African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio... more African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio-historical experiences. These two intertwined imperatives have been variously underscored by critics, as the sine de qua non of a functional heritage of African literature. This paper is essentially a comparative study of the exploitation of the abiku myth in Debo Kotun's Abiku and Ben Okri's The Famished Road. An attempt is made at extending the abiku metaphor to the prevailing dysfunction in the novels' enabling milieu. Furthermore, the paper posits that the African oral tradition, as exemplified by the abiku myth among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria, remains a vibrant asset for thematic and aesthetic directions for contemporary novelists. In Okri and Kotun therefore lies a refreshing mythic exploration which interrogates the postcolonial Nigerian experience. This underscores the need for a conscious mythic exploration in the postcolonial literary experience for an eff...
This paper examines the subject of commitment in third- generation Nigerian fiction writers. The ... more This paper examines the subject of commitment in third- generation Nigerian fiction writers. The intention is to show the synergy in the aspirations of critics of post-independence Nigerian literature, who are products of the same socio-historical experience like the writers they critique. Ultimately, with the advancement in the society, critics have demonstrated clear understanding of the ideological bent of the writers. The paper underscores commitment as the major motivation for the third-generation Nigerian novelists and the continued relevance of socio-historical engagement and identifies the various trends and dimensions prevalent in the critical enterprise as far as the corpus of twenty-first century Nigerian fiction is concerned. The paper observes that, the corpus of the writings continue to evince dynamic association with the realities of the enabling milieu of production thereby deepening the tradition of commitment in African literary historiography.
Yoruba, to be fully understood in the context of this paper in its ethnographic sense, are a majo... more Yoruba, to be fully understood in the context of this paper in its ethnographic sense, are a major tribal group in Nigeria. Presently, they are found in large concentration along the West African coast as well as other major cities of the world. Yoruba continuities in the Diaspora also stretch as far as Brazil, the Caribbean: Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Europe and the United States of America (Adetugbo 1992). Perhaps what stands out the Yoruba everywhere they are found is their strong attachment to their culture, religion and tradition. Even with civilization, the light of culture has remained effervescent among the people.
African fiction and the medium of its communication have engaged the attention of critics and wri... more African fiction and the medium of its communication have engaged the attention of critics and writers for some time now. While a group in the early sixties led by Ngugi wa Thiongo advocated the use of African languages, others like Achebe would rather domesticate English to project African values. For some language formalists like Soyinka, there is no contest as language choice is considered a lame-duck discourse and "poetics of praying mantis". This paper interrogates how the new generation of writers has grappled with the age-long issue of languages of expression for African literature. This is with a view to determining if there is a paradigm shift in linguistic choice especially by third-generation Nigerian writers. The focus is an analysis of language strategies employed in selected third-generation Nigerian novels. Through a close and comparative reading of two purposively selected African novels – Shade Adeniran Imagine This and Doreen Baigana Tropical Fish, the pap...
Chinua Achebe’s globally acclaimed classic, Things Fall Apart (1958) ( TFA henceforth) represents... more Chinua Achebe’s globally acclaimed classic, Things Fall Apart (1958) ( TFA henceforth) represents the efflorescence of African literature. Coming on the eve of Nigeria’s political independence, and of course at a period when most African countries attained nationhood, the novel is an emphatic statement about the African spirit. It is clear that Things Fall Apart’s arrival heralded the much desired confidence and self determining spirit that the comity of nations expects from an emerging voice in global affairs. Quite expectedly, the nationalism engendered by the debut of the work in African literary firmament is a pointer to its enduring brilliance. As the classic is celebrated on its 50 Birthday, it is worthwhile to reexamine the significance of this work along fresh paradigms and most especially, within new constituencies. To this end, it is intended in this paper, to explore the indigenous epistemology as it relates to law and the administration of justice in the universe of the ...
