NIYI OSUNDARE AND THE TRADITION OF MODERN NIGERIAN POETRY
NIYI OSUNDARE AND THE TRADITION OF MODERN NIGERIAN POETRY
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Date
2004-09
Authors
CARMEL, ASEER IGBA LUGA
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acknowledge my classmates and friends Shade Fashakin, Bello Usman, Sharu
Mohammed, Livinus Audu, Mrs. Diji, Mrs. Markus and Beatrice Ibiloye who did not fail
to encourage me to swim above the tide when they were also caught up against it.
It is impossible to mention everyone who contributed to the completion of this
work but I express my sincere thanks to all of them and pray that God will reward them
abundantly.
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ABSTRACT
Niyi Osundare is one of Nigeria’s most prolific poets whose works have
contributed significantly to the growth of a Nigerian poetic tradition. His appearance on
the literary scene has brought a new direction to the development of poetic activity. This
is seen in his radical approach to social, political and economic themes and in his in depth
exploration of oral tradition with the aim of stamping an indigenous identity on African
poetry by deliberately writing poetry that carries less western influences. It is of note that
Osundare is able to make his contribution to Nigerian poetry because the tradition of
poetry existed before he wrote.
The tradition of Nigerian poetry owes its evolution to certain significant factors,
these are the historical events of Africa’s contact with colonialism and the eon-colonial
apparatus, the culture of criticism that literary output depends on to thrive and the African
tradition, that rich reservoir of verbal and non-verbal art forms in the form of tales,
proverbs, images, myths, legends, music, mime and gestures.
The research explores significant manifestations of Osundare’s poetry and how
these have contributed to the growth of modern Nigerian poetry. The first chapter
undertakes a survey of Nigerian poetry by establishing the pioneering voices of Osadebey
and Okara. It highlights the poetic voices of Soyinka, Okigbo and Clark whose works
have built up the tradition of Nigerian poetry and also influenced the direction of
Osundare’s poetry.
The second chapter analyses Osundare’s concept of commitment as closely linked
to his radical ideological leaning that views literary activity as serving a political purpose.
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The third chapter analyses Osundare’s use of the oral artistic technique. It
highlights his celebration of the traditional ethos and his use of traditional idioms as
framework upon which the poems are built.
The fourth chapter analyses the poet’s distinctive use of nature in poetry. The
chapter brings out the various ways Osundare has used nature imagery in his poetry.
The findings of the research presented in the fifth chapter are that Osundare
redefines the concept of commitment as carrying a deeper meaning, also his celebration
of traditional art forms is unrivaled yet in modern Nigerian poetry even though he faces
the limitations of mediating the essential oral using the written form, his use of nature
imagery in poetry is a breakthrough. The research concludes by emphasizing that the
presence of Osundare on the poetic scene has enriched the body of poetry and also
shaped the development of modern Nigerian poetry.
Description
Thesis submitted to the Post Graduate School, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
award of the degree of Master of Arts in English (Literature).
Department of English
Faculty of Arts
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
SEPTEMBER 2004
Keywords
NIYI OSUNDARE,, TRADITION,, MODERN NIGERIAN POETRY, ANALYSIS,, SONGS,, MARKET PLACE,, VILLAGE VOICES,, EYE,, EARTH,, WAITING LAUGHTERS.