Double Yoke takes readers on a journey into Nigeria, where gaining a college degree is valued very deeply, much more deeply compared to any other story we have read thus far.
We meet Ete, a college writer who aspires to be something big in his country, and in the world. In the beginning of the novel, he even admires a woman lecturer. However, he questions his admiration. “He was wishing to be as successful as a women: he was wishing to adopt the method used by an ordinary women in the field of Arts! How low would he sink?” (9). This quotes brings into play what Tyler and Nolan have discussed, the role women play in the novel.
Furthermore, through his studies, Ete longs to take a sort of “revenge.” “Get his revenge the civilized and academic way. He would write and tell the outside world that masses in the university campuses are oppressed” (12). Ete wants to tell his story as he knows it. However, he criticizes the government’s oppression while he himself oppresses women (ex. beating girlfriend).
A significant theme that is in the novel is the “coming of age” story. “That night, by the hurricane lamp, with sweet music in his head, and youthful hopefulness pounding in his heart, he penned his first love letter to his first adult love. Ete Kamdba was growing into a man” (36). In, Double Yoke, it seems that love makes a boy into a man.
Continuing on the subject of female oppression, before Ete and Nko get into their quarrel, Ete cries out, “Men are never prostitutes, I have never heard of men being called prostitutes”(59). Here, Ete conveys two themes. First, the ignorance that exists when one does not gain a higher, worldly education and second, the chauvinistic world that is present in Africa. The second theme is exactly what Nolan decscibes from his sister’s experience in Africa.
In addition, the novel touches on the theme of brotherhood. At a college in Nigeria, men discuss females, educational studies, and religion. This theme of the novel bridges the gap between American college students and Nigerian students by making the students in Nigeria not appear as distant from our experience.
Moving on, the idea of a student being the first of his family to attend college is acted out. For example, the town is overjoyed about Ete’s acceptence into the college. Hoever, being a first generation college student has its negatives. While on his way to Calabar, the motor bike driver insults Ete by saying, “I bin tink say you be rich man pikin, rich college boy”(32). The cabdriver wishes to isolate Ete and his success. I can relate to this, coming from a first generation college family. Also, at times I feel I must live up expectations that family and friends set for me.
Finally, religion has a recurring presence in Double Yoke. Towards the end of this section, the entire campus gathers at the Revival and the narrator makes significant commentary. The narrator states, “For many people in Nigeria and many black Americans and West Indians, whose education was very low or non-existent, and who became of life’s demands have really not been able to recapture the art of deep thinking, which was once mastered by their ancestors, - going about the streets shouting ‘Alleluya Jesus is coming now’ was easier to understand. It gave them a sense of purpose as well.” (79). The narrator describes the importance that religion takes on in this region of the world. If one does not have access to education, religion is the next best way to seek fulfillment in life.
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