Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Novels: Correcting Tanzanians’ Perspectives and Addressing Controversies

Abstract

This study examines the controversial perspectives on Abdulrazak Gurnah's novels within Tanzanian society following his Nobel Prize for Literature win in 2021. The study aims to correct Tanzania's views by exploring the controversies that arose and assessing their impact on the country's literary landscape. Despite the controversies surrounding Gurnah's works, this article argues that they have had a significant influence on Tanzanian literature. The research was conducted at four universities: University of Dar-es-Salaam, Kampala University, State University of Zanzibar, and Open University. Data were collected from 200 respondents, including professors, teachers, students, writers, and publishers, through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data, which was presented using descriptive and diagrammatic formats. The findings reveal that the controversies in Tanzania regarding Gurnah's award stemmed from the language used in his novels, the themes presented, the author's closeness to his community, the Tanzanianess of his works, and reading habits in Tanzania. However, these controversies have had positive implications for Tanzania's literary landscape. Gurnah's international recognition has provided a platform for Tanzanian literature to gain global exposure and reach a wider audience. Additionally, his success has spurred the advocacy for the establishment of a national award for creative writing, revitalized interest in literary consumption, and sustained his own prolific output in English-language literature. Moreover, Gurnah's works have contributed to enriching Swahili literature through translations, bridging the gap between the two languages.