DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND LITEATURE

The purpose of this study is to explore the phenomenon of Nigerians and its causes and effects through the use of Sefi Atta’s novel The Bad Immigrant. This study examines the factors that drive Nigerians, such as cultural identity, social context or emotional expression, and it analyses its effects on how individuals are perceived and how they connect with others.

La mode du XXIe siècle est profondément influencée par les transformations de la civilisation contemporaine. La mondialisation, les avancées technologiques, les échanges culturels et l’évolution des valeurs sociales ont contribué à redéfinir les tendances vestimentaires à l’échelle mondiale. Cette étude examine comment les différentes civilisations et cultures influencent la création, la production et la consommation de la mode moderne. Elle met en évidence le rôle des médias numériques, des réseaux sociaux et de l’industrie du luxe dans la diffusion rapide des styles et des identités culturelles. En outre, l’émergence de préoccupations liées au développement durable, à l’inclusion sociale et à la diversité culturelle a favorisé une mode plus responsable et représentative. Les résultats montrent que la mode du XXIe siècle est le reflet direct des changements civilisationnels, combinant traditions culturelles et innovations modernes pour répondre aux attentes d’une société en constante évolution.

This study examines the oppression of women in Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "Purple Hibiscus", highlighting how patriarchal structures shape the experiences of female characters in both novels. Although the texts are set in different historical periods, they reveal the persistent subjugation of women within Nigerian society. In "Things Fall Apart", Achebe portrays a traditional Igbo society where women are marginalized, denied authority, and valued primarily for their domestic and reproductive roles. Through characters such as Ekwefi and Ezinma, the novel exposes the limitations imposed on women despite their resilience and contributions to society. Similarly, "Purple Hibiscus"presents the oppression of women within the modern family setting, where Beatrice and Kambili suffer emotional, psychological, and physical abuse under the authoritarian rule of Eugene. Adichie critiques both patriarchy and religious extremism as instruments of female subjugation while emphasizing women's strength and resistance. Using feminist literary theory as a framework, this study analyzes the forms, causes, and consequences of women's oppression in the two novels. The findings reveal that despite differences in context, both authors expose gender inequality and advocate for the recognition of women's rights, dignity, and agency. The study concludes that the novels serve as powerful critiques of patriarchal domination and contribute to ongoing discussions on gender justice and female empowerment in African literature.

This study explores the complex dynamics of polygyny by examining the attitudes, agency, and behavioral patterns of the co-wives in Lola Shonayin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. Set against the backdrop of a contemporary yet deeply patriarchal Nigerian society, the novel provides a nuanced lens into the domestic warfare, strategic alliances, and individual survival mechanisms deployed within a polygynous household. Utilizing a African feminist theoretical framework, this paper analyzes how the four wives—Iya Segi, Iya Tope, Iya Femi, and Bolanle—navigate their socio-cultural limitations. The textual analysis reveals that rather than remaining passive victims of patriarchal containment, the wives exhibit diverse attitudes ranging from fierce rivalry and manipulation to subtle subversion and solidarity. While the older wives manipulate traditional structures and leverage secrets to maintain security and power, the entry of the educated, monogamously-raised fourth wife, Bolanle, disrupts the established hierarchy and inadvertently exposes the foundational deception keeping the household intact. Ultimately, the study argues that Shoneyin uses the wives' conflicting attitudes to critique institutionalized polygyny, exposing it not as a harmonious traditional ideal, but as a site of intense emotional labor, psychological maneuvering, and hidden female autonomy.

