Literature African the Healers by Ayi Kwei Armah

Healers

Much has been said about the history of Africa, and the centuries of slave trade which occurred at the expense of the African peoples. From the time of early colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, and later the British, the African people were taken advantage of, and sold as slaves to fuel the growing economies around the western world.

While nothing can ever be said to correct, or make full reparations for the contempt shown to the black peoples, Ayi Armah's book The Healers takes a deeper look at the cultural issues which arose on the African continent which fueled the disintegration of the African culture.

When we look back at a difficult, unjust, or painful situation we have encountered, the tendency is to look for reasons outside of ourselves in order to explain the pain. When a child is caught smacking another playmate on the playground during recess, the child will inevitably cry "But he started it!" In the same way, much of the commentary regarding the pain of slavery, and the destruction of the African culture has been laid at the feet of the colonizing white Europeans, and the American slave market which made the slave trade possible. However, the slave trade would have likely encountered significantly more opposition if the tribal Africans themselves were organized, and supported each against the European settlers.

Armah's book is a detailed cultural examination of the tribal wars between African groups. Armah chose the title The Healers because his book seeks to answer the questions regarding who were those who harmed the African's the most, the whites, or the blacks themselves. Before progressing much further, this writer wants to make perfectly clear that there is no justification for the evil, and harms which slavery, and the slave trade brought to the African citizens. Treating men as property, and carrying them away from their families and homeland for profit is an unspeakable evil. However, the question, and illustrated by Armah is whether the white men posed the greatest threat to the cultural unity, and well-being of the African tribes, or if the tribes themselves were the greater source of ongoing destruction.

Armah's hero is Densu, an African male who seems to be more a narrator who facilitates the story, than a key player in the events. We meet Densu as he declines to participate in what could be compared to the tribe's annual Olympic Games. He is one of 9 men signed up to participate in the wrestling tournament, which seem to be the ticket event. He is introduced standing in line waiting to be certified for the event. As the judge comes by, he says,

"I am making the sign of defeat."

"But you haven't fought" says the judge.

"I do not wish to fight." said Densu.

"You aren't going to concede, just like that?"

"I am conceding defeat."

Armah seems to making a statement about the entire region's African tribes in his opening scene. On his way to the match, he came across the dead body of a prince -- friend in the jungle. Not aware of how he died, or who was responsible, as Densu concedes defeat, Armah is making a statement. As tribes fight themselves, everyone is a looser. The dead prince in the jungle was undoubtedly killed by human, not animal means because the body was left, and not eaten. Densu, by refusing to fight, begins a journey of discovery of himself, and of the true difficulties which face his people.

Densu leaves the wrestling match, and finds a favorite friend in the jungle. Anan is inquisitive, and seeks to have fun with Densu by relaxing in the river. The river is a source, and metaphor for life, and of the healing power of the Gods. Fresh from the competition, Densu and Anan sit in the river, and gaze at the bottom of the clear waters. All is peaceful for the two, and the author is seemingly setting the contrast for the entire book. When the people fight, either themselves or each other, they miss out on the simple treasure of understanding the great mystery of the life giving waters. They seek to find power or status for themselves, and never are able to find the peace they seek, because they try to find it through war.

Densu introduces the reader to another character, his friend, and possible love interest Jesiwa. Jesiwa has been married before, and thought the circumstances of here singlehood are not disclosed, she is marred from a history of 4 miscarriages. The first happened as the result of an accident, but the 2-4 were spontaneous. Jesiwa tortures herself mentally over her inability to have children, until she spends time with a healer named, Damfu. Through a long, scene, and many days, Damfu helps Jesiwa see that it is within her power to conceive again, she only has to want to. When she complains, and responds that "there is something too strong for me . . . An evil force that over powers me . . . so that I cannot conceive"

Damfu replies, in somewhat oriental philosophy "If it is a power within you that is more powerful that you are, then it has to borrow power from your real self. When you gather all your scattered energy, then you can see your own strength, and see if you are really too weak, or too strong."

Again, Armah is making a metaphor for the African people. Scattered and sectarian, they are weak, and the white men can conquer them at will. Since Armah is writing in retrospect, he is identifying one of the reasons for Africa's vulnerability. The African tribe's own disunity created their weakness, and thereby gave the power to the colonizing white men.