THE EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF IGALA PROSE FICTION IN ENGLISH (1980 - 2010)

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Author

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Department of Arts

ABSTRACT
This study examines the emergence and development of Igala prose fiction in English within the larger corpus of Northern Nigeria literature. In this vein, the study evaluates the peculiar conditions from which Igala prose fiction in English evolved in Northern Nigeria,specifically, the role of the colonial and Christian missionaries in the structural and literary transformation of Northern Nigeria and how this affected the evolution and growth of Igala prose fiction in English.The distinct characteristic of Igala prose fiction in English is derived from the centrality of Igala culture icons such as proverbs, oracles, tradition, belief system (world view) religion, masquerades, ritual celebration and songs, which are peculiar to the Igala people. The signification of phenomena such as, folk literature, legends, and Igala myths provide a unique historical background. Their symbolic aesthetics and emotional significance not only provides a deft explosion of Igala world view but review on historical experiences of people and society undergoing socio-cultural and religious transformations in the post-independence Nigeria.Within this paradigm therefore, the study adopts post colonial discourse as a tool of analysis of the selected texts in the study. The study also argues that literature in Northern Nigerian is influenced by the human variation in terms of culture, tradition, language, social patterns and historical experiences. To appreciate these complex resonances, approach to the literary study of Northern Nigeria must consider the concrete condition and situation out of which the literary developments is taking place and on behalf of which the literary artist express themselves. This study therefore reveals that Northern Nigeria is a broad area of reference determined by different ethnic, historical and sociological factors which influence the literature of the region. Igala prose fiction contain local images and metaphors which give the work Igala color, however, it does not blur the focus of the literary work, as the works also expresses issues of national concern. In specific terms this research is divided into five chapters. Chapter one has the introduction, the concept of minority, research problem, objectives, scope, justification, significance, post colonial discourse as the framework of analysis, defines Igala prose fiction in English, and literature review. Chapter two, three and four focuses on the work of Sunday Okpanachi, Sule Idakwoji and Yusuf Etu, three writers from Igala land whose works illustrates the cultural, socio-political and religious experiences as well as changes in the Igala society. The choice of these works is to provide balance understanding of Igala norms, aesthetics and the social realities that constitute the daily existence of the average Igala man as contain in Okpanachi‟s The Red masqueradesand viii other stories as fiction, Idakwoji‟s The Story of the Akowe- ritual festival of Ibegwu in prose and Etu‟s the legendary Ata Igala Ame Oboni (1993) faction work, all from genres of prose fiction. Chapter five, the concluding chapter, is summary and findings of the issues raised in the study.