Examining Alterity Dynamics Through the Conceptualisation and (Re)Construction of Social and Political Enemy in Post-Independent Francophone African Literature

Abstract

The exploration of alterity in francophone African literature offers a rich and multifaceted understanding of identity dynamics and cultural hybridity. By examining the impact of post-independence socio-political landscape, this study provides critical insights into the complexities of otherness. Through the lenses of conflict and postcolonial theories, functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and comparative analysis, the thematic perspective provides a deeper understanding of how the concept of the enemy is constructed, negotiated, and redefined within the alterity framework in francophone African narratives. Using a corpus of five novels, this study not only enriches our understanding of francophone African literature but also contributes to broader discussions on identity, power, and socio-political representation in post-independent Africa. It concludes that the enemy's identity is fluid, continuously shaped by social interactions and cultural practices, which construct and redefine individual and collective identities in response to evolving social and political contexts.