There are several studies on the relationship between folkloreand healthcare practice in the cult... more There are several studies on the relationship between folkloreand healthcare practice in the culture of Yoruba people. This study however argues that the contemporary Yoruba society continues to utilize these traditional art forms in medical practice. With specific reference to Yoruba oral sub-genre,Orin Aremo,( �b aby rocking song �) which is deeply rooted in Yoruba culture, this study draws an interdisciplinary link between orthodox pediatric medicine and indigenous epistemology. The paper observes that, despite the absence of an empirical basis for its efficacy, contemporary Yoruba society still appropriates the art form. This therefore goes a long way to show that, indigenous folk culture remains as potent as ever in the affairs of humanity irrespective of the stages or advances of civilization. As exemplified byOrin Aremo,indigenous verbal and artistic resources remain vibrant and are of immense socio-economic and artistic value.
a mong the Yoruba, a linguistic-cum-cultural group found in the Western part of nigeria, knowledg... more a mong the Yoruba, a linguistic-cum-cultural group found in the Western part of nigeria, knowledge production resides in the proverbial lore of the people. The generative capacity of the intrinsic resources of Yoruba proverbs is eminently visible across several frontiers of epistemological precincts. however, it has been increasingly difficult to exploit these resources for contemporary appropriation as a result of factors such as counter-culture, gaps in educational planning and the erosion of indigenous values by waves of modernisation. To fully understand the objective of this paper is to adequately locate proverbs in the knowledge production enterprise in african consciousness. of course, owing to africa’s non-scribal tradition, which compelled the transmission of communal ethics via oral means, it naturally follows that each society would naturally evolve oral forms to serve the multifarious purposes in the social equation.
This paper interrogates Yoruba verbal arts and situates culture as a catalyst for development. It... more This paper interrogates Yoruba verbal arts and situates culture as a catalyst for development. It is suggested that the intricate resources of oral art, exemplified by Yoruba textual references, are viable ingredients for socio- cultural empowerment. To fully comprehend the dynamics of a society in constant change due to external and internal realities, one must reconsider culture in order to reposition the society. The multidimensional and multidisciplinary significance of Yoruba verbal art demonstrate that culture has a vital role to play in any meaningful socio-political advancement in the Nigerian body polity. The ideas conveyed in proverbial expressions, representing key cultural realities of the Yoruba people, offer insights and ideas for development and social good. The paper submits that a deeper exploration of the intricate resources of verbal art is a viable route to development.
African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio... more African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio-historical experiences. These two intertwined imperatives have been variously underscored by critics, as the sine de qua non of a functional heritage of African literature. This paper is essentially a comparative study of the exploitation of the abiku myth in Debo Kotun’s Abiku and Ben Okri’s The Famished Road. An attempt is made at extending the abiku metaphor to the prevailing dysfunction in the novels’ enabling milieu. Furthermore, the paper posits that the African oral tradition, as exemplified by the abiku myth among the Yoruba of south-western Nigeria, remains a vibrant asset for thematic and aesthetic directions for contemporary novelists. In Okri and Kotun therefore lies a refreshing mythic exploration which interrogates the postcolonial Nigerian experience. This underscores the need for a conscious mythic exploration in the postcolonial literary experience for an effective enga...
African popular culture parades forms which convey the consciousness of the enabling societies. A... more African popular culture parades forms which convey the consciousness of the enabling societies. Apart from their aesthetic qualities, they also evince socio-historical relevance. The significance of the orature forms lies in the verbal structure of indigenous African societies. Among the Yoruba, oriki occupies a strategic place that is expressed in intertextuality, the relevance of which is mostly dramatised in poetic renditions of praise-singing. Either at the level of the individual or community, the qualities of oriki is deployed to enhance the value of its subject. The significance of this study lies in its contemporary approach to oriki's usage. This paper is a study of the deployment of oriki as a resource in Yoruba popular culture. Using excerpts from musicians such as Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Shina Peters and Kollington Ayinla as textual references, the paper closely analyses oriki's intrinsic qualities and how they are used in engaging personal, social and political issues. In demonstrating the contemporary significance of oriki, the paper affirms the continued importance of African orature forms with a view to discovering its relevance to all spheres of human undertakings.
