Transnational Lives, Language Complexities and Displacement in the Diaspora: A Case of The Eternal Audience of One by Remy Ngamije
摘要
Conceptions of the politics of language in African literature in the contemporary world cannot be divorced from the pragmatic role of language within a fluid, porous and multicultural/lingual world. Following Achebe’s, Marechera’s and Adeeko’s argument, the core aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the primacy of thematic relevancy over cultural and linguistic nativism that are not in commune with present-day realities. Multicultural diasporan communities have gained prominence in the contemporary world as individuals traverse borders in search of new opportunities and a better life or running away from economic and political turmoil. These transnational lives and displacements within diasporic communities have significant implications for individuals’ identities, language orientations, cultural connections and sense of belonging. The novel The Eternal Audience of One by Remy Ngamije delves into the complexities of transnational lives and displacements by exploring themes of self-identity, cultural fusion, and the delicate balance between heritage and assimilation. The novel speaks of the intricacies of identity, the complexities of cultural connections, and the eternal quest for a sense of belonging as the author grapples with the question of self-identity and cultural fusion. This chapter critically examines these themes through an analysis of the narrative complexities portrayed in the novel and interrogates the challenges faced by transnationals as individuals located within a third-space, grappling with the painful “in-betweenity” and consequences of being neither fully connected to their homeland nor fully assimilated in their adopted country. By exploring the transformative power of literature, the chapter highlights how The Eternal Audience of One provides a platform for capturing and representing intricate narratives of the diaspora experience and how cosmopolitan literature becomes a vessel for giving voice to the intangible cords of existence, thereby shedding light on the unseen, and unheard stories of the diaspora.