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Question

Difficulty: MediumTextual Analysis of Prescribed African Drama

In Kobina Sekyi's prescribed African drama *The Blinkards*, Mrs. Candida Borofosem strictly insists on adopting English manners, wearing heavy European clothing in tropical heat, and rejecting Fanti customs. Which central thematic concern of the play is primarily exposed through her satirical characterization?

  1. The uncritical assimilation of foreign colonial culture and the loss of indigenous identityAnswer
  2. B
    The downfall of a noble protagonist driven by tragic pride and defiance of ancestral deities
  3. C
    The political struggle for chieftaincy succession between royal ruling houses
  4. D
    The secret disclosure of a protagonist's hidden motives through a stage convention

Answer

The uncritical assimilation of foreign colonial culture and the loss of indigenous identity
In Kobina Sekyi's *The Blinkards*, the play satirizes Westernized elites who blindly adopt European lifestyle habits while despising their indigenous culture. Mrs. Borofosem's rigid adherence to English clothing, food, and speech directly illustrates this uncritical cultural assimilation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the character traits and behavior described in the stem.
Mrs. Candida Borofosem exhibits an obsessive desire to adopt European customs while ridiculing native Fanti culture.
Character actions and attitudes in satirical African drama serve to highlight key societal critiques.
2
Relate Mrs. Borofosem's behavior to the primary theme of Kobina Sekyi's *The Blinkards*.
The title 'Blinkards' refers to people who are blind to the value of their own heritage due to superficial Westernization.
Sekyi uses her character to criticize the indiscriminate copying of English culture in colonial West Africa.
3
Select the option that accurately reflects this central thematic focus.
The option highlighting uncritical colonial assimilation directly answers the question.
This directly aligns with the primary satirical objective of the playwright.

Key Concept

Theme of Cultural Assimilation and Colonial Satire in African Drama
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Textual Analysis of Prescribed African Drama

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