1 Introduction

The "Mayombe Forest" depicts the lives of guerrilla fighters during the Angolan Liberation War, truly reflecting the thoughts and actions of the Angolan People's Movement guerrilla fighters. The novel focuses on the contradictions and conflicts among guerrilla fighters, especially the impact of "tribalism" on unity. The character images are diverse, including guerrilla fighters from different ethnic backgrounds. While they jointly resist colonizers, they also have differences in ethnic interests. The author's in-depth reflection on "tribalism" has attracted the attention of Angolan leader Netu, who believes that it has positive significance for African countries to strive for national independence.

African "tribalism" in the context of postcolonialism

In depth exploration of the meaning and origin of "tribalism" in the postcolonial context of Africa, it is pointed out that this concept is a product of European colonialism and is used to describe African social forms. European colonizers used the "divide and conquer" strategy, utilizing the concept of "tribes" to divide African political units and strengthen colonial rule, leading to inequality and discrimination among Africans. African scholars and organizations such as UNESCO hold a critical attitude towards the Eurocentrism and colonial bias of "tribes" and "tribalism". However, the "tribalism" ideology in colonial rule had a profound impact on emerging African countries, and many countries still faced the threat of ethnic conflicts and divisions after independence. African scholars have proposed concepts such as "state multi nationalism" and "local nationalism" to distinguish them from traditional nationalism. The use of "tribalism" in "The Forest of Mayombe" reflects both the influence of colonialism and Eurocentrism, as well as the criticism and practical political needs of these issues. It is emphasized that studying 'tribalism' has significant value in understanding the construction of African identity.

3. "Tribal ism" in "Mayongbei Forest"

In "The Mayombe Forest," Pepeira explores the complexity of African identity by depicting the "tribal" contradictions between different ethnic groups in Angola. The conflict between the Jinbangdu and Congolese ethnic groups is particularly prominent, and they also discriminate against the Mbandu and Cabinda ethnic groups. The Jinbangdu ethnic group is the main ethnic group in Angola, while the Congolese ethnic group is a cross-border ethnic group that has historically been descendants of the Kingdom of Congo. The arrival of the Portuguese and their invasion of the Kingdom of Congo, as well as the subsequent intervention of the Dutch, led to the decline of the Kingdom of Congo and ethnic hatred. The novel is set in the Mayombe Forest of the Cabinda region, showcasing ethnic differences and conflicts among guerrilla fighters, including Congolese.

The ideal and reality of "tribalism" in "Mayongbei Forest"

In "Mayombe Forest," Pepetra explores the complexity of "tribalism" and proposes addressing this issue from both spiritual and material perspectives. On a spiritual level, he emphasized the importance of discourse power and revealed the close connection between "tribalism" ideology and language through the plot of military codes. On the material level, he promotes intellectual progress through economic development, but at the same time points out the limitations of economic development. The author expresses concerns about the potential challenges that Angola may face in the future through the role of a commander, including tensions caused by resource scarcity and possible authoritarian politics. The book presents an idealistic solution by eliminating the negative impact of "tribalism" through joint battles and sacrifices. However, the conflict between idealism and reality, as well as the threat of colonial policies and local nationalism to Angola's unity, make the path of establishing national identity challenging. The book proposes a national nationalist identity centered on the state through the sacrifice of Lutamos and the commander, but the feasibility of this identity in reality still faces challenges.

5 Conclusion

Petra reveals the historical roots and social impact of Angolan tribalism through character dialogues and inner monologues in "The Mayombe Forest", which has literary and social research value. The outbreak of the Angolan civil war confirmed the author's concerns about ethnic identity issues. Petra's idealism in solving the problem of tribalism is difficult to achieve in reality, reflecting the difficulties of the post colonial era in Africa and the challenges of establishing national identity in Angola.