Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie

Angandze Sheily Ngobalep

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15

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Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie

Angandze Sheily Ngobalep^*

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 14, Issue 3)

Received: 8 May 2026 Accepted: 18 May 2026 Published: 26 May 2026

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Abstract

This article explores transnationalism in postcolonial literature through the migrant experiences in None to Accompany Me and Americanah. Political oppression, economic instability, racism, and globalization continue to compel many Africans to migrate, yet migrants often retain deep emotional, cultural, and economic ties to their homelands. Drawing on transnationalism, diaspora, postcolonialism, and identity from scholars including Rainer Bauböck, Thomas Faist, Bill Ashcroft, and Homi Bhabha, this study investigates how migrants negotiate identity, belonging, and cultural preservation abroad. The article argues that migration does not sever homeland ties. Rather, migrants construct “transnational spaces” that bridge host and origin countries, sustaining familial, cultural, linguistic, political, and economic relationships while adapting to new societies. Central themes include exile, hybridity, resistance, sexuality, identity, and Bhabha’s “third space.” Through qualitative, comparative textual analysis of characters such as Sibongile and Didymus Maqoma, Ifemelu, and Obinze, the study shows how migrants resist assimilation, navigate racism and alienation, and use language, family ties, remittances, and nostalgia to maintain transnational connections. The analysis concludes that transnationalism is central to the migrant experience in contemporary African literature. Despite identity crises and cultural conflict, these novels present migration not as abandonment of origins, but as negotiation of multiple identities and spaces affirming the resilience and adaptability of the postcolonial subject in a globalized world.

Published in	International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 14, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15
Page(s)	80-91
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Transnationalism, Diaspora, Identity, Migration, Hybridity, Home

References

[1]	Adichie, C. N. (2013). Americanah. Fourth Estate.
[2]	Alonso, M. A. (2015). Thinking Caribbean transnational identity anew in contemporary short fiction. Atlantic Studies, 12(1), 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/14788810.2014.981571
[3]	Ashcroft, B. (2001). Postcolonial transformations. Routledge.
[4]	Bauböck, R., & Faist, T. (Eds.). (2010). Diaspora and transnationalism: Concepts, theories and methods. Amsterdam University Press.
[5]	Beauvoir, S. de. (2010). The second sex (C. Borde & S. Malovany-Chevallier, Trans.). Vintage Books. (Original work published 1949).
[6]	Bhabha, H. K. (1994). The location of culture. Routledge.
[7]	Feig, E. R. (2014). Now that the buffalo is gone: Exile, isolation and representation in contemporary Native Canadian literature. The Journal of Lyrical Studies, 4(2), 185–201.
[8]	Friedman, S. S. (2019). Towards a transnational turn in narrative theory. Narrative, 27(2), 119–131. https://doi.org/10.1353/nar.2019.0007
[9]	Garrett, N. (2011). Transnationalism, home and identity: Personal essays (Publication No. 3485721) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
[10]	Gordimer, N. (1994). None to accompany me. Bloomsbury.
[11]	McClintock, A. (1995). Imperial leather: Race, gender, and sexuality in the colonial contest. Routledge.
[12]	Page, K. (2011). Transnational Negociations In Carribbean Diasporic Literature. Routledge.
[13]	Pries, L. (2001). The approach of transnational social spaces: Responding to new configurations of the social and the spatial. In L. Pries (Ed.), New transnational social spaces: International migration and transnational companies in the early twenty-first century (pp. 3–33). Routledge.
[14]	Spivak, G. C. (1986). Imperialism and sexual difference. Oxford Literary Review, 8(1/2), 225–240. https://doi.org/10.3366/olr.1986.008.1-2.26
[15]	Subrahmanian, M. (2016). Changing perspectives amongst Indian diaspora in Germany: Culture and gender. Springer.

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Ngobalep, A. S. (2026). Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 14(3), 80-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15

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Ngobalep, A. S. Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2026, 14(3), 80-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15

