ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Cultural and Traditional Shifts Following Colonialism in Chinua Achebe’s No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God

This paper examines the shifts and changes in Chinua Achebe’s No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God. The conflict of two cultures following colonialism brings out a new hybrid culture and identity. According to Homi K. Bhabha, this space created between the two cultures is the third space, and it is the key to the colonizers' imposition of new rules, cultures, languages, and institutions, which is crucial to suppressing and dominating the colonized population. This imposition leads to the degradation and even extinction of the colonized people's preexisting culture, tradition, norms, and religion. It also leads to the hybridization of culture, tradition, norms, and religion. Achebe brings out the changes and shifts in No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God. He shows the importance of culture, tradition, and faith in safeguarding the authenticity of the native people’s identity. Keywords: colonialism, identity, culture, hybridity, chinua achebe