STREETISM IN AMMA DARKO’S FACELESS AND NOVIOLET BULAWAYO’S WE NEED NEW NAMES

ABSTRACT

This long essay examines streetism as a social and complex phenomenon in African society, using Amma Darko’s Faceless and Noviolet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names. It is restricted to the examination of streetism in Faceless and We Need New Names, highlighting its causes and effects plaguing our contemporary African societies, alongside the harsh realities faced by these sets of marginalized group. This study involves a textual analysis of the selected texts and it adopts the qualitative method of research in bringing to the limelight the various factors that leads to streetism, and the effects in general, using the primary texts and other secondary materials, such as textbooks, journals, and the internet. It uses the theoretical frameworks of sociological theory and psychological theory, in tackling the phenomenon of streetism, using Fofo and the rest of the street kids as a case study in Faceless, and the character of Darling and her friends in We Need New Names. Through this research, we are able to delve into the topic of streetism as a social phenomenon that affects developing countries all over the world, and it has been a subject of interest to scholars, activists, and organization for many years, with the aim to address the challenges faced by street children worldwide. Through this research, poverty and social exclusion has been found to be the main triggering factor behind streetism, and that if they can be tackled with, there will be a reduction in the phenomenon of streetism.