African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio... more African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio-historical experiences. These two intertwined imperatives have been variously underscored by critics, as the sine de qua non of a functional heritage of African literature. This paper is essentially a comparative study of the exploitation of the abiku myth in Debo Kotun's Abiku and Ben Okri's The Famished Road. An attempt is made at extending the abiku metaphor to the prevailing dysfunction in the novels' enabling milieu. Furthermore, the paper posits that the African oral tradition, as exemplified by the abiku myth among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria, remains a vibrant asset for thematic and aesthetic directions for contemporary novelists. In Okri and Kotun therefore lies a refreshing mythic exploration which interrogates the postcolonial Nigerian experience. This underscores the need for a conscious mythic exploration in the postcolonial literary experience for an eff...
This paper examines the subject of commitment in third- generation Nigerian fiction writers. The ... more This paper examines the subject of commitment in third- generation Nigerian fiction writers. The intention is to show the synergy in the aspirations of critics of post-independence Nigerian literature, who are products of the same socio-historical experience like the writers they critique. Ultimately, with the advancement in the society, critics have demonstrated clear understanding of the ideological bent of the writers. The paper underscores commitment as the major motivation for the third-generation Nigerian novelists and the continued relevance of socio-historical engagement and identifies the various trends and dimensions prevalent in the critical enterprise as far as the corpus of twenty-first century Nigerian fiction is concerned. The paper observes that, the corpus of the writings continue to evince dynamic association with the realities of the enabling milieu of production thereby deepening the tradition of commitment in African literary historiography.
Yoruba, to be fully understood in the context of this paper in its ethnographic sense, are a majo... more Yoruba, to be fully understood in the context of this paper in its ethnographic sense, are a major tribal group in Nigeria. Presently, they are found in large concentration along the West African coast as well as other major cities of the world. Yoruba continuities in the Diaspora also stretch as far as Brazil, the Caribbean: Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Europe and the United States of America (Adetugbo 1992). Perhaps what stands out the Yoruba everywhere they are found is their strong attachment to their culture, religion and tradition. Even with civilization, the light of culture has remained effervescent among the people.
African fiction and the medium of its communication have engaged the attention of critics and wri... more African fiction and the medium of its communication have engaged the attention of critics and writers for some time now. While a group in the early sixties led by Ngugi wa Thiongo advocated the use of African languages, others like Achebe would rather domesticate English to project African values. For some language formalists like Soyinka, there is no contest as language choice is considered a lame-duck discourse and "poetics of praying mantis". This paper interrogates how the new generation of writers has grappled with the age-long issue of languages of expression for African literature. This is with a view to determining if there is a paradigm shift in linguistic choice especially by third-generation Nigerian writers. The focus is an analysis of language strategies employed in selected third-generation Nigerian novels. Through a close and comparative reading of two purposively selected African novels – Shade Adeniran Imagine This and Doreen Baigana Tropical Fish, the pap...
Chinua Achebe’s globally acclaimed classic, Things Fall Apart (1958) ( TFA henceforth) represents... more Chinua Achebe’s globally acclaimed classic, Things Fall Apart (1958) ( TFA henceforth) represents the efflorescence of African literature. Coming on the eve of Nigeria’s political independence, and of course at a period when most African countries attained nationhood, the novel is an emphatic statement about the African spirit. It is clear that Things Fall Apart’s arrival heralded the much desired confidence and self determining spirit that the comity of nations expects from an emerging voice in global affairs. Quite expectedly, the nationalism engendered by the debut of the work in African literary firmament is a pointer to its enduring brilliance. As the classic is celebrated on its 50 Birthday, it is worthwhile to reexamine the significance of this work along fresh paradigms and most especially, within new constituencies. To this end, it is intended in this paper, to explore the indigenous epistemology as it relates to law and the administration of justice in the universe of the ...
