Running Head: DECOLONIZATION or RESTRICTED LIBERATION?

DECOLONIZATION or RESTRICTED LIBERATION?

Taya P. Van de Camp

Wilfrid Laurier University

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DECOLONIZATION or RESTRICTED LIBERATION?
Decades were spent fighting colonialism in South Africa so for journalists to still fall

under colonial rule decades after the country was liberated becomes a frustrating topic for those

affected. Recent arrests in 2018 have caused nations globally to question why South African

leaders use the out-dated “1982 Protection of State Information Act” which directly violates the

country’s Constitution. (Jazeera, 2019). The African National Congress has made several

attempts to override this act, and the bill that would’ve provided justice for journalists made it

through Parliament where it has sat on the President’s desk for over 6 years. (Jazeera, 2019).

Journalists have had to contend with laws that protect white minority 25 years into democracy. It

becomes hard for the state and citizens to reconcile over the topic of ending colonial rule when

citizens feel as though the government is directly violating their freedom. Both Achebe and

Fanon would argue that the process of decolonization should be civil but will be a power

challenge for those who try to sway the leadership mechanisms.

The Process of Decolonization

South Africa had been colonized for over a century, but after 1950 the next decade was

spent by Africans revolting successfully as most countries won independence. (Jazeera, 2019).

Before revolting, Europeans implemented laws and statutes that still preside over South Africa to

this day. In October of 2018 Sylraine Kiaku was jailed for publishing articles critical of a bank.

She was then prosecuted for defamation, a law that dates back to 1940 when the Democratic

Republic of Congo was a Belgian colony. (Jazeera, 2019). This arrest caused confusion and

frustration among not only journalists but the general public. Citizens feel as though if the

Republic was truly liberated, then why follow outdated laws that do not apply to the current

democracy? Fanon looks at the process of decolonization and analyses all stages of this shift in

power. (Hillier, 2019). As South Africa’s Parliament still follows under colonized law to govern

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its citizens, Fanon would question whether the state truly achieved liberation from Western

ideology. Fanon argues that the land does not become decolonized when the colonizers leave; it

becomes decolonized when the values, rules, and ideals of the Western-Euro culture no longer

exist. (Hillier, 2019). Because of his believe in this, Fanon would appeal to the population as

well as state to understand that the country is limiting itself from growing and achieving true

independence.

Universality in African Literature

Not only are African journalists limited in their writing within Africa, the universality of

their work is limited as well. Achebe argues that Western authors have managed to colonize

literature, because the language used in African writing somehow does not translate well with

Europeans. Achebe strongly opposes Africans having to bend to Western democracy and its

terminology, so he would greatly disapprove of the acts set in place that limit the scope of

journalists writing within the country. Achebe’s theories all empower African culture and break

down the unfair laws that impose on South Africans, so the arrests made to journalists does not

comply with Achebe’s theoretical code. Outsa Mokone is a newspaper editor in Botswana at the

‘Sunday Standard’ who published an article describing how the former President was involved in

a late-night car-crash. Due to the editor writing about a public figure with power, Mokone was

charged with sedition. The editor plead guilty to the charges, but the charges were then thrown

because the state knew that Mokone wanted to challenge the constitution. (Jazeera, 2019).

Botswanan officials refuse to give up the power that comes with limiting free speech, because if

journalists cannot publish articles that could create defamation or change the public’s view of

such person then these officials do not have to worry about losing their power and status. Achebe

is against African authors complying with western customs in their writing but would conclude

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that these authors are already conforming to European ideals because the government of

Botswana still follows certain aspects of colonial rule.

The purpose of decolonization is for cultures who have been overthrown, typically by

Europeans, to liberate the countries land and restore the non-western culture to what it once was.

This fight for freedom is violent and creates a divide between cultures as well as state and its

actors. (Hillier, 2019). Botswana directly violates the freedoms that are supposed to come with

decolonisation because the country’s leaders want to control the works published about

themselves. The translation of cultural writing is not understood due to colonialism, and how

Europeans oppressive power negatively impacted how other cultures view African literature. The

laws set in place in Botswana limit citizens to Western ideals which contradicts the message

behind decolonization. Overall both the theorists and the journalists disagree with Parliaments

actions, but little can be done towards fighting a government whose goal is to keep its power.

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References

Al Jazeera. (2019, March 10). The colonial-era laws that still govern African journalism.

Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2019/03/colonial-

era-laws-govern-african-journalism-190310080903941.html.

Hillier, H.C. (2019) Decolonization [2019] Retrieved from

https://mylearningspace.wlu.ca/d2l/le/content/315458/viewContent/1890819/View