This study explores the role of Nigerian English in defraying tension within online social media interactions, focusing on humour, particularly satire, irony, wordplay, and the use of indigenous Nigerian languages on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The research examines how humour functions as a coping mechanism, providing emotional relief and fostering social solidarity among Nigerians during politically charged discussions, socio-economic challenges, and national debates. Utilizing Relief Theory, Superiority Theory, and Socio-Cognitive Theory (Critical Discourse Analysis), the study analyzes humour strategies that help manage conflict and critique political systems. Data was gathered through purposive sampling of posts, comments, and memes, spanning from 2018 to 2025. The findings reveal that humour in Nigerian English, when combined with indigenous languages such as Yoruba, Igbo, and Pidgin, serves as a powerful tool for both emotional release and social bonding. This humour allows Nigerians to laugh at their political and socio-economic frustrations, asserting a sense of superiority over the political elite while promoting a collective identity. Additionally, the study underscores the psychological and social functions of humour as a discursive strategy for alleviating tension and fostering resilience. The research contributes to the understanding of Nigerian English as a dynamic linguistic tool in digital communication, offering new insights into the intersection of language, humour, and social solidarity in the context of Nigeria's socio-political landscape.

This study analysed the tragic heroes in JP Clark's, and Ola Rotimi's plays "Song of A Goat", and "The Gods Are Not To Blame", respectively. Using close-reading and the qualitative research method, the components that make up these tragic heroes are revealed, with emphasis on how human agency and fate intertwine. It also compared and contrasted the tragic heroes of the plays, drawing from instances in the play. In addition, the study highlighted tragic heroes in an African setting, showing how the playwrights adhered to, and differed the Aristotelian theory of tragedy

This project examines patriarchy and female resistance in Zulu Sofola’s Wedlock of the Gods and Tracie Utoh’s Our Wives Have Gone Mad Again. It focuses on how both playwrights portray women’s struggles against male dominance and their efforts to gain freedom and identity in a patriarchal society. Using Feminist Theory as a guide, the study shows that Sofola presents women’s resistance through tragedy and cultural conflict, while Utoh uses satire and humour to expose oppression and promote female unity. The research concludes that both writers advocate for gender equality and social change, showing that African women are not silent victims but strong agents of resistance and transformation.

This essay studies the impacts of human activities on the decline of the environment and on nature in a bid to criticise the arbitrariness of the use of nature’s resources. This essay also examines the beauty of nature to enhance the protection and preservation of nature. This essay discusses the relationship of man with his environment by highlighting the harmony nature possesses. Through the use of poetry, this essay elucidates on aspects that have been covered by authors, but not by poets, reflecting the importance of poetry on nature. The method of research employed in this study is eco-criticism, and the primary data is Niyi Osundare’s The Eye of the Earth, from which selected poems are used. The analysis of the selected poems shall undergo line by line analysis and exploring the literary devices that enhance the main purpose of this essay. The results of the analysis are illustrations of nature decline as a result of human’s irrational use, and therefore the beauty of nature is tampered with. These results give an opinion on how the environment should be treated, adding that the preservation of nature will improve the living standards of humanity.

NIL

This study explores how power and corruption are portrayed in Naomi Alderman’s The Power (2016) and Okey Ndibe’s Arrows of Rain (2000). Although these novels come from very different worlds, one from a futuristic, feminist setting and the other from a postcolonial African society, both reveal how the abuse of power leads to moral decay and injustice. In Alderman’s The Power, women gain a new biological ability that allows them to dominate men, turning traditional gender roles upside down. However, this new dominance soon exposes how easily power can corrupt anyone, regardless of gender. In Ndibe’s Arrows of Rain, power is shown through political oppression, censorship, and the silencing of truth in a corrupt postcolonial state. Together, the two novels raise an important question: is corruption caused by who holds power, or by the systems that allow power to go unchecked? This study uses feminist theory (especially Judith Butler’s idea of gender as performance) to analyse how Alderman questions gender and power, and postcolonial theory (drawing from Frantz Fanon’s writings) to explore Ndibe’s critique of leadership and institutional violence. By comparing both texts, the research shows that power, when not balanced by justice or accountability, always leads to corruption and oppression. The findings highlight that true freedom or equality cannot exist unless societies challenge the structures that sustain inequality and abuse.