IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES (IJELCS )

E-ISSN 2545-5702
P-ISSN 2695-2157
VOL. 6 NO. 1 2021

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Protest in the Eco-Poems of Tanure Ojaide

Oguntuase, Adebayo Adefemi, Obura, Oluoch & Amateshe, Kisa

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Abstract

Tanure Ojaide, like many poets, especially poets of the Niger Delta extraction, has written combative poems in protest against the obvious inequalities and iniquities in the Nigerian society. This paper examines selected poetry of Ojaide to benchmark the angst of poets about the infractions in the Nigerian society. The volumes of poetry selected for this study are Delta Blues and HomeSongs and Daydream of Ants and Other Poems. Our objectives are to underscore the necessity for writers of all hues especially poets, to reawaken leaders of the people to always consider their subjects in the planning and execution of state policies and to rouse the people to the need to reject obnoxious laws made for their governance. This makes it possible for both parties, leaders and the led, to strike compromises on contentious issues. The theory that explains our position is Ecocriticism, a literary theory that views the environment in relation to literature. In other words, Ecocriticism looks at the interdependence of humankind and their environment and how literature intervenes to resolve contradictions in such mutual existence. Proponents of this critical theory include Cheryll Glotfelty, Simon Estok, Lawrence Buell, Harold Fromm and William Rueckert, amongst others. Added to this is the sociological critical theory that situates literature and its themes around occurrences in society. The major pillars behind this theory are Kenneth Burke, Immanuel Kant and Karl Marx amongst others. The paper concludes that poetry remains most relevant to the needs of society when it is able to bring government and the governed together for the common good of the people.

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