Brycen Waters Africa September 23, 2011 Mister Johnson Assignment

1.) The film, Mister Johnson, was a very unique portrayal of the imperial conflicts that occurred between Europe and her African colonies. This movie shows the clear distinction between the two races and how it affected the day to day life of the people in Africa. This films representation of the different races however, has met much criticism over the years. For example, author of the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe has regarded this film as a superficial representation of this time period and the people. Each character in this movie is represented in a particular way, in order to further emphasize the distinction between the races. Exploring these individual representations along with Achebes reaction to the film, one can examine and understand a unique interpretation of this time period in world history and explore why some might consider Mister Johnson to be a colonial tragedy. First off, we have the representation of the African Americans in this film. The Africans, in this film are portrayed in a very subordinate and inferior light. Other than the main African characters, the majority of the time that they are seen in this film is working for the English men on the road or one of the other projects they are instructed to do so. There are no actual interactions or conversations with the white man and the Africans, further exemplifying the distinction between the races. At this point in history (1890s), African

Americans are still seen as an inferior race. As for the main African character, they are seen in a different light. The main character of the film, Mister Johnson, is one of the only educated African men in the tribe. He sees himself in the same manner that a true British man would. Referring to himself as one of the elite, he dresses and carries himself in an attempted dignified manner; one he feels sets him apart from the other dark skinned men. His clear dissatisfaction with the African way of life is seen towards the end of the film when he is being dragged to prison by other Africans for the crimes he committed throughout the film. While attempting to put his shoes on, he declares to the Africans that he is an English man and will not walk through their disgusting town without shoes on. Despite his desire to be a true English man, Mister Johnson was born in Nigeria, and one can conclude that he has never even been out of Africa. Also, besides feeling that he is not like the inferior race of people that surround him, he still speaks in the manner similar to that of an African-American slave. Referring to his master or his boss Harry Rudbeck as sir and always saying, Yes sir, and no sir, clearly defines the rigid social structure that is prevalent in this society. Another African character, Waziri, a religious man whom Mister Johnson is a spy for money for is depicted in a similar way. Waziri is one of the only other Africans, besides Johnson, that has any kind of formal interactions with the white men. He is viewed as almost a little bizarre at times but clearly a member of the elite social class of the African tribe in Nigeria. With his almost costume like attire, it is clear that he holds some power and influence of the African people, but his need for Johnson as his spy shows his lack of said influence over the white man. Waziri seems to be an educated man, but he doesnt seem to be in great standing with the British people (quite possibly for his non Christian ways or his often times suspicious nature). Despite

this few characters that have formal conversations with the British elite, as a whole, the Africans in this film are seen as the inferior race. Next, we have the representation of the British in this film. As mentioned, the Africans were seen as the clearly inferior race in this film. The signs of them being subordinate to the white man are prevalent all throughout the film. Unlike with the representation of the Africans however, there are not as many of the British men in this film aside from the main characters. Therefore, this portrayal is limited to just a few characters. First and foremost is the main character Harry Rudbeck. Harry works at the local British magistrate and is the direct supervisor of Mister Johnson. He eventually takes on the job to oversee the creation of a road that will travel a great distance through the local village in Nigeria. Harry is portrayed in an almost Indiana Jones persona. Handsome and hero-like, Harry seems to have taken Mister Johnson under his wing in order to make him a more civilized person. Harry is never seen abusing or harming any of the African men or women, however, a clear attitude of superiority is noticed in his demeanor. A true British man, he is polite and well-mannered. At the end of the film, when Harry is ordered to hang Mister Johnson for his wrong doing, he tells Johnson that he is sorry he has to do this. He even; when Johnson is on trial, tries to help him out, by asking if he was in the right frame of mind when he killed Sargy Gollup. Johnson then clearly states that he never intended to do this but he is okay with whatever Rudbeck has to do to him. Rudbecks character isnt the normal portrayal of the British elite during this time (as seen through his clear admiration for Mister Johnson). Another British character that represents the more traditional view of the white man at this time is seen through the character Sargy Gollup. Sargy Gollup is the owner of a local store in

