Osiris Rising: A Novel of Africa Past, Present and Future is a novel written by Ayi Kwei Armah and published in 1995. The story revolves around an African-Americanwoman, Ast, who goes to Africa looking for heritage after she gets her PhD. The text addresses a number of contemporary African issues, including the residual colonial institutions that limit African culture, the hypocritical nature of African Americans and expatriates who try to help Africa and the contemplation of "What is African history and culture?" The book is published by Per Ankh, a Senegalese publishing company.
Many of Osiris Rising's characters appear one-dimensional and ludicrous, almost "puppet-like".[1] Ast, the main character, seems the most credible and developed among the characters, yet even her psychology in the interactions with Seth can become absurd.[2] At best the characters, act as principles representing further exploration of the book's themes.[1] The following are the book's main characters:
Ast - an African American, who has received her PhD in history, then decides to travel to Africa to trace her roots. She also was taught by her grandmother in hieroglyphics since her childhood.
Asar - a literature professor with strong ideals of what Africa should be and how to achieve a more progressive African politics and society. While he attended college with Seth and Ast, he was the top of his class, however when he completed his graduate schooling he left for Africa in order to participate in the fight against apartheid.
Ras Cinque Jomo Equiano - a former civil-rights activist named Sheldon Tubman, who moves to Africa to get more in touch with the "African experience", but instead forms a cult around himself and abuses his power to gain a number of followers, including three wives.
Seth Soja - sometimes called SSS or DD, Soja is the deputy director of the country's security force. He controls the ultimate power in the country. When at school with Ast and Seth, he was always jealous of Asar's educational success.
Settingedit
Armah sets the story in a contemporary unnamed West African country. A majority of the story takes place on the campus of Manda's Teachers' College, where Asar and Ast both teach and many of their agendas come to fruition.
Thematic elementsedit
As the title implies, Armah transposes the ancient EgyptianOsiris myth into modern Africa.[3] This first becomes evident when Armah names each chapter using Egyptian words.[3] The main characters closely align with the major movers of the myth: the reforming Asar identifying with Osiris, Asar's companion, Ast, portrayed as Isis, and Soya representing Set.[3]
The relationship between Ast and Asar reflects a Pan-African model of uniting both the African American with no ethnic tribe and the native African who clearly identifies with a single village.[4] This represents a similar relationship to that between an Afro-Caribbean man and an African women in Armah's novel Fragments.[4] This relationship, one of love and commitment that works fervently for the emancipation of African thought, helps reinforce Armah's message of pan-African cooperation.[4]
Armah presents a very critical view of the character Sheldon Tubman.[4] He portrays this character, a strong civil-rights activist in the state, as nothing more than a "Diaspora Hustler" - someone who makes a big deal of returning to the African tradition but instead uses this fake "tradition" to benefit himself.[4] Anne Adams, in her comparison of the two authors' repertoires in "Literary Pan-Africanism", identifies this as a position also strongly expressed by GuadeloupeanMaryse Condé.[4]
Critical receptionedit
Osiris Rising has been reviewed by a handful of world literature scholars in institutions that provide a western education:
Andrew Perrin of UCLA comments "Artistically the book leaves something to be desired as well," however, "Ayi Kwei Armah is an astute observer and analyst of Africa's contemporary conditions."[5] However, he says that Ast and Asar's intellectual movement to change the political situation is almost "inspiring, even hopeful."[5]
Derek Wright comments that "This powerful and searching novel is not without its weaknesses... it makes unexciting fiction."[3] To better explain this he says "Osiris Rising is very low on both dramatic incident and psychological intensity." [3] Wright, though he acknowledges the book is principally "to explore the real, albeit restricted, options for change open to Africa's inventive and radical thinkers", feels that much of the book is largely undeveloped: lacking development in character dynamics, the context of the state, and the characters themselves.[3]
^ abcdef Wright, Derek (March 1985). "Review:Returning Voyagers: The Ghanaian Novel in the Nineties". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 23 (1). Cambridge University Press: 179–192. doi:10.1017/s0022278x00055269. JSTOR 161744. S2CID 153884548.
^ abcdef Adams, Anne (2003). "Literary Pan-Africanism". Thamyris/Intersecting: Place, Sex and Race. 11: 137–150.
^ abPerrin, Andrew J. (Winter 1999). "Review:What is African?". Callaloo. 22 (1). The Johns Hopkins University Press: 247–249. doi:10.1353/cal.1999.0004. S2CID 162229505.