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AMA Style

Ngobalep AS. Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie. Int J Lit Arts. 2026;14(3):80-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15,
  author = {Angandze Sheily Ngobalep},
  title = {Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {14},
  number = {3},
  pages = {80-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20261403.15},
  abstract = {This article explores transnationalism in postcolonial literature through the migrant experiences in None to Accompany Me and Americanah. Political oppression, economic instability, racism, and globalization continue to compel many Africans to migrate, yet migrants often retain deep emotional, cultural, and economic ties to their homelands. Drawing on transnationalism, diaspora, postcolonialism, and identity from scholars including Rainer Bauböck, Thomas Faist, Bill Ashcroft, and Homi Bhabha, this study investigates how migrants negotiate identity, belonging, and cultural preservation abroad. The article argues that migration does not sever homeland ties. Rather, migrants construct “transnational spaces” that bridge host and origin countries, sustaining familial, cultural, linguistic, political, and economic relationships while adapting to new societies. Central themes include exile, hybridity, resistance, sexuality, identity, and Bhabha’s “third space.” Through qualitative, comparative textual analysis of characters such as Sibongile and Didymus Maqoma, Ifemelu, and Obinze, the study shows how migrants resist assimilation, navigate racism and alienation, and use language, family ties, remittances, and nostalgia to maintain transnational connections. The analysis concludes that transnationalism is central to the migrant experience in contemporary African literature. Despite identity crises and cultural conflict, these novels present migration not as abandonment of origins, but as negotiation of multiple identities and spaces affirming the resilience and adaptability of the postcolonial subject in a globalized world.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie
AU  - Angandze Sheily Ngobalep
Y1  - 2026/05/26
PY  - 2026
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DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 80
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15
AB  - This article explores transnationalism in postcolonial literature through the migrant experiences in None to Accompany Me and Americanah. Political oppression, economic instability, racism, and globalization continue to compel many Africans to migrate, yet migrants often retain deep emotional, cultural, and economic ties to their homelands. Drawing on transnationalism, diaspora, postcolonialism, and identity from scholars including Rainer Bauböck, Thomas Faist, Bill Ashcroft, and Homi Bhabha, this study investigates how migrants negotiate identity, belonging, and cultural preservation abroad. The article argues that migration does not sever homeland ties. Rather, migrants construct “transnational spaces” that bridge host and origin countries, sustaining familial, cultural, linguistic, political, and economic relationships while adapting to new societies. Central themes include exile, hybridity, resistance, sexuality, identity, and Bhabha’s “third space.” Through qualitative, comparative textual analysis of characters such as Sibongile and Didymus Maqoma, Ifemelu, and Obinze, the study shows how migrants resist assimilation, navigate racism and alienation, and use language, family ties, remittances, and nostalgia to maintain transnational connections. The analysis concludes that transnationalism is central to the migrant experience in contemporary African literature. Despite identity crises and cultural conflict, these novels present migration not as abandonment of origins, but as negotiation of multiple identities and spaces affirming the resilience and adaptability of the postcolonial subject in a globalized world.
VL  - 14
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Angandze Sheily Ngobalep

English Department, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6553-9288

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APA Style

Ngobalep, A. S. (2026). Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 14(3), 80-91. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15

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ACS Style

Ngobalep, A. S. Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2026, 14(3), 80-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15

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AMA Style

Ngobalep AS. Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie. Int J Lit Arts. 2026;14(3):80-91. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15,
  author = {Angandze Sheily Ngobalep},
  title = {Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {14},
  number = {3},
  pages = {80-91},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20261403.15},
  abstract = {This article explores transnationalism in postcolonial literature through the migrant experiences in None to Accompany Me and Americanah. Political oppression, economic instability, racism, and globalization continue to compel many Africans to migrate, yet migrants often retain deep emotional, cultural, and economic ties to their homelands. Drawing on transnationalism, diaspora, postcolonialism, and identity from scholars including Rainer Bauböck, Thomas Faist, Bill Ashcroft, and Homi Bhabha, this study investigates how migrants negotiate identity, belonging, and cultural preservation abroad. The article argues that migration does not sever homeland ties. Rather, migrants construct “transnational spaces” that bridge host and origin countries, sustaining familial, cultural, linguistic, political, and economic relationships while adapting to new societies. Central themes include exile, hybridity, resistance, sexuality, identity, and Bhabha’s “third space.” Through qualitative, comparative textual analysis of characters such as Sibongile and Didymus Maqoma, Ifemelu, and Obinze, the study shows how migrants resist assimilation, navigate racism and alienation, and use language, family ties, remittances, and nostalgia to maintain transnational connections. The analysis concludes that transnationalism is central to the migrant experience in contemporary African literature. Despite identity crises and cultural conflict, these novels present migration not as abandonment of origins, but as negotiation of multiple identities and spaces affirming the resilience and adaptability of the postcolonial subject in a globalized world.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Living Between Borders: Transnationalism, Identity and Exile in Gordimer and Adichie
AU  - Angandze Sheily Ngobalep
Y1  - 2026/05/26
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 80
EP  - 91
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20261403.15
AB  - This article explores transnationalism in postcolonial literature through the migrant experiences in None to Accompany Me and Americanah. Political oppression, economic instability, racism, and globalization continue to compel many Africans to migrate, yet migrants often retain deep emotional, cultural, and economic ties to their homelands. Drawing on transnationalism, diaspora, postcolonialism, and identity from scholars including Rainer Bauböck, Thomas Faist, Bill Ashcroft, and Homi Bhabha, this study investigates how migrants negotiate identity, belonging, and cultural preservation abroad. The article argues that migration does not sever homeland ties. Rather, migrants construct “transnational spaces” that bridge host and origin countries, sustaining familial, cultural, linguistic, political, and economic relationships while adapting to new societies. Central themes include exile, hybridity, resistance, sexuality, identity, and Bhabha’s “third space.” Through qualitative, comparative textual analysis of characters such as Sibongile and Didymus Maqoma, Ifemelu, and Obinze, the study shows how migrants resist assimilation, navigate racism and alienation, and use language, family ties, remittances, and nostalgia to maintain transnational connections. The analysis concludes that transnationalism is central to the migrant experience in contemporary African literature. Despite identity crises and cultural conflict, these novels present migration not as abandonment of origins, but as negotiation of multiple identities and spaces affirming the resilience and adaptability of the postcolonial subject in a globalized world.
VL  - 14
IS  - 3
ER  -

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