FACULTY OF ARTS

NIL

This study examines how the combination of language, images, and spatial layout convey messages of religious beliefs, values, and practices in Deeper Life Christian Women Mirror. This study employs Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA) theory to analyze Deeper Life Christian Women Mirror studying how various messages are conveyed through different modes of communication like images, layouts, texts, and gestures e.t.c. This systematic approach merges different analytical tools such as Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA),Critical Discourse Analysis(CDA), and Systemic Functional Linguistics(SFL). This study is limited to five physical copies of Deeper Life Christian Women Mirror, issued in 2024-2025, primarily from local Deeper Life Bible Church branches in Benin City, focusing on the themes of principles for spiritual growth, healthy living and child nurturing. These collected copies will be subjected to a systematic multimodal discourse analysis (MDA), drawing on theoretical frameworks primarily from Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen, recognizing that meaning is simultaneously constructed through multiple semiotic modes beyond just written language. Moreover, this study focuses on specific sections of the magazine such as articles on spiritual growth, child training and health talk e.t.c. It samples the data derived from close reading of the texts and the photographs of the images in Deeper Life Christian Women Mirror.

This research explores the intricate relationship between human freedom and spiritual determinism within the framework of African metaphysics. It examines whether human beings can act freely in a universe governed by mystical beings such as ancestors, deities, and spirits, who are believed to influence destiny and moral conduct. The study departs from Western dualisms that separate freedom and determinism, proposing instead a relational understanding grounded in African ontology. African metaphysical thought views existence as holistic and interconnected, where the physical and spiritual realms coexist in continuous interaction. Within this worldview, mystical beings are not tyrannical forces dictating fate but moral agents who guide human behavior, ensure justice, and maintain cosmic harmony. Human destiny (chi, akala, ori) is understood not as an unchangeable script but as a divine framework within which individuals exercise will, responsibility, and moral choice. Through philosophical analysis and interpretation of African cosmology, this research reveals that freedom in African thought is not the absence of constraint but the responsible participation in the moral and spiritual order of existence. True freedom is realized when individuals act ethically, align with communal values, and harmonize their personal will with the divine purpose. The study concludes that man can indeed act freely in the world of mystic beings, but such freedom is relational, moral, and deeply contextual. It affirms a vision of human existence where agency is exercised within divine order, and where freedom finds its fullest expression through cooperation with the unseen forces that shape reality

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.