Abstract
This essay examines the representation and significance of the Olokun myth in selected poems by Tanure Ojaide, Tony Afejuku, Okinba Launko, and J. P. Clark-Bekederemo. Focusing on Olokun as a central figure in Yoruba mythology, Benin mythology, and Ijaw mythology, the study explores how this deity—associated with the sea, wealth, and the subconscious—is reinterpreted in contemporary Nigerian poetry.
Adopting a qualitative textual analysis, the essay investigates how each poet appropriates the Olokun myth to engage with themes of identity, colonial memory, environmental consciousness, and socio-political realities. The findings reveal that the poets creatively rework the myth beyond its traditional framework, using it as a symbolic and ideological tool to critique historical disruptions, reflect on cultural continuity, and articulate modern African experiences.
The study concludes that the continued invocation of the Olokun myth demonstrates the enduring relevance of indigenous belief systems in contemporary literary expression. It highlights how mythopoesis serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity, enriching African poetry with layered meanings while reinforcing cultural identity in a postcolonial context.
