The Existentialist Parables of a Sojourner in Nwakanma’s ‘ The Horsmen and Other Poems’: History and National Development
Chibueze Prince Orie, PhD, Quinette Ngozichinyere Madumelu
Abstract
The ghost of the pogrom that resulted in the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War of 1967-1970 has continued to haunt Nigeria as a nation. The scars of the war still bleed. The lesson is that war, the highest form of insecurity, is not good for both the victor and the vanquished. Obi Nwakanma’s The Horsemen and Other Poems is a collection of poems of dirge and elegy. Its subject is civil war and it is a lamentation on Nigeria. Yet, it anchors on hope, hope for better time for better Nigeria where citizens will enjoy equality, justice, peace, growth and national development. This bright future is hoped to be driven by the Nigerian youths.
Keywords
Pogrom
Nigeria-Biafra civil war
war
elegy
dirge
nation building
national
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