From Subjugation to Subversion: Power and Resistance in Leo the African

Abstract

This article explores the themes of power and resistance in postcolonial novels set in Islamic Spain, focusing on the historical and cultural dynamics between Muslims in Al-Andalus and Spaniards. The analysis is grounded in critical discourse theory, particularly Foucauldian perspectives on power, knowledge, and resistance. The study investigates how Moorish identity, shaped by hybridity and fluidity, challenges binary oppositions and Orientalist portrayals. The protagonist of Leo the African, Hassan al-Wazzan, serves as a key example of how cultural power structures are navigated and contested, both in Islamic and Christian contexts. The article highlights how language and discourse function as tools for both domination and subversion, offering a more nuanced understanding of Moorish identity and history. Al-Wazzan’s identity, shaped by multiple cultural affiliations, embodies resistance within liminal spaces, challenging rigid definitions and providing a critique of colonial and contemporary discourses. The study emphasizes the importance of re-examining historical narratives and the role of discourse in shaping knowledge, identities, and social relations. By reconsidering the marginalization of Moors in dominant historical narratives, this research advocates for a more inclusive understanding of cultural and historical identities, particularly in postcolonial discourse.