Cultural terrorism in Binebai’s <i>Karena’s Cross</i>: A postcolonial overview

Abstract

The Postcolonial theory emerged from the literature of oppression and resistance, which focuses on colonial experiences of the colonised. The  Postcolonial discourse is the beginning of the movement towards redefining, reformulating and reconstructing the colonised self, the marginal status of  women and the literature exploring it. This paper therefore argues that Ben Binebai’s Karena’s Cross should not be understood only as a mono-dramatic  and literary text, but as a Postcolonial text which treats the issues of cultural terrorism on subaltern woman by a patriarchal society under the guise of  tradition and cultural practices. These patriarchal terrorists wearing the cloak of neo-colonialism have refused to let go of their patriarchal psychology,  but doubly exploiting the subaltern woman and placing her under the shadow. An analysis of the impact of the cultural practices on women and their  effects on the lives of most third-world women are examined. An analysis of the impact of the cultural practices and their effects on the lives of most  third-world women is carried out, using this play. The paper advocates that a fair playing ground should be allowed for effective impact on the  communal, national and global scenes for both sexes, breaking down the cultural, political and historical barriers for the voices of the subaltern woman  to be heard. The paper concludes with the various strategies that women can employ to counter cultural terrorism in their homes, communities and  nation at large.