African hybrids: Exploring Afropolitanism in 'Ghana Must Go'.

Abstract

This article explores the representation of Afropolitanism in Taiye Selasi’s debut novel Ghana must go (2013). The purpose of the article is to explore Afropolitanism using Selasi’s (2005) essay “Who is an Afropolitan?” as a benchmark. Selasi blends the words ‘Africa’ and ‘cosmopolitan’ in her essay, which discusses the fashion, dance style, and nationality of the Afropolitan, but she does not discuss themes in literature. She coined the term because she was never satisfied with the answers she gave when she was questioned about her identity. This article draws on two main theoretical approaches, the first being the diaspora and transnationalism theory, addressing concerns of people who have re-patriated in search of self-development through work or studies; the second theoretical approach is the hybridity as creolisation theory, which addresses the concerns of people born in Europe or the West to purely African ancestors or with one of the parents of a different ethnicity. The article reveals the following themes that pertain to Afropolitanism in Ghana must go (2013): cultural hybridity, careers, identity formation and an African bond, thus demonstrating that Afropolitanism does not relate only to fashion, dance style and art, but its exploration is also relevant in literature. This article contributes to knowledge of the world as a global village, but more specifically the international integration of cultures as expressed in literature, not only in the African diaspora, but in Africa as well.