JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

Literature illuminates the complexities surrounding migration in post-independence Africa and elucidates the multifaceted experiences of migrants as displaced characters. Employing the conceptual framework of the bildungsroman alongside the theoretical lens of border theory, this paper examines chronospatial crossings and identity reconstruction in Bulawayo Noviolet'sWe Need New Names. It explores the protagonist's journey across time, from childhood innocence to adult consciousness. The study explores characters' developmental trajectories, illuminating how their spatial crossing from Zimbabwe to the West disrupts and accelerates process of maturation. The paper's engagement with border theory serves to elucidate the liminal spaces created by these spatial crossings – spaces that complicate the characters' sense of belonging and catalyze a profound need for identity reconstruction. As the protagonists grapple with the disorientation of their new environment, they struggle to navigate the complexities of forging a sense of identity amidst opposing forces. This paper contributes to the scholarly dialogue surrounding migration experiences and border studies by projecting the story in We Need New Names not just as a journey through space, but also as a voyage through time.