Nigeria, and a member of the British elite. He has a clear hatred for the black man who likes to drink. At one point in the film his is seen running around; in a drunken state, after and African women attempting to do some harm to her. Gollup holds the view that the white man is racially superior to the black man and it is seen may times in this film through his verbal and physical signs of hatred towards them. Gollup, much like Rudbeck shows signs of admiration for Mister Johnson, however, he tells him once that it is very unfortunate that he was born a black man. At the end of the film, Johnson ends up killing Gollup, while he was attempting to steal from the general stores cash box. These two characters represent somewhat different views of the British peoples portrayal in this movie but both come back to a very common theme; the racial inequality of the black man and the white man in imperial Africa in the 1890s. As mentioned earlier, author of the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe responded adversely to this film. There are possibly many reasons for this reaction, of which I will explore now. This film is a non-African representation of the imperial age of European control of the African continent. No matter how this film attempts to capture the feelings of both sides of the struggle, it is strongly biased towards the British side. Depicting the Africans as barbarians and uncivilized people compared to the polite and polished British elite shows this bias. Chinua Achebe is an African man who was born in Nigeria and writes from the perspective of the African people in his novel, Things Fall Apart. It would make sense that Achebe would find this film to be superficial from its representation of the title character Mister Johnson. Johnson is depicted in an almost childlike way throughout the film. Everything he does, he does not see the fault in it, no matter how wrong it actually is. This provides for some comic relief in the film at times, when Achebe would probably argue that the struggle between the Africans and the British

was not one of comedy. In conclusion, this film shows a biased comedic representation of the Imperialistic rule of Africa by the British.

2.)
Every so often you come across a film that is so accurate in it's depiction of life and the character of the people you forget it's a movie and it takes you to that place in time and you become one of the people, Mister Johnson is that film plus 100. Mister Johnson is an accurate look into the life of a man who is torn between the color of his heritage and his longing to be an English gentleman. Mister Johnson is a man who forgets his ethnic heritage and calls his own people ''ignorant'' and ''savage'' but holds the people who treat his with the lowest respect, namely the British officials and colonists in the highest honor. He is an example of the brainwashing given to many many people of color over the centuries by the Whites, making them forget who they are, where they came from, and making them have an alien thirst for white culture. But Mister Johnson is more than that..oh yes indeed. He is a crafty little man who's high intelligence gets him into trouble with the British officials. He has a thirst for English traditions and a longing for the white man's riches and acceptance but I do not believe he even knows why. This is a great film depicting the harsh life of a man too smart for his own good in a time where his skin color and an intellect that large was the biggest threat in the mind of white colonists. Sadly this film leaves you wanting more, wanting a deeper look into how Mister Johnson came to be they way he is.

12 March 1999 | by anonymous (OHIO, USA)

This critique of the film Mister Johnson, I somewhat agree with. I agree with the fact that this movie attempts to show the struggle of a man who is torn between the color of his skin and the longing to be considered and English gentleman. Mister Johnson spends the entire movie referring to himself as an Englishman and looking down on his fellow Nigerians. However, I disagree with this critique where it states that this is an accurate depiction of a typical African at this time period. That is a gross over generalization to state that this is how Africans possibly felt at this time period. Most Africans, I believe did not actually even get the opportunity to work with the British elite. Yes, if they were given the opportunity; much like in the case of Mister Johnson, where he became almost brain washed into thinking that British are far superior to his inferior brethren; they did try to emulate the English life style. However, this rarely happened to Africans due to the Englishs pure distrust of them. I agree with this critique other than that however.

Nigeria, along with many other parts of Africa, is rich in culture and history. The Hausa people of Nigeria are an example of this rich culture and history. Their origin myth claims that their founder, Bayajidda, traveled from the east in an attempt to escape his father. He traveled to places like Gaya and then eventually to Daura where it is said that he freed people from the oppressive nature of a very sacred snake who guarded their village water well and prevented them from getting water for 6 days out of the week. The Queen of Daura, in appreciation for what Bayajidda did for her village, she gave herself in marriage to him and their seven sons became the rulers of what became known as the Hausa states. The Hausa people, from as early as the 11th century had a tremendous Islamic presence on their society. Islam was; according to

tradition, brought to the Hausa people by Muhommad Al-Maghili, an Islamic missionary. Islam would eventually even unite the Hausa states under the auspices of the Fulani Empire. The Yoruba people are similar to the Hausa people because of their rich culture and history. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. Much like the Hausa, they have a unique origin story. Orisanla, was the archdivinity that was chosen to create solid land out of the primordial water that represented the earth and populating the land with its people. Orisanla decended on the earth carrying a snail shell of which he emptied the contents of the shell on the water, after placing pieces of iron on it. He then placed chicken on the earth to spread what he had laid all over the earth. As far as religion in this area, the Yoruba people practice things such as Eyo and Osun Oshogbo festivals. The Muslims and Christians dont see this as a religious event more of an effort to boast tourism in the area. It is more of a cultural event to them. Bibliography http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Hausa.html

http://www.yorubaalliance.org/Newsletter/newsletter74.htm