Psychopathology and healing in ayi kwei armah’s two thousand seasons and the healers

Abstract

"Scholars of African belief systems, such as John Mbiti, Laurenti Magesa and Kofi Appiah-Kubi, assert that in some African cultures illnesses symbolize a disjuncture among individual, social and divine purposes. Thus, an understanding of illness and healing requires an understanding of the relationship between the gods, the ancestors and human beings. Situating Ayi Kwei Armah within the traditions of the Akan, a West African-based cultural group, this paper argues that Armah’s Two Thousand Seasons and The Healers present an alternative perspective on godhead, gods, ancestors and the human person. It further argues that Armah’s interpretation of these formative elements of being and becoming provides a different understanding of illness and healing. In these two novels Armah diagnoses the pathologies that afflict Africa as violence, greed, envy and jealousy. Early in his writing career, Armah set the goal for his writings as contributing to the healing of these maladies. For the purpose of illustration, this paper will borrow examples from different African cultures. I begin by discussing the concepts of godhead and gods."(pg 1)