Protest in the Eco-Poems of Tanure Ojaide
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Date
2021
Authors
Oguntuase, Adebayo Adefemi
Obura, Oluoch
Amateshe, Kisa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IIARD
Abstract
Tanure Ojaide, like many poets, especially poets of the Niger Delta extraction, has written
combative poems in protest against the obvious inequalities and iniquities in the Nigerian
society. This paper examines selected poetry of Ojaide to benchmark the angst of poets about
the infractions in the Nigerian society. The volumes of poetry selected for this study are Delta
Blues and HomeSongs and Daydream of Ants and Other Poems. Our objectives are to
underscore the necessity for writers of all hues especially poets, to reawaken leaders of the
people to always consider their subjects in the planning and execution of state policies and to
rouse the people to the need to reject obnoxious laws made for their governance. This makes
it possible for both parties, leaders and the led, to strike compromises on contentious issues.
The theory that explains our position is Ecocriticism, a literary theory that views the
environment in relation to literature. In other words, Ecocriticism looks at the
interdependence of humankind and their environment and how literature intervenes to
resolve contradictions in such mutual existence. Proponents of this critical theory include
Cheryll Glotfelty, Simon Estok, Lawrence Buell, Harold Fromm and William Rueckert,
amongst others. Added to this is the sociological critical theory that situates literature and
its themes around occurrences in society. The major pillars behind this theory are Kenneth
Burke, Immanuel Kant and Karl Marx amongst others. The paper concludes that poetry
remains most relevant to the needs of society when it is able to bring government and the
governed together for the common good of the people.
Description
Article
Keywords
Protest, Ecocriticism, Despoliation, Deforestation, sociological critical theory
Citation
Oguntuase, A. A., Obura, O., & Amateshe, K. (2021). Protest in the Eco-Poems of Tanure Ojaide. International Journal of English Language & Communication Studies, 6(1).