There are several studies on the relationship between folkloreand healthcare practice in the cult... more There are several studies on the relationship between folkloreand healthcare practice in the culture of Yoruba people. This study however argues that the contemporary Yoruba society continues to utilize these traditional art forms in medical practice. With specific reference to Yoruba oral sub-genre,Orin Aremo,( �b aby rocking song �) which is deeply rooted in Yoruba culture, this study draws an interdisciplinary link between orthodox pediatric medicine and indigenous epistemology. The paper observes that, despite the absence of an empirical basis for its efficacy, contemporary Yoruba society still appropriates the art form. This therefore goes a long way to show that, indigenous folk culture remains as potent as ever in the affairs of humanity irrespective of the stages or advances of civilization. As exemplified byOrin Aremo,indigenous verbal and artistic resources remain vibrant and are of immense socio-economic and artistic value.
a mong the Yoruba, a linguistic-cum-cultural group found in the Western part of nigeria, knowledg... more a mong the Yoruba, a linguistic-cum-cultural group found in the Western part of nigeria, knowledge production resides in the proverbial lore of the people. The generative capacity of the intrinsic resources of Yoruba proverbs is eminently visible across several frontiers of epistemological precincts. however, it has been increasingly difficult to exploit these resources for contemporary appropriation as a result of factors such as counter-culture, gaps in educational planning and the erosion of indigenous values by waves of modernisation. To fully understand the objective of this paper is to adequately locate proverbs in the knowledge production enterprise in african consciousness. of course, owing to africa’s non-scribal tradition, which compelled the transmission of communal ethics via oral means, it naturally follows that each society would naturally evolve oral forms to serve the multifarious purposes in the social equation.
This paper interrogates Yoruba verbal arts and situates culture as a catalyst for development. It... more This paper interrogates Yoruba verbal arts and situates culture as a catalyst for development. It is suggested that the intricate resources of oral art, exemplified by Yoruba textual references, are viable ingredients for socio- cultural empowerment. To fully comprehend the dynamics of a society in constant change due to external and internal realities, one must reconsider culture in order to reposition the society. The multidimensional and multidisciplinary significance of Yoruba verbal art demonstrate that culture has a vital role to play in any meaningful socio-political advancement in the Nigerian body polity. The ideas conveyed in proverbial expressions, representing key cultural realities of the Yoruba people, offer insights and ideas for development and social good. The paper submits that a deeper exploration of the intricate resources of verbal art is a viable route to development.
African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio... more African novels have been acknowledged and widely accepted as products of oral tradition and socio-historical experiences. These two intertwined imperatives have been variously underscored by critics, as the sine de qua non of a functional heritage of African literature. This paper is essentially a comparative study of the exploitation of the abiku myth in Debo Kotun’s Abiku and Ben Okri’s The Famished Road. An attempt is made at extending the abiku metaphor to the prevailing dysfunction in the novels’ enabling milieu. Furthermore, the paper posits that the African oral tradition, as exemplified by the abiku myth among the Yoruba of south-western Nigeria, remains a vibrant asset for thematic and aesthetic directions for contemporary novelists. In Okri and Kotun therefore lies a refreshing mythic exploration which interrogates the postcolonial Nigerian experience. This underscores the need for a conscious mythic exploration in the postcolonial literary experience for an effective enga...
African popular culture parades forms which convey the consciousness of the enabling societies. A... more African popular culture parades forms which convey the consciousness of the enabling societies. Apart from their aesthetic qualities, they also evince socio-historical relevance. The significance of the orature forms lies in the verbal structure of indigenous African societies. Among the Yoruba, oriki occupies a strategic place that is expressed in intertextuality, the relevance of which is mostly dramatised in poetic renditions of praise-singing. Either at the level of the individual or community, the qualities of oriki is deployed to enhance the value of its subject. The significance of this study lies in its contemporary approach to oriki's usage. This paper is a study of the deployment of oriki as a resource in Yoruba popular culture. Using excerpts from musicians such as Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Shina Peters and Kollington Ayinla as textual references, the paper closely analyses oriki's intrinsic qualities and how they are used in engaging personal, social and political issues. In demonstrating the contemporary significance of oriki, the paper affirms the continued importance of African orature forms with a view to discovering its relevance to all spheres of human undertakings.
Uploads
Papers by Oluwole Coker