Afterlives Literary Elements

Historical Fiction

It is set in Zanzibar, a small island off the coast of Tanzania.

It is narrated in the third-person point of view by an omniscient narrator.

The tone is melancholic and reflective. The mood is somber and thoughtful.

Protagonist: IIyas and Hamza Antagonist: German colonial rule

The main conflict in the novel is the struggle between colonized African people and their European oppressors. The characters in the novel must grapple with the legacy of colonialism, as well as its ongoing effects on their lives. They are also forced to contend with a second, more immediate conflict: a looming war that threatens to change their world.

The climax comes when Afiya and Hamza finally surrender themselves to each other, choosing to create something new and beautiful out of the ruins of their pasts.

Gurnah foreshadows the love story between Afiya and Hamza in their initial interactions, where they recognize a shared understanding of pain and suffering despite having experienced it in vastly different ways.

When Khalifa says "Is it such a disaster?" after Asha explains her situation. Asha's life has been filled with tragedy, yet Khalifa makes light of their situation, likely trying to make her feel better.

One allusion is to the Maji Maji Uprising, a rebellion against German colonial rule in what is now Tanzania. The uprising started in Lindi and spread across the south and west of the country, lasting three years before it was suppressed by German forces.

“Both the store and the room had rickety doors of rusty corrugated-metal sheets kept closed by iron padlocks which looked more ceremonial than secure. Inside the little room was a rope bed covered with a mat, certain to be crawling with bedbugs, Ilyas thought to himself. He noticed at once that there was no mosquito net and sighed with resignation.”

Duality is encapsulated in Ilyas' story; his time suffering at the hands of German captors has shaped him into a defender of their cause.

Gurnah intertwines the stories of Afiya, Ilyas, Hamza, Khalifa, and Asha to illustrate how different people are affected by imperialism and violence. The novel shows how each character navigates the complexities of their respective situations — some choosing to fight against it or remain loyal to imperialists while others attempt to escape it — as well as how they come together in solidarity despite their differences.

The phrase "Royal Navy" is used to refer to the entire British naval military, representing them as one unified entity.

“The road past the village ran on to the coast in one direction and to the deep interior in the other.”