Critical Perspectives on Cameroon Writing

22. The Impact of Social and Cultural Change in the Novels of Linus Asong

281 22 The Impact Of Social And Cultural Change In The Novels Of Linus Asong by Kashim Ibrahim Tala Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Faculty of Arts University of Buea Abstract This paper sets out to examine the impact of social and cultural change on Cameroonians as reflected in The Crown of Thorns (1990) and its sequel, A Legend of the Dead (1993) by the Cameroonian writer, Linus Asong. It is based on the assumption that adjusting to a changing situation is a matter choice. Thus people are free to accept or reject social and cultural change. But, since most people do not have the ability to perceive the real nature of the social and cultural change taking place in society, it follows, logically, that those who can should help those who cannot. Linus Asong is of the opinion that social and cultural change failed in Africa because it came from the outside and also because the initiators of the change did not integrate the people in the planning and execution of the change. Consequently, the local people rejected the change because they did not help in bringing it about. The implication here therefore is that for social and cultural change to succeed the people who are likely to be affected by it must be made to identify with what is going on in their society. Cameroonian society, like other African societies has been undergoing rapid social and cultural change. There are two main stages to this change: the colonial and post-colonial. Each of these stages has produced its own devastating impact on the behaviour of individuals 282 or groups of individuals and the values which condition this behaviour. But we may ask, what is social and cultural change all about? Socio-cultural change is multi-faceted, multi-dimensional and continuous. It operates through individuals and, consequently, raises the problem of choice. The issue of choice is well illustrated in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. In that play, one of the main characters, Marcus Brutus leads an army against Octavius Caesar. At one point in the battle, he discovers that it will be advantageous for his men to change their tactics from one of defence to one of offence that is, to attack the enemy. Hence the following exhortation: There is a tide in the affairs of men Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures. The sea analogy used by Brutus in the above excerpt offers interesting possibilities for instance; one can go with the tide as it rolls in or out. One can go with the tide occasionally or refuse to go at all. Brutus weighs the situation and finds that it will be profitable for his men to take a particular action. That is, attack the enemy. But. he also knows that if his men are left to themselves, they will prefer to maintain their defensive position. That is why he takes the pains to help them understand the possibilities that are open to them. The analogy underlines the persuasive tone he uses to appeal to their good sense. If we extend the above interpretation to the issue of social and cultural change, we can conclude that adjusting to a changing situation is a question choice. In other words, people are free to adjust to a changing situation if they desire or refuse to do so if they feel happier with the old ways. Whatever the case people should not change for the sake of change alone or simply because others around them are changing. Above all, they should not allow themselves to pressure into changing, especially if they are convinced that it is not in their interest 283 to do so. But there is a tendency in all human affairs to follow the path of least resistance. Consequently, some people tend to resist the need to leave familiar ground for that which is less familiar even if the latter option offers more possibilities of self-fulfilment. That is why it is necessary for change agents to explain to such persons the consequences of adjusting to changing situations. Let us now examine the problem of adjusting to changing situations from a historical perspective. In Eighteenth century...