The Cross-Cultural Discourse in Ngugi wa Thiong'o’s A Grain of Wheat

Ngugi wa Thiong'o is one of the modern pioneers of African literary magnitudes. His fictional lingoes have elevated him to the reputation of international acknowledgement. Culture is an integral part of every civilization discerned in nook and corner of the world. Indigenous cultures, juxtaposed cultures and cross-cultures have made an approach to embark on the social archetypes perceived among African humanities. Ngugi wa Thiong'o’s A Grain of Wheat (1967) focusses on the refrain of African culture. The notion of cultural appropriation and cultural imperialism leads to the procedure of acculturation. In this chronicle of African culture, the ‘House of God’ epitomizes Christianity whose ideologies are contrasting to Gikuyu rituals. Through the upbringing of a church in Gikuyu terrestrial, the bibliophiles can easily comprehend the co-ordination and co-existence of two unlikely cultures like ‘African’ and ‘Western’.

The common folk of Gikuyu are not able to cognize the language of western people, yet they like to possess their friendship. Here, the ‘train’ is a symbolic element though introduced from the western world. It has a greater influence on Gikuyu civilization. In addition, the narrative discloses the boon and bane of colonial society. The common folk of Gikuyu are reflected as rejected individuals. But the pets are given ample importance than Gikuyu individuals in the disjointed world of colonialism. Divergent cultures are never seen together, but the common folk who dwell in society uphold these juxtaposed cultures. Hence, the research output makes a realistic approach to board on the crosscultural discourse in Ngugi wa Thiong'o’s A Grain of Wheat within the African communal piquancy.