When reading Spider the Artist by Nnedi Okorafor, I was confused at first. The story felt almost like a stream of consciousness, or elements added in a chaotic fashion. But after the class discussion, I left with clarity. We spent a significant amount of time debating on who the enemy was in the short story; the villagers, the abusive husband, or artificial intelligence. But I believe the true enemy in Spider the Artist is the one in the background – the corporations drilling for oil and protecting the pipeline running through the small village in Nigeria. They are the ones ultimately responsible for the controversy and violence that ensues.
What I find particularly interesting about the short story is the parallels we can draw to the real world today. Africa is potentially the most vulnerable continent to climate change and environmental injustice, and yet dominating superpowers take advantage. A prime example illustrating this is China’s increased involvement in Africa over the past decade. China’s booming economy and expanding middle-class has translated to an increased demand for most goods, including oil. And as it turns out, Africa is the second-largest exporter of oil to China, just behind the Middle East. China has invested heavily in the continent, boosting the oil and mining sectors in exchange for favorable trade agreements. And China’s deepening involvement in African affairs has not come without controversy. Several African leaders and organizations have openly spoken out against China, stating that China has exploited resources without stimulating local economies and taking environmental consequences into consideration.
Oil pipeline in Nigeria, Africa. Link: http://www.africareview.com/image/view/-/3326858/highRes/1233068/-/pfxr4c/-/Pipeline+PIX.jpg
This is what I believe is happening in Spider the Artist. The Nigerian government has approved drilling projects by foreign corporations, disregarding the local population’s suffering. Thus, the story provides a powerful message, criticizing the exploitative methods of corporations and governments, despite the seemingly disorienting twists and turns and surprising inclusions in it.
