Cultural Hybridity in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus

Abstract

Purple Hibiscusdis covers the breakdown of the family authenticity with cultural hybridity under the influence of Christian religion in postcolonial Nigeria.It further exposes the two cultural extremes of traditional Igbo culture and of Western Christian culture in the post independent scene of the 1990s.For example, Papa Nnukwu celebrates Igbo tradition,while Eugene follows Christiantenetblindly. The novel criticizes the Eurocentric and exclusive Catholicism of previous generations,and demands respect for Igbo spirituality. No attempt is made to recover traditional religion in everyday life or to acculturate Catholicism in religious practices that are never essential to the majority of people.Kambili and Jaja, the main characters, are in repression by the irown father in their home due to the religious dispute.The other characters like Ifoma,father Amadi,Kambili and Jajaadmire own Igboculture while acceptingit with Christian culture.They together strengthen their culture and find their identity infusion. Purple Hibiscusis a complex tale of Kambili, a young girl growing up in Nigeria, in between the old“pagan”ways and her Catholic upbringing. Her life is structured and ruled by her strict Catholic father.However,a trip to visit her Auntie in another town shows her another way of living. Kambili has trouble accepting this alternative lifestyle and feels torn between the two. With the help of her brother, auntie, cousins, and a priest, she begins to see other ways of thinking and acting than her father expects.