Unveiling post-colonial nigeria

• Post-colonial Nigeria


  Nigeria was granted independence in 1960, after being a British colony since 1914. This led to a period of instability, military coups, and repressive governments.
• The novel explores the consequences of British colonialism, such as the Catholic faith of Papa Eugene's family and the instability after independence.
• The novel is set either in the 1980s or 1990s, during a period of political instability, military control, repression of freedom of speech, and economic inequality in Nigeria.
• Aspects of post-colonial Nigeria in the novel


  • Repressive control from the head of state
  • People speaking in Igbo or English
  • Christianity left behind by Christian missionaries vs. more indigenous beliefs
  • British education system
• The novel explores the intermingling of Igbo and Christian beliefs in Aunty Ifeoma's family.
• The daughters of the Immaculate Heart Secondary School, where Kambili goes to school, represents the British education system in Nigeria.