Achebe: Dead Mens Path

Cultural exchange:
We should not be tempted to classify Dead Mens Path as a mere illustration of a clash
of cultures, as this would be doing injustice to Achebes story. Naturally, the conflict arises
between two opposing cultures and their representatives, and at the close of the story
Michael and Nancy are left with the debris, not only of the school and gardens, but also of
Michaels career, so the questions arise whether the clash could have been avoided and
whether Achebe offers any alternatives.
The story focuses on Achebes concern with dialogue, understanding, compromise and
common sense, qualities which Michael lacks but which the Ani demonstrates. He stresses
the need for humility in people who have reaped the benefits of Western education. In
Michaels case humility and the willingness to enter into a dialogue with his antagonists
would have paved the way for a cultural exchange which, perhaps, would have enriched
both cultures.
Mimicry:
Michael Obi is the prototypical native who, by adopting and reproducing the colonizers
cultural habits and values, by becoming himself an agent of European modernization an
progress, practises mimicry. However, mimicry can be destructive for the individual and
society, as he attempts to change social mores [= customs and behaviour that are
considered typical of a particular social group or community/ Sitten und Gebruche] and
thereby often sows the seeds of his own or of his societys destruction.

On Achebes Dead Mens Path: the post-colonial era

Achebe was writing at a time when Africa was trying to shake off her colonial past and
create a new, post-colonial identity. He saw it as the duty of authors to correct the
stereotyped images of Africans created by the colonialists and to revive African pride and
dignity. This could be achieved, he thought, by reminding his fellow Africans of their own
history and traditions. He was the first African to gain international fame by writing fiction
about Africa in English and was very influential in encouraging his fellow authors to write
about African cultures.
Dead Mens Path illustrates Achebes concern with the effects of modern Western values
on traditional African society. It describes a clash between European ideas of modernity
and ancient African beliefs and warns that any attempt to bring progress to a society
must be handled with care and patience, otherwise it will fail.
The story is set in 1949, when Nigeria was still under colonial rule. The British ran the
government and the influential Mission schools, such as the one where Obi is the
headmaster. Many African writers, including Achebe, warned that the new Britisheducated black elite people like Obi would eventually take over from the colonial
rulers and might be just as bad for the country, if not worse.
The fact that Obi is the main character of the story illustrates the change in focus since the
colonial period. As part of the process of decolonizing the mind post-colonial writers like
Achebe are more interested in the indigenous peoples (Vlker) than the Europeans. In
Dead Mens Path there is only brief mention of a European, the white Supervisor who
comes to inspect the school. African characters are no longer stereotypes, but rounded
characters with psychological depth. As a consequence of this change in focus the point of
view has also shifted. Whereas colonialist writers told their stories through the eyes of
Europeans, postcolonial ones like Achebe are exclusively interested in the point of view of
their own countrymen.
From: Ziegsar: Caught between Cultures, Stuttgart (Klett) 2005, p. 126