THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AFRICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE BASED ON MARYSE CONDE’S I, TITUBA: BLACK WITCH OF SALEM

Abstract

African slaves deported to different parts of Europe, America and Asia had left indelible prints of the African cultural heritage in these parts of the world many years after the abolition of slave trade. As a result of this, literary works of many Caribbean authors portray African cultural heritage in all ramifications. Till date, many works of these authors with African origin showcase African culture. On the other hand, it is no hidden truth that many African youths try to imbibe European cultures while regarding African culture with contempt. These youths abandon the rich cultural heritage of Africa in pursuit of alien cultures considered absurd in Africa. For these reasons, cultural conflicts abound, giving rise to the confusion of what is culturally right or wrong in Africa as a continent. This piece of writing exposed and analyzed the rich cultural heritage of Africa as expressed in the work of Maryse Conde titled: I, Tituba: black witch of Salem. It equally sensitized the African youths on the importance of conserving their cultural values by adhering to them. It is strongly believed that this work will destroy inferiority complex inherent in our young people towards African culture vis-a-vis European culture. Psychoanalytical theory is the bed rock of the analysis of this work. The findings revealed that African cultural heritage is better appreciated and upheld by African descendants in the Diaspora than by those in Africa. It is recommended that the African culture be developed by Africans to international standard en lieu of abandoning it.