FACULTY OF ARTS

This study explores the representation of trauma and identity crisis in Okey Ndibe’s Arrows of Rain and Richard Wright’s Native Son. It examines how both authors employ narrative technique to portray the psychological fragmentation of individuals struggling under repressive sociopolitical structures. In Arrows of Rain, Ndibe situates trauma within the postcolonial African landscape, exposing how state violence, corruption, and moral decay deform both personal and collective consciousness. Conversely, Wright’s Native Son situates trauma in a racially stratified America, where systemic oppression and poverty shape the disintegration of Black identity. Through close textual analysis, the research reveals that both authors transform narrative into a means of resistance— employing silence, symbolism, memory, and stream of consciousness to articulate suffering that language itself often fails to express. The study concludes that literature serves not merely as an artistic mirror of pain but as an act of reclaiming voice and agency within a world structured to silence the oppressed.

This study examines the syllable structure of Ikale, a dialect of Yoruba language spoken in Ondo State Nigeria, using a descriptive approach. This study established the syllable type utilize by this dialect, the syllable processes available in Ikale dialect and the absence of consonant cluster in Ikale dialect. The data for this research were collected from competent native speakers of the dialect. The theoretical framework for this research is the CV phonology introduced by Kahn (1970) as it analyze the internal structure of syllable, consonant - vowel interaction as well as realisation of complex segments and co-articulations as a single segment. The findings reveals that the basic syllable structure of Ikale dialect is V (vowel) and CV ( a sequence of a consonant and a vowel) with no syllable ending with a consonant and the phonotactic constraints of this dialect does not permit consonant cluster in words. The result of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of phonology and syllable as well as the academic world.

This study examines how Buchi Emecheta's Second-Class Citizen and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah portray the struggles of African people living abroad. It focuses on how the authors use narrative voices, settings, and characterization to highlight themes of racial discrimination, identity crises, and immigrant experiences. Two theories were applied in this research: Critical Race Theory and Postcolonial Theory. During the course of this research, the researcher was able to examine racism from different scholars' perspectives using the two books as case studies. This research reveals that racism is not just practiced by individuals, but is also embedded in government structures and has evolved over time.

This study explores gender deconstruction in Akwaeke Emezi’s Freshwater and Tendai
Huchu’s The Hairdresser of Harare. It examines how both writers question traditional
gender norms and present identity as fluid and socially constructed. Drawing on Queer
Theory and Judith Butler’s concept of gender performativity, the research analyzes how
characterization, narrative technique, and symbolism are employed to challenge
heteronormative ideals within African societies. Emezi’s Freshwater portrays the protagonist’s fragmented identity through spiritual and psychological dimensions, redefining gender beyond Western binaries, while Huchu’s The Hairdresser of Harare explores gender and sexuality within a conservative Zimbabwean context, revealing through irony and social critique the marginalisation of queer identities. Using a qualitative analytical approach, the study concludes that both texts disrupt fixed gender categories and reimagine selfhood as performative and evolving. Through this, Emezi and Huchu expand the discourse on gender and identity in contemporary African literature, emphasizing diversity, self-definition, and the freedom of individual expression.

Poetics refers to the artistic principles and creative techniques that govern the composition of poetry, including the use of form, rhythm, imagery, tone, and language to convey meaning and emotion. The poetics of African humanhood, therefore, describes the artistic and philosophical expression through which African poets celebrate the dignity, identity, and spiritual wholeness of African people, while resisting cultural erasure and colonial domination.This study examines The Poetics of Celebrating African Humanhood using Maya Angelou and Ifi Amadiume’s Poetry, arguing that both poets employ poetic form, imagery, and rhythm to affirm the dignity and identity of African and Black people against colonial and patriarchal
opression. The study is limited to the analysis of selected poems — Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman, Still I Rise, Weekend Glory, and Our Grandmothers; and Amadiume’s Nok Lady in Terracotta, Mistress of My Own Being, We Have Even Lost Our Tongues, Be Brothers, "Bloody masculinity" and Creation. Using a qualitative research method, the poems are analyzed through close textual and thematic reading to uncover how poetic language expresses African-centered values. The study adopts Afrocentric Theory and the Ubuntu philosophy as its the retical framework to foreground African perspectives and communal identity.Findings reveal that the technical elements of voice, rhythm, and repetition serve as vehicles for psychological and emotional restoration. In Angelou’s Still I Rise, the repetitive refrain “I rise” transforms trauma into an act of healing and self-assertion. Similarly, Amadiume’s Creation employs cyclical imagery such as “seed took root again” to symbolize renewal and resilience. Both poets use affirmative, rhythmic voices to democratize dignity and restore faith in African self-worth. The study concludes that the poetics of celebrating African humanhood in their works is defined by a shared aesthetic of resistance, empowerment, and spiritual wholeness—transforming poetry into a lasting testmony of African strength and identity.

