Postcolonial and Diasporic Intersections: Cultural Identity and Alienation in Chibundu Onuzo’s Welcome to Lagos and Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers

Abstract

This study explores cultural identity and alienation in Chibundu Onuzo’s Welcome to Lagos and Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers through a postcolonial and diasporic framework. Set in the postcolonial metropolis of Lagos and the diasporic hub of New York, the novels depict African characters navigating hybrid identities and urban marginalization. Drawing on Frantz Fanon, Homi K. Bhabha, Edward Said, Paul Gilroy, and Stuart Hall, the analysis examines how Onuzo portrays Lagos as a site of cultural conflict and resilience amid Nigeria’s postcolonial challenges, while Mbue critiques the American Dream’s racial and economic barriers. Through comparative literary analysis, including close reading and socio-historical contextualization, the article highlights shared themes of hybridity, exclusion, and community-driven agency, alongside distinct critiques. Onuzo targets Nigeria’s governance failures, while Mbue exposes the inequities of global capitalism. The study argues that both novels redefine African identity in urban contexts, contributing to postcolonial and diaspora studies by bridging local and global narratives. Findings emphasize how Lagos and New York differently shape identity and alienation, yet both affirm resistance through solidarity. This article underscores the significance of these two novels in challenging hegemonic narratives and amplifying African voices globally.