Contrapuntal Voices of Empire: A Postcolonial Analysis of Colonial and Indigenous Narratives in Tayeb Salih's Season of Migration to the North

Abstract

This paper offers a postcolonial analysis of Sudanese author Tayeb Salih's novel Season of Migration to the North (1966), emphasizing the interplay between indigenous and colonial narratives. The analysis centers on the protagonist, Mustafa Sa'eed, who embodies its essence. The character of Mustafa Saeed represents the intricate interplay between colonial and indigenous elements. This research employs Edward Said's postcolonial concept, Contrapuntal Reading (1993), which underscores the interconnection of the histories of colonizers and the colonized through the portrayal of Mustafa Saeed's character, focusing on the mechanisms of colonial power, such as cultural hegemony, identity manipulation, and the resistance of the colonized. This study delineates two objectives: examining the dynamic power of the colonized, as exemplified by Mustafa Sa’eed's character, and investigating Mustafa Sa’eed's interactions with British women, reflecting the historical injustices endured by Sudan during the British colonial era. The way Tayeb Salih juxtaposes Western imperial ideals with Sudanese cultural tales facilitates a critique of imperialism. This method facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected history of colonialism and persistent conflicts within postcolonial identities, rendering the novel a significant examination of the psychological and cultural ramifications of colonial subjugation. The study concluded that Mustafa Sa’eed grapples with the sentiments of colonization, especially when moving to England for his education. Despite possessing dynamic strength, he is ensnared between the two spheres that hinder reconciliation. Sa’eed had a sense of dislocation between the two universes, which is evident in his interactions with European women.