by refusing to fight, begins a journey of discovery of himself, and of the true difficulties which face his people.

Densu leaves the wrestling match, and finds a favorite friend in the jungle. Anan is inquisitive, and seeks to have fun with Densu by relaxing….....

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