A Bend in the River is a novel written by V.S. Naipaul that explores the chaotic situation of an African country, apparently the Congo, after its independence from Belgium. The novel, released in 1979, is a revision of Africa, similar to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, with the angle of the Indians staying in Africa.
The narrator, Salim, is a Muslim merchant of Indian descent, who started conducting business in a town situated at the bend in the river. He chose that place because of its colonial influence, expecting the area to flourish. However, post-independence there was an ultranationalist movement by the President of the country, who is referred to as “The Big Man,” ostensibly Joseph Mobutu, who announced the colonizers and others who are not Africans, to leave the country. That is why the Indians in Africa faced a lot of complications. The president announced a new venture to build a modern Africa that would astound the rest of the world.
After the independence of the Congo, Patrice Lumumba became its first prime minister. However, he was termed a communist sympathizer, overthrown by a military coup by Joseph Mobutu, and eventually executed. After Mobutu came to power, he announced a nationalist movement and arranged rallies claiming Lumumba as a national hero of independence to gain the support of the Congolese people. In the novel, it can be seen that the idea of making “The New Domain,” a modern, well-equipped town, originated from the President’s pretentious portrayal of nationalism.
Everything was a sham. The President turned out to be a “Mimic Man,” similar to the title of one of Naipaul’s novels, The Mimic Men. He wanted to make a new Africa by educating the youth with European teachers and transforming Africa into Europe. This is also a contrast between Mobutu’s education at Catholic schools and his ability to speak fluent French. In his younger days, Mobutu was an Évolué, a group of native African people who were transformed into replicating the lifestyles of the Europeans and considered them superior. Thus, his mind was trained in a way that makes him think the Western way of life is the civilised way of life. Thus, in the novel, it is shown that the president adhered to Europeanism and maintained his power by posting big posters of himself printed in Europe. Moreover, when he nationalised foreign businesses, he delivered them to his supporters and not to the people.
Raymond is a lecturer at the polytechnic institute and lives at the Domain with his wife, Yvette. The narrator, Salim, and his friend Indar went to Raymond’s house to attend a party. Salim was awestruck to see African style and decor and a Joan Baez song playing in the background, which he thought was a sweet song of injustice. He reasons that people only enjoy the sweet songs of justice for their purpose. The environment Salim was in, made him feel safe and close, so much so that he was able to express his opinions openly. Had it been some other place full of Africans and not Europeans, Salim might not have felt the same. Salim’s way of thinking makes it clear that the domain was privileged, free of the tension that Salim faces regularly in African neighborhoods.
Salim’s character is a reflection of Naipaul himself, who used Eurocentric views. Even Sir Edward Said despised him as a premium, describing him as an informant of the West. Naipaul suffered from rootlessness and alienation, as did Salim. He dislikes the African people, whereas upon entering the Dom domain, he develops intense feelings for Raymond’s wife, Yvette, who is white, eventually entering into a romantic relationship with her. Even then, he suffers from an identity crisis as he realizes that Yvette is exploiting her youth by being involved with different men without catching their feelings. But Salim had feelings for her.
This novel is a reflection of Naipaul’s own perspective on Africa. It shows that Africans post-independence lacked the ability to think independently because they stayed dependent on colonial powers and were only able to mimic the Europeans. Does this view prevail now? You decide.
Writer:
Risalat Rahman Hridoy
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE