Connections with real world

Binti is a rather complex work that requires a deep perception and understanding of the interaction of personalities, philosophies, and values of society. Not surprisingly, Binti has many references to real life.

First, there are the racial animosities and genocides. Certainly the work conveys racial animosity between peoples, which ultimately culminates in war. The hatred of the Khoushes towards the Himba, based on the realization that the Himba are the inferior people of the slaves, also reminds us of the racial conflicts. To begin with, the closest example to the work is the genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda, in which more than 1 million Africans were murdered. The event was on an unprecedented scale since World War II. The Tutsi genocide took place within most of the countries participating in the Great Congo War. Another example is the persecution of the Jews in 1933-1945, which resulted in the extermination of up to 6 million people. Another example would be discrimination against African-Americans, resulting in them earning less, receiving a worse education, and not receiving proper privileges (blacks have half as many homes of their own in the United States, they earn 1.7 times as much as whites). This example senses the difference between Binti, who flew to his homeland, and Okwu, who was on an alien planet among strangers who hated him. All of these events carry with them the philosophy of the superiority of one race over another.

The second is the cultural and linguistic difference. The work refers us to the international brotherhood that has emerged in modern Europe. Far from always feeling equal, the populations of the developed world have felt equal. What is surprising is that such a change has occurred literally in the last 100 years, which should be gratifying. People in developed countries are liberal to people who look different, think different, which is very similar to Oomza University (except that children there do hate each other, but they live under the same domes and strive for harmony). Obviously, the piece wants to show us that the goal of the world must be world harmony, otherwise innocent people (Himba, students, Binti) will suffer from violence and chaos.

Third, this is a significant reference to the world wars that resulted in the death of innocents. You may not know it, but the bloodiest conflict since World War II occurred in Africa. By 2008, 5.4 million people had died as a result of the war and subsequent events. The origins of the conflict go back to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, when huge numbers of Tutsi refugees ended up in Zaire (as the Democratic Republic of Congo was called until 1997). After the Rwandan Patriotic Front came to power in Rwanda, an influx of Hutu refugees, many of them implicated in the genocide, poured into Zaire. The de facto Rwandan civil war spilled over into Zaire, which Hutu radical armed groups used as a rear base for raids on Rwanda. This war is very similar to the Meduse and Khoush conflict, which started because of mutual racial hatred, just like the African conflict.

Fourth, we also want to mention feminism. Certainly Binti refers us to the struggle of women for their rights. Throughout the piece, we marvel at the strength, courage, and heroism of the little girl, which any man would envy (Mwinyi and Dele are clearly less courageous). A very similar story took place in the real world (Binti is analogous to all women). Despite the long-standing rejection of feminist ideas, a suffragette movement emerged in Britain and the United States in the late nineteenth century amidst increasing dissatisfaction of women with their position in society. It was led by Emmeline Pankhurst, actively supported by her lawyer husband Richard Pankhurst. The suffragettes fought for women's suffrage, not only through legal and peaceful means (rallies, demonstrations, speeches), but also through "extreme" ones - by hunger strikes, window-bashing, and arson. The suffragettes faced a wave of criticism. Often the activists were imprisoned, publicly starving themselves, undermining their health, and taking small steps toward their goal. It was at this time that the myth was born that fighting for one's political rights was the lot of ugly women unhappy in love and marriage. The newspapers portrayed suffragettes as slovenly old maids, which was fundamentally untrue. Most of the leaders of the suffragette movement were not only married to prominent figures, had their support, but also looked elegant in order to draw attention to their views and "recruit" new female supporters. Nowadays, women's rights are broad enough, but their career opportunities are still limited. Sexism is rife in the world, but women have already become strong and capable of living separately from the "breadwinners of the family. Binti's piece shows the same gradual emergence of female masculinity and strength. At first she was afraid to leave her family, afraid to say too much and let herself be humiliated at university. Later she began to protect the weak and not let herself be hurt. And in the finale she taught others humility and settled the world's conflicts.