Environmental and social injustice in imbolo Mbue's

Abstract

This study analyzes Imbolo Mbue.s How Beautiful We Were through the lens of ecocriticism and its subfields to examine how contemporary African literature engages with ecological issues resulting from corporate exploitation and governmental complicity. Employing close textual analysis as a method and ecocriticism as a theory, the research highlights key themes such as ecological degradation, power asymmetries, and grassroots activism. the study draws on theoritical contributions from scholars including David Harvey, Rob Nixon, Graham Huggan, Helen Tiffin and Vandana Shiva, whose work explores the intersections between literature, environmental justcie, and postcolonial critique. Ultimately, the analysis underscores the role of narrative in resisting injustice, raising ecological awareness, and envisioning transformative change.