ABSTRACT
This study examines the emergence and development of Igala prose fiction
in English within the larger corpus of Northern Nigeria literature. In
this vein, the study evaluates the peculiar conditions from which Igala
prose fiction in English evolved in Northern Nigeria,specifically, the
role of the colonial and Christian missionaries in the structural and
literary transformation of Northern Nigeria and how this affected the
evolution and growth of Igala prose fiction in English.The distinct
characteristic of Igala prose fiction in English is derived from the
centrality of Igala culture icons such as proverbs, oracles, tradition,
belief system (world view) religion, masquerades, ritual celebration and
songs, which are peculiar to the Igala people. The signification of
phenomena such as, folk literature, legends, and Igala myths provide a
unique historical background. Their symbolic aesthetics and emotional
significance not only provides a deft explosion of Igala world view but
review on historical experiences of people and society undergoing
socio-cultural and religious transformations in the post-independence
Nigeria.Within this paradigm therefore, the study adopts post colonial
discourse as a tool of analysis of the selected texts in the study. The
study also argues that literature in Northern Nigerian is influenced by
the human variation in terms of culture, tradition, language, social
patterns and historical experiences. To appreciate these complex
resonances, approach to the literary study of Northern Nigeria must
consider the concrete condition and situation out of which the literary
developments is taking place and on behalf of which the literary artist
express themselves. This study therefore reveals that Northern Nigeria
is a broad area of reference determined by different ethnic, historical
and sociological factors which influence the literature of the region.
Igala prose fiction contain local images and metaphors which give the
work Igala color, however, it does not blur the focus of the literary
work, as the works also expresses issues of national concern. In
specific terms this research is divided into five chapters. Chapter one
has the introduction, the concept of minority, research problem,
objectives, scope, justification, significance, post colonial discourse
as the framework of analysis, defines Igala prose fiction in English,
and literature review. Chapter two, three and four focuses on the work
of Sunday Okpanachi, Sule Idakwoji and Yusuf Etu, three writers from
Igala land whose works illustrates the cultural, socio-political and
religious experiences as well as changes in the Igala society. The
choice of these works is to provide balance understanding of Igala
norms, aesthetics and the social realities that constitute the daily
existence of the average Igala man as contain in Okpanachi‟s The Red
masqueradesand
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other stories as fiction, Idakwoji‟s The Story of the Akowe- ritual
festival of Ibegwu in prose and Etu‟s the legendary Ata Igala Ame Oboni
(1993) faction work, all from genres of prose fiction. Chapter five, the
concluding chapter, is summary and findings of the issues raised in the
study.
