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How does Ayi Kwei Armah’s Fragments depict tensions between tradition and change in Ghana?

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Athol Fugard sits in the center with John Kani on the left and Winston Ntshona on the right; all three are seated closely together outdoors. — African literature South African dramatist Athol Fugard sitting between actors John Kani (left) and Winston Ntshona, 1973.

In his 1970 novel Fragments, Ayi Kwei Armah explores the profound tensions between traditional values and the encroaching forces of change in Ghana. The narrative centers on a young Ghanaian who returns home after living in the United States, only to experience deep disillusionment upon witnessing the societal shift toward Western-inspired materialism and moral decay.1

Armah’s work frequently highlights a widening spiritual and moral chasm between the past and the present. Through the protagonist’s return, the novel illustrates the conflict between the expectations of a traditional society and the reality of a nation grappling with the pressures of post-independence development and corruption. By contrasting the protagonist's experiences with the prevailing social climate, Armah critiques how modern influences can erode the integrity of traditional structures, emphasizing the struggle to reconcile one's heritage with a rapidly changing, often materialistic, contemporary environment.21