Poetics of Protest Examining the Fusion of Poetry and Social Commentary in Nigerian Literature

This work examines the convoluted chemistry between poetry, socio-political commentary and voice of protest in the Nigerian literary landscape, using the poetry of J.P. Clark and Wole Soyinka as primary resources for its analysis. The study adopts a qualitative approach by examining the thematic foundations, stylistic devices, and rhetorical strategies employed by Clark and Soyinka in their poetry, in the bid to buttress how the two writers deftly weave complex webs of imagery, symbolism, and metaphors that encapsulate the socio-political realities of Nigeria, offering incisive commentary on issues ranging from governance and corruption to human rights and social justice. The study further explores the dynamics of the relationship between aesthetic innovativeness and socio-political engagement, elucidating how poetic form serves as an instrument of dissent and as an avenue for bolstering the collective consciousness of society. The study concludes that Nigerian poetry has remained a powerful utility for extrapolating the socio-political dynamics of governance deficits and the protest voice that seeks to correct the ills that inhibit sustainable development in Nigeria.

Keywords: Poetics Protest Poetry Social Commentary Nigerian Literature

Authors

• Abayomi Awelewa
  Department of English
  University of Lagos, Nigeria
  aoawelewa@unilag.edu.ng
• Rosemary Osariemen Awelewa
  Department of English
  University of Ibadan, Nigeria
  rosemaryawelewa63@gmail.com