TRANSITIONAL SHIFTS IN IDENTITY: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SHORT STORIES IN CHIKA UNIGWE’S BETTER NEVER THAN LATE

Abstract

This paper, explores the concept of shifts in identity within the context of Chika Unigwe’s Better Never than Late. With the recent trend in migration, African writers are burdened with the responsibility of documenting the realities of migrants in diaspora. Previous studies have captured the disillusioned state of migrants. There exist some gaps in this discourse of shifts in identity in the course of migration. The study addresses the evolution of identities, struggle for agency, and negotiation of identities in a multicultural space. Homi Bhabha's theory of hybridity is used in analysing the text. The selected narratives from a short story collection, vividly portray the evolution of characters' identities, as they navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by multicultural relationships and the postcolonial world. Hence,e narrative highlights the formation of hybrid identities, the impact of colonialism, and the struggle for agency and autonomy in a foreign land. The findings reveal that identity is not static but is continually influenced by historical, cultural, and personal elements as the characters' experiences in the stories exemplify the dynamic nature of identity, reflecting the interplay of historical, cultural, and individual factors responsible in shifting and shaping migrants’ identities in diaspora.