Postcolonial Speculative Fiction

“Icon”: A Short Story Found in Nnedi Okorafor’s Kabu-Kabu

“A black American with short Bob Marley and a fat white woman named after almonds” (157).



Black American:  “This is going to be a good story. African rebels with the audacity and ability to cripple America’s crude oil supply. Priceless. I am the smartest man alive” (154).

“When he looked up, he jumped back as fifteen AK-47-toting men came striding up the path” (156).


Black American:  “We’re journalist who wish to interview members of the NDPM” (157).
AK-47-toting Men: “Names?” (157).
Black American:  “Richard Banks” (157).
Fat White Woman Named After Almonds:  “Nancy Armond” (157).

There are many layers of hypocrisy embedded in this story but the objectification of the visiting American journalists to the Nigerian mangrove swamps, by the NDPM is my favorite. The Niger Delta People Movement (NDPM) is a fictional group created by Okorafor, the photos depict MEND a actual group fighting against oil companies. 
The two characters, Richard and Nancy, arrived there thinking they were smarter, doing the people a favor, and entitled to their story. The for-profit glory story was generated by Nigerian people fighting against American oil companies that are raping and poisoning their land. I think sometimes Americans can lose themselves in being American. Our country affords many luxuries and an abundance of free time is one of them. That time is often used to over-develop our specialness. That over valued American trait does not translate well in other cultures. How does a culture that is fighting for their people’s survival quantify the value of an American’s specialness?

 

Icon:  “What did you think when you came here?”

In Okorafor’s story, Icon, is the boots on the ground militia leader. Icon is the spokes person for their leader Biko Niko, protector of operations, and their public relations officer.

“That you could shake my hand and call me brother without really getting your hands dirty?” “Our great leader Biko Niko is a man of his word. He told you ‘no’ in his email, yet you think by throwing your money around you will still get in?” (161).



Sometimes there are consequences when visiting a culture. In fact, at least one visitor to Yellowstone National Park gets charge by a bison annually. Sometimes they get hurt and sometimes they just get scared. There is a whole book dedicated to stories of how visitors died at Yellowstone. Americans live in a safe society. We tend lose sight that we are not just spectators. For example, you should Google “should I go hiking in Afghanistan?”. Need I say more?

Black American and White Almonds wanted to be a spectator, but there were consequences and they assumed they were exempt.

Black American:  “I returned from the swamp covered with its slime,” “I am still in shock,” “I am a murderer” (161). “That place is a cesspool,” “and who the fuck cares,” “Fuck this story. Nobody is ever going to hear it” (164).

    
 
 

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  1. I really like that you brought in the examples of Americans expecting to be catered to even in their own country in a place like Yosemite, where nature is purposely uninterrupted. It really makes me think about how I notice my own interactions and movements in other places and cultures that are different from my own. On my study abroad trips to Greece and Paris, I was constantly reminded that people have much different standards and lifestyles in other countries and it's not fair for me to expect them to cater to my own! I think that the reason a lot of Americans have such a hard time peacefully visiting other places (like in this story) is because they a) don't travel enough b) don't respect other cultures and c) see other cultures as inferior. I don't think that this problem can ever be completely resolved, but being aware of it and continuously thinking about ways that we can move through foreign places more respectfully is a great start.
  2. I agree with everything you say except that Americans view other cultures as inferior. That's true to a point, but it's my experience that Americans generally don't think about other cultures. Our cultural bias exists not because we view ourselves as superior, but because we don't even consider that other cultures exist in a different reality than the one we occupy.

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