Book sourcesedit
Jackson, RC. "Armah's Osiris Rising". In Hal Wylie and Bernth Lindfors (ed.). Multiculturalism & hybridity in African literatures. pp. 259–267. Available at Google Books
January 01, 1970
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Osiris Rising A Novel of Africa Past Present and Future is a novel written by Ayi Kwei Armah and published in 1995 The story revolves around an African American woman Ast who goes to Africa looking for heritage after she gets her PhD The text addresses a number of contemporary African issues including the residual colonial institutions that limit African culture the hypocritical nature of African Americans and expatriates who try to help Africa and the contemplation of What is African history and culture The book is published by Per Ankh a Senegalese publishing company Osiris RisingAuthorAyi Kwei ArmahCover artistR M OsotsiCountrySenegalLanguageEnglishGenreNovelPublisherPer AnkhPublication date1995Media typePrint Paperback Pages348ISBN2 911928 00 8OCLC256475128 Contents 1 Characters 2 Setting 3 Thematic elements 4 Critical reception 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Book sourcesCharacters editMany of Osiris Rising s characters appear one dimensional and ludicrous almost puppet like 1 Ast the main character seems the most credible and developed among the characters yet even her psychology in the interactions with Seth can become absurd 2 At best the characters act as principles representing further exploration of the book s themes 1 The following are the book s main characters Ast an African American who has received her PhD in history then decides to travel to Africa to trace her roots She also was taught by her grandmother in hieroglyphics since her childhood Asar a literature professor with strong ideals of what Africa should be and how to achieve a more progressive African politics and society While he attended college with Seth and Ast he was the top of his class however when he completed his graduate schooling he left for Africa in order to participate in the fight against apartheid Ras Cinque Jomo Equiano a former civil rights activist named Sheldon Tubman who moves to Africa to get more in touch with the African experience but instead forms a cult around himself and abuses his power to gain a number of followers including three wives Seth Soja sometimes called SSS or DD Soja is the deputy director of the country s security force He controls the ultimate power in the country When at school with Ast and Seth he was always jealous of Asar s educational success Setting editArmah sets the story in a contemporary unnamed West African country A majority of the story takes place on the campus of Manda s Teachers College where Asar and Ast both teach and many of their agendas come to fruition Thematic elements editAs the title implies Armah transposes the ancient Egyptian Osiris myth into modern Africa 3 This first becomes evident when Armah names each chapter using Egyptian words 3 The main characters closely align with the major movers of the myth the reforming Asar identifying with Osiris Asar s companion Ast portrayed as Isis and Soya representing Set 3 The relationship between Ast and Asar reflects a Pan African model of uniting both the African American with no ethnic tribe and the native African who clearly identifies with a single village 4 This represents a similar relationship to that between an Afro Caribbean man and an African women in Armah s novel Fragments 4 This relationship one of love and commitment that works fervently for the emancipation of African thought helps reinforce Armah s message of pan African cooperation 4 Armah presents a very critical view of the character Sheldon Tubman 4 He portrays this character a strong civil rights activist in the state as nothing more than a Diaspora Hustler someone who makes a big deal of returning to the African tradition but instead uses this fake tradition to benefit himself 4 Anne Adams in her comparison of the two authors repertoires in Literary Pan Africanism identifies this as a position also strongly expressed by Guadeloupean Maryse Conde 4 Critical reception editOsiris Rising has been reviewed by a handful of world literature scholars in institutions that provide a western education Andrew Perrin of UCLA comments Artistically the book leaves something to be desired as well however Ayi Kwei Armah is an astute observer and analyst of Africa s contemporary conditions 5 However he says that Ast and Asar s intellectual movement to change the political situation is almost inspiring even hopeful 5 Derek Wright comments that This powerful and searching novel is not without its weaknesses it makes unexciting fiction 3 To better explain this he says Osiris Rising is very low on both dramatic incident and psychological intensity 3 Wright though he acknowledges the book is principally to explore the real albeit restricted options for change open to Africa s inventive and radical thinkers feels that much of the book is largely undeveloped lacking development in character dynamics the context of the state and the characters themselves 3 See also edit nbsp Novels portal For individuals using a similar definition of the culture and history of Africa Cheikh Anta Diop Theophile ObengaReferences edit a b Jackson 266 Jackson 265 266 a b c d e f Wright Derek March 1985 Review Returning Voyagers The Ghanaian Novel in the Nineties The Journal of Modern African Studies 23 1 Cambridge University Press 179 192 doi 10 1017 s0022278x00055269 JSTOR 161744 S2CID 153884548 a b c d e f Adams Anne 2003 Literary Pan Africanism Thamyris Intersecting Place Sex and Race 11 137 150 a b Perrin Andrew J Winter 1999 Review What is African Callaloo 22 1 The Johns Hopkins University Press 247 249 doi 10 1353 cal 1999 0004 S2CID 162229505 Book sources edit Jackson RC Armah s Osiris Rising In Hal Wylie and Bernth Lindfors ed Multiculturalism amp hybridity in African literatures pp 259 267 Available at Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Osiris Rising amp oldid 1164575417, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
