Exploring colonial hybridity through english racial expressions in contemporary african anglophone literature

Abstract

In the era of globalization, English literature has expanded beyond its roots in England and the United States, evolving into Anglophone literature that reflects diverse postcolonial experiences worldwide. English, as a legacy of colonialism, has become the medium through which formerly colonized regions express complex hybrid identities and cultural negotiations. Anglophone literature encapsulates the tension between Western colonial values and local indigenous cultures, often centering on postcolonial themes such as identity crises and racial discrimination. In India, literary works explore the hybrid cultural identity shaped by British colonial influence, while African Anglophone literature reveals the added complexity of racial segregation and apartheid. Novels like Playing in the Light, Afterlives, and This Mournable Body utilize new English expressions to portray racial discrimination while simultaneously serving as spaces of resistance and cultural identity preservation. This study applies Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of postcolonial hybridity to analyze these linguistic expressions, highlighting how they disrupt colonial discourse and empower the colonized. By focusing on micro-level linguistic elements rather than broader discursive scenes, this approach offers fresh insights into the political and cultural significance of language in postcolonial contexts. The research advances theoretical understanding and enhances cross-cultural communication by uncovering unique African English expressions tied to local cultural identities.