Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial. Digital image. Flickr.com. Flickr. Web. 30 May 2016.
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Ken Saro-Wiwa"Mr. Saro-Wiwa, a popular author who helped create a peaceful mass movement on behalf of the Ogoni people, was executed in November 1995 along with eight other environmental and human rights activists on what many contended were trumped-up murder charges. His body was burned with acid and thrown in an unmarked grave... During his imprisonment Mr. Saro-Wiwa said that he often envied Western writers 'who can peacefully practice their craft.' Yet he also recognized that wasn’t his path. As he wrote in 1993, 'The writer cannot be a mere storyteller, he cannot be a mere teacher; he cannot merely X-ray society’s weaknesses, its ills, its perils, he or she must be actively involved shaping its present and its future.'"
Cohen, Patricia. “A Writer’s Violent End, and His Activist Legacy.” Nytimes.com. The New York Times Company, 4 May 2009. Web. 30 May 2016. |
Insight |
The character of Ade Coker in Purple Hibiscus bears a number of similarities with former Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. In the book, Ade is a close friend of Papa's and the lead editor of his newspaper, The Standard. Shortly after Kambili and Jaja's first visit to Aunty Ifeoma, Ade is killed when he receives a bomb in the mail from the Head of State, presumably punishment for the numerous rebellious articles he had published in the past. Similarly, Ken Saro-Wiwa was arrested and executed in 1995 for criticizing the Nigerian government through his writing, which advocated human rights and environmental conservation.
The similarities between Ade and Saro-Wiwa suggest that Adichie's portrayal of Ade Coker may have been based upon actual people and events in Nigeria. As a result, learning about Ken Saro-Wiwa allows readers to better understand the potential basis behind Adichie's characters. Furthermore, establishing a connection between Ade Coker and Saro-Wiwa emphasizes the importance of Ade as a character in that he exemplifies the dilemma of countless activist writers under the oppression of Nigeria's post-colonialism government. Overall, this artifact brings new importance to a character who occupies an important and yet little-recognized role in the story of Purple Hibiscus. |
Placement |
This artifact is placed sixth on the list, between the grandfather painting and punishment. In turn, Kambili learned of Ade Coker's death shortly after receiving the painting of Papa-Nnukwu from Amaka but before having it discovered by Eugene. The placement of this artifact in the latter half of the order and yet before the climax is also reflective of how Ade's death is part of the rising action of the book, as it is an example of things beginning to fall apart. In short, the position of this artifact corresponds with when it would be most useful to a reader while reading Purple Hibiscus.
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