Positive acculturation for Africa’s social development: Evidences from Tsitsi Dangarembga’s <i>nervous condition</i> and Chimamanda Adichie’s <i>Purple hibiscus</i>

Abstract

Cultural contact arising from migration, colonisation, interracial and intercultural relationship, globalisation and economic integration is one of the realities of the modern society. This has subsequently led to acculturation and dynamic changes which several literatures have argued to have a positive and negative effect on individuals and respective societies most especially the less dominant. The aim of this study is to demonstrate positive cultural changes resulting from cultural contact and their implications for social development of societies of less dominant culture or group. A textual analysis of two literary texts Nervous Condition and Purple Hibiscus by Tsitsi Dangarembga and Chimamanda Adichie within the acculturation conceptual framework was used to achieve the objective of this study. Four  acculturation representations of bilingualism, sexual awakening and gender liberation, tolerance and co-existence, family setting and parenting that are imperative for societal development were highlighted and discussed. Bilingualism which is an indication of language acculturation and cultural diversity promotes cultural empathy, tolerance ambiguity, social flexibility, interaction and open mindedness. The study further reveals that acculturation in parenting in the form of authoritativeness and tolerance in relation to religious  acculturation that are obtainable in dominant culture would be of benefit to child development and community tolerance in Africa. The study submits that adopting the best of both contacting cultures is necessary to move African societies forward.