​Flashback -FATHERS OF NATIONS ​​STYLES AND STYLISTIC DEVICES

​​Flashback -FATHERS OF NATIONS ​​STYLES AND STYLISTIC DEVICES

This is a window to an earlier occurrence that provides critical information to the main story. It is a situation where the author uses a scene set in a time earlier than the main story to link up with the events taking place in the main story.

1. It is used here to help us understand better the present day elements and learn more about the characters. Also used to reveal the emotional struggles of the characters in the text, a flashback also reveals the insights of the character's actions.
2. There is the use of flashback in chapter two about the life of Professor Kimani; his education journey, how he married Asiya, how he lost his only daughter Tuni to a road accident and how his marriage fell apart. Through it we also how he fought with an MP landing him behind bars. This clearly tells us why he is where he is now seeking justice and fighting for a change.
3. There is the use of flashback in the conversation between comrade Melusi and Tad Longway where comrade Melusi talks about him and their leader fighting smith in search of independence and through this we realise the origin of his name 'comrade'
4. We also get to learn through flashback how comrade Melusi lost his wife Ziliza through Gukurahundi which erupted due to the anti - government unrest in southern Zillibabwe. (Pg 90-92).
5. There is the use of flashback in chapter 8 which tells us clearly how Pastor Chineke Chiamaka started preaching back then, how he developed his preaching career and how he lost it and landing behind bars; ...he preached everywhere: indoors in the strict privacy of a house or in the limited publicity of a church.. ' Pg 109'
6. The flashback takes us way back to when he had a church of his own with a welcoming bulleting in a church entrance 'God is Watching You' and how he would make his sermons witty and
7. persuasive up to until he mentions the undoing of the government his pulpit which changed his life for the worst by landing him in prison. (Pg 115).
8. The education ability of Engineer Seif Tahir has been brought out in the text through a flashback. He had come from overseas when the leader was celebrating his 20th year in power and how he sided with him and even joined 'The Fist of Allah' until the Al Qaeda struck and changed his view.
9. Flashback is also used by the author to tell us how Engineer Tahir lost his eye when he was served revenge by one Rahmah Mahmoud with whom he had fallen in love yet she did not respond to his expectation leading to endless vengeance between them and finally costing both of them their eyes. (Pg122)
10. Through flashback we learn that Dr. Afolabi and his wife Pamela do not have children of their own. This is clearly brought out in chapter 5 where we learn how Femi Dr. Afolabüs cousin was sent to bring a second wife to Dr. Afolabi since he and Pamela did not have children. This ends his marriage with Pamela.