Social media has emerged as one of the most transformative forces shaping the landscape of entrepreneurship in the contemporary digital economy. Between 1997 and 2024, the rapid evolution of internet-based platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok has redefined how businesses are created, managed, marketed, and scaled globally. This study examines the relationship between social media and digital entrepreneurship over this period, with emphasis on how digital platforms have influenced entrepreneurial development, business innovation, customer engagement, and market expansion. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, relying on secondary sources such as scholarly journals, textbooks, policy reports, and credible online publications. It traces the historical development of social media from early online networking systems to modern algorithm-driven platforms that support real-time communication, targeted advertising, and data-driven decision-making. The research explores how entrepreneurs leverage social media tools for branding, digital marketing, product promotion, customer relationship management, and e-commerce transactions. Findings from the study indicate that social media has significantly lowered the barriers to entry for entrepreneurship by reducing startup and marketing costs while increasing access to global audiences. It has also enhanced innovation by enabling entrepreneurs to test ideas quickly, gather feedback, and adapt to market demands in real time. However, the study also identifies key challenges such as cyber insecurity, online fraud, misinformation, algorithm dependency, and intense market competition, which may hinder sustainable business growth. The study concludes that social media is a critical driver of digital entrepreneurship in the 21st century, reshaping traditional business models and creating new economic opportunities. It recommends that entrepreneurs develop digital literacy skills, adopt strategic online engagement practices, and implement cybersecurity measures to maximize the benefits of social media while minimizing its risks.

Military coups have re-emerged as a major challenge to regional security and democratic governance in West Africa in the 21st century. Countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger have experienced repeated unconstitutional changes of government, raising concerns about political instability, weak institutions, insecurity, and the declining trust in democratic leadership. This study examines the causes, implications, and regional security consequences of military coups in West Africa. The study adopts a qualitative research approach using secondary sources such as journals, textbooks, reports, and online publications. It explores factors including poor governance, corruption, electoral irregularities, economic hardship, terrorism, and external influence as major drivers of military intervention in politics. The study further evaluates the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional bodies in managing conflicts and restoring democratic order. Findings reveal that recurring coups undermine regional integration, economic development, peace, and security efforts within the sub-region. The study concludes that strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance, addressing insecurity, and improving socio-economic conditions are essential to reducing the occurrence of military coups and enhancing regional stability in West Africa.

Fabrics are far more than clothing especially in indigenous culture and this is same for the Yoruba people. This study investigate the meaning of Aso-oke and Adire Fabrics and it importance to the Yoruba people, showing that that fabric designs are expressions of artistry, the people’s beliefs, custom and tradition. The problem addresses the loss of design, Symbols and motif original meaning over time and globalization. Using a qualitative research approach with interview with seller, dyers and observation, this research project shows how the Aso-oke and Adire Fabrics express cultural identity. The research findings shows that the Aso-oke and Adire Fabrics are far more than just attractive clothing, but are communicators of identity, status, unity and cultural heritage. After all research and findings, this study recommend documentation, cultural education, and government support to ensure the preservation and sustainable transmission of these fabric traditions to future generations.

This study examines the impact of war on the family as reflected in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun and Sefi Atta’s Everything Good Will Come. It explores how war and political instability destroy family ties, distort affection, and transform domestic life into a site of suffering and endurance. Both writers reveal that conflict extends beyond the battlefield, invading personal spaces and reshaping identity and human relationships. Through the Postcolonial Theory, the study interprets how historical oppression, power struggle, and the search for belonging continue to influence the African social order. It analyses the themes, characterisation, and dialogue of the two novels to show how war breeds trauma, silence, and loss within homes. The findings show that both Adichie and Atta represent the family as a mirror of the nation. In Half of a Yellow Sun, the Biafran War dismembers homes and leaves emotional ruins that reflect the nation’s tragedy. In Everything Good Will Come, dictatorship, social inequality, and moral repression recreate a form of domestic war that stifles growth and love. The research concludes that African women writers use the family setting as a platform for recording the psychological aftermath of national crises. It contributes to scholarship by revealing that the true cost of war is not only in the number of the dead but in the brokenness that lingers within the living.

This research project explores the complex relationship between old cultural ways and new Western influences in Adetutu Adeyeye’s contemporary novel, Sacrilege. While many African stories focus on how tradition was destroyed by colonialism in the past, this study looks at how these two forces tradition and modernity clash in present day Nigeria. Adeyeye does not choose one side over the other. Instead, he "interrogates" or questions both. The study argues that the novel encourages contemporary Africans to find a "hybrid" identity a middle ground that keeps the best parts of their culture while using the helpful parts of modern progress.