CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Literature across ages and continents have functioned as the
embodiment and interpreter of a peoples’ culture, a conveyor of a
people’s language as well as their philosophy, politics, psychology and
national character. Nwachukwu, (2005) notes that literature whether
cast in the form of agitation, negotiation or based on historical
reconstruction or mythological recreation has a touch of identity.
According to Bayo (2003:1) opines that Literature is a discipline that
attempts to depict man and his environment. The creative imagination and
the use of a specialized form of communication medium-language and
style make literature different form all other disciplines.
Furthermore, literature deliberately aims at re-creating the human
society via the exposition of human experiences, religious belief and
socio-cultural motifs of that society within the imaginative framework
of arts. Literature is also a librating force that frees us from the
inherent ideas placed on us by society and it is categorized into three
(3) generic forms; namely, drama, prose and poetry (Ibrahim and Akande
2000:3).
The African experience of literature dates back to the pristine age
of man and equally precedes the literature of some European countries
(Dada 2003:36). In Africa the fact is established that there is the
emergence of literature as part of cultural identity and revolutionary
struggle against domination, marginalisation and political cruelty in
African states like; Kenyan, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola,
Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa Guinea Bissau etc. African writers in the
decade of independence constituted the cultural nationalist movements
with a view of treating African indigenous literature in its own right
(Ojaide, 1992).
Dada (2003: 36) maintains that “African literature refers to works
done for the African audience, by Africans and in African languages
whether these works are oral or written”. The debate of African
literature over the use of language, diversity of culture and the
question of literary identity indigenous to Africa are issues that has
continued to generate significant interest ever since the emergence of
modern African literary writings, thus, many scholars have made their
inputs and positions.
One of the major issues in modern African literature is language. The
multi-cultural character of African language and the emphasis on the
protection of individual people’s linguistic identity have emasculated
the great dream of the total institutionalization of modern African
literatures. The question of identity and dignity in African literature
in the writings of regional and national writers persists because of
the prevailing socio-economic and political conditions in the continent
and among the countries of the continent. Meanwhile, the language of
African literature is another area of interests that has raised a lot of
devastating issues among scholars and critics.
According to Armah, (2005) Africa is vast and requires a vast
language to put through all our ideals, and that language is not yet
born”. Commenting on the language of African literature, Armah posited
that “we are presently suspended in linguistic neocolonialism while
awaiting a decisive breakthrough, if an African language is adopted, it
will be a big solution. The demands of internationality, the question of
communication with the world outside Africa and other issues such as
accessibility and marketability of African literature in the global
environment seem to have poisoned the dream of an African linguistic
identity among African writers.
Another issue to be considered in Modern African Literatures is the
diversity of culture which is a dynamic phenomenon encompassing the
totality of attitudes, behaviors, beliefs and world-views. It is an
integral part of every human society and all social groups are
characterized by it. In other words, it is that “complex pattern of
behavior and material achievement which are produced, learned and shared
by members of a community” (Ameh, 2002: 165).
Another issue of discuss in modern African literatures is the attempt
to create a racial identity. The role of ethnic pride and linguistic
self-consciousness is not a quality of only majority ethnic groups. No
matter how small the group, the sense of identity enshrined in the
language of the group persists. For Yakubu, (2001) African literature is
an enclave of freedom where the African re-conquers his lost identity
and dignity. This position seems to vividly capture the overwhelming
impulses that characterize the motives of modern African literature
writers.
1.2 Statement of the problem
African literature emerged out of a need to fill a vacuum; that is
the gap in African literature is centered on voicelessness. For many
years, the discipline of comparative African literature has been
overshadowed by the study of literary influences. This is because all
African authors belonging to what is commonly called ‘Modern African
Literature’ have come under the influence of Western – type schools of
broadly two different categories namely; the study of analogy or
literary affinities and the study of influences or indebtedness of
diversity, language and culture has constituted a myriad of problem to
African Literatures. It is against this background that the study seeks
to find out the issues in modern African Literatures with particular
reference to African diversity, language and culture using some selected
African literary texts.
1.3 Aim and Objectives
The aim of this study is to examine all issues in every literary work. Specifically, the study objectives include the following;
- to examine the Igbo Folklore of cultural matrix with reference to the creative works of Chinua Acbebe
- to evaluate male and female conflict as themes with reference to the works of Mariama Ba and Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie
- to analyze the hybridity of modern African Drama with reference to the works of Wole Soyinka and Sam Ukala
1.4 Significance of the Study
Over the years, many arguments have arisen on the existence of
African literature. This study when completed will highlight the
challenges facing African literatures from the pre-colonial past, to the
colonial period, right to the present post-colonial age. It will
describe the lives of the traditional Africans, their practices, ethos
and mores, analyzes the conflicts that colonialism engendered in the
system and discus the crises underpinning modern Africa literatures.
Furthermore, it is hoped that when the study is completed, it will
add to existing literatures and close knowledge gap with respect to
background of African diversity, language and culture. It will also,
educate, inform, entertain and document students, literary writers and
educators researchers on the concept of the use of language and style in
modern African literature. Finally, the findings that will be provided
at the end of this research will be of great benefit to future
researchers in this field of art and the humanities in general.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study is limited to examining some selected issues in modern
African literature; specifically they include, the Igbo Folklore in
Chinua Acbebe’s Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God. It examines also,
male and female conflict as themes in Mariama Ba’s So long a Letter and
Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. The study also analyzes the
hybridity of modern African Drama in Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s
Horseman and Sam Ukala’s Iredi War.
1.6 Research Methodology
In carrying out this research, various materials and research tools
were employed. This include; primary text which covered six different
texts so as to give the research an in-depth analysis. While, the
Secondary source will consist of library research in which published
books, journals and the internet will be considered. In the process of
data collection, the library was consulted before embarking on this
project, there is need to find out what has been written on the subject
so as to guide the researcher on the general nature of the work and give
root of background to the study. Hence, any information gathered will
be used to carry out proper work.