God's Bits Of Wood

Sembene Ousmane's novel, "Gods Bits of Wood," gives a highly detailed story of the railway strike of 1947-48 in French West Africa. It contains conflicts of political, emotional and moral nature. Ultimately, Sembene's novel is one of empowerment. It brings to light the tension between colonial officials and the African community among the railway men as well as the struggle of the African community to free itself from being subjected to colonial power. Frederick Cooper's article, "Our Strike: Equality, Anticolonial politics and the 1947-48 Railway Strike in French West Africa," helps reveal the strike's true meaning and agenda by analyzing the conflicts present in Sembene's novel. In fact, it paints a very different picture of the railway strike than Sembene's novel.

As seen throughout Sembene's novel, one of the key elements of the railway strike is the importance of leadership and trust among the railway workers and the African community. With the direction of wise and educated leaders, the railway men are brought together and are given a sense of empowerment in their affairs with the French government. Two of these leaders that Sembene mention in his novel are Bakayoko and Fa Keita. Bakayoko is a young, educated delegate who takes care of the legal affairs of the railway men; and Fa Keita is an old, but wise and mature man in the African community who the people look up to for decisions concerning the people.

There is a constant struggle between the African community and colonial power. Even the simplest of things such as language is something that challenges French control and serves as a basis for African independence. For example, when Bakayoko meets with French delegates in regards the demands of the strike he says, "That is all I had to say, and I have said it in French so that he would understand me, although I think this meeting should have been conducted in Ouolof, since that is our language (Sembene 177)." Not only does this statement show Bakayoko's leadership in affairs of the strike, but it reveals sentiments of the African community that their language needs to be recognized. At that same meeting, when having to choose the number of delegates to represent the railway men Bakayoko states, "There is no necessity for that. They didn't' set any limit on the number of representatives they would have, we'll all go over together (Sembene 178)." Again, Bakayoko is expressing the need for the railway men to be recognized and that since the French leaders have no limit on the number of delegates, it is only fair that the railway men not be limited either.

Fa Keita is also looked upon as a man of great importance. His arrest by French militiamen reinforces this idea. From the beginning of the novel the people constantly look to Fa Keita for direction and guidance, calling him "the old one". At first when he is arrested the other prisoners treat him with must disrespect, but they realize who he is, and change their attitude greatly. They look upon him for reassurance that everything with the strike is going well, and that their efforts and the injustices brought upon them is known. Like Bakayoko, Fa Keita also challenges the power of the colonial officials. His action is that of civil disobedience. He does not verbally or physically defy the orders, but he quietly continues his way of life despite the attacks of the officials.

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