Nostalgia and Self-Authentication in Lawrence Vambe's An Ill-fated People: Zimbabwe before and after Rhodes. Issue 2 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nyanda, Josiah
• Is Part Of: English studies in Africa. Volume 59:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: colonial narratives -- nostalgia -- self-authentication -- intentionality and functionality of text; English literature -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; English language -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; English language -- Africa -- Periodicals; English literature -- Periodicals; American literature -- Periodicals; American literature; English language; English language -- Study and teaching; English literature; Africa; Criticism, interpretation, etc; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 420
• DOI: 10.1080/00138398.2016.1239420
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-8398

Abstract

Abstract : The article discusses nostalgia as a purposeful narrative strategy adopted in order to authenticate Lawrence Vambe's narrative in a colonial context. I argue that nostalgia for Vambe is not just a narrative technique, but a practice in self-authentication and marketing. Focusing on Vambe's use of 'selective nostalgia', I offer a reading of his memoir as an anti-colonial personal discourse opposed to the dominance of imperial narratives and colonialism in Africa's socio-political, economic and cultural realms. This approach reveals the utilitarian nature of the memoir, and speaks to the intentionality and functionality of text.