SOME HIGHLIGHTS IN ACROSS THE MONGOLO BY JOHN NKEMNGONG NKENGASONG

1. IRONY IN ACROSS THE MONGOLO

It is ironical that Ngwe, despite his intelligence, is unable to succeed at University. This highlights the marginalization that prevails in the institution.

Also, it is ironical that Minister Wankili, who was bred in the Anglophone culture, gives a deaf ear to the Anglophone problem. He says that his office is not a place where people will come and discuss the Anglophone problem. This highlights man's inhumanity to man.

Moreover, it is ironical that Teacher Marewe promises to take care of Ngwe and see him through his studies at University but dies without achieving this. This creates pathos as Ngwe is seen abandoned to himselfand struggling all alone to go through University. This tells us that the future is always unpredictable and no one has control over it.

It is also ironical that the university of Besaadi is created for the federal republic of Kamangola, but lectures are given in French, and all the authorities are either French-speaking or assimilated English speakers. This fosters marginalization against Anglophones and makes Ngwe unable to achieve his dream of becoming the next Babajoro of Kamangola.

2. CONTRAST IN ACROSS THE MONGOLO

"Contrast" is the comparison of things/events/characters bringing out opposing differences between them.

There is contrast between Wysdom College and the university of Besaadi in the description Ngwe gives of both campuses. While Wysdom College used to be clean and the students always neat, the university of Besaadi is described as a filthy (dirty) place. Ngwe even goes further to describe the resto, where students enjoy taking their meals. This shows how dirty the people in Ngola are.

Again, contrast is seen between Ngwe's father and his mother over Ngwe's education  While his father wants him to go to school, and even does everything to enroll him into the village school, Ngwe's mother wants him to continue staying at home until he is big enough to go to school. This shows that the father knows the importance of education, but the mother, being an illiterate, does not. This situation leads to a conflict between both parents when Ngwe is beaten almost to death by his class two teacher.

There's also contrast between the Fon of Attah and Babajoro in the way they rule. While the Fon is kind to his people and shows the spirit of communal life by sending young men to Besaadi to bring back Ngwe when they learn that he's gone mad, Babajoro rules with tyranny and suppression.

There's also contrast between Dr Amboh and Mr Nkwenti in the way they treat their fellow Anglophone brothers. Dr Amboh is touched by the condition of Anglophone students as they're marginalized at university and wishes he could remedy their situation. On the contrary, Mr Nkwenti portrays assimilation to the French system by refusing to help his fellow Anglophone brothers. This is seen in the way he reacts towards Ngwe when goes to him for his scholarship issue. Mr Nkwenti even uses French to send Ngwe out of his office.

3. SYMBOLISM IN ACROSS THE MONGOLO

- the bridge over river Mongolo is a symbol of division between the Anglophones and the francophones living in Kamangola. It is also the boundary between success and failure, between the good and the bad. That is why Ngwe is able to succeed in Kama but unable to succeed in Ngola.

- Minister Wankili symbolises man's inhumanity to man. This is because, despite the fact that he was bred in the Anglophone culture, he refuses to hear the cries of Anglophones and look into their situation. He even goes as far as warning them that his office is not a place where the Anglophone problem is to be discussed.

- the university of Besaadi symbolises the grave for dreams/ambitions. Ngwe leaves Kama full of dreams to become the next Babajoro of Kamangola, but this dream is his is watered down by the system which exists at the University of Besaadi. Due to frustratation as a result of the marginalization he faces at university, Ngwe has to spend 7 years without graduating.


4. THE ROLE PLAYED BY ALOH-MBONG IN ACROSS THE MONGOLO

He's the one who cures Ngwe of madness

He's a spirit fighter, the supreme native doctor in the village

It's through people's presence in his compound that the communal life existing in Attah is revealed, as we see people coming in turns to look after Ngwe.

5. MARGINALISATION IN ACROSS THE MONGOLO

- Anglophone travellers are marginalised by the gendarmes at theb checkpoint by the bridge over the Mongolo

- Anglophone students are marginalised at the University of Besaadi by lecturers and other top officials

- Ngwe is marginalised because of his English-speaking background, and especially the fact that he cannot express himself in French

- Because Ngwe is poor, his girlfriend Shirila opts to follow M. Abeso because he has money, and feeds her boyfriend with the same money collected from M. Abeso


6. INSTANCES  OF NOSTALGIA IN ACROSS THE MONGOLO

Nostalgia here means thinking about something in the past with a strong desire to go back there.

- Ngwe, in a contrast between Wysdom College and the university of Besaadi, is seen like someone who regrets to have left this college. This is because there was cleanliness and respect at college, contrarily to what he sees at University.

- Ngwe was successful at college but fails at University. This explains his numerous reminiscences about Wysdom College whenever he encounters difficulties at University.