'Exit Shakespeare From Our Curriculum': Nigerian Author Champions African Literature for Africans
'Exit Shakespeare From Our Curriculum': Nigerian Author Champions African Literature for Africans
The replacement of canonical Western texts with works by African writers is essential to dismantle colonial mentality and build a trillion-dollar creative economy rooted in authentic African narratives, Cash Onadele, known as Aiye-ko-ooto, told Nigerian newspaper Punch.
🟠Core Philosophy: African Stories for African Development
Onadele's mission is driven by the conviction that literature must serve its culture of origin. The Nigerian-American author recounted a personal epiphany, realizing that setting his stories in America or Europe ultimately "improves America" and benefits foreign publishers.
"How does that improve my own country?" the playwright, poet, and philosopher asked.
The author of over 100 creative published works now sets his works exclusively in Nigeria, ensuring the economic and cultural benefits circulate locally.
His ultimate goal is for African youth to see their own realities reflected in literature, creating a self-sustaining creative ecosystem.
🟠The Shakespeare Critique & Educational Reform
"As long as we keep distributing William Shakespeare in our secondary school curriculum, our children cannot stop having a colonial mentality."
Onadele believes that prioritizing Shakespeare over local authors implicitly tells students that foreign stories and settings are superior.
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