| Content | CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
This literature is on The concept of racism in Africa. A study of black boy by Richard wright and mine boy by peters Abraham. Racism is discrimination and prejudice towards people based on their race or ethnicity. Today, the use of the term "racism" does not easily fall under a single definition. (Garner, Steve 2009)
The ideology underlying racist practices often includes the idea that humans can be subdivided into distinct groups that are different in their social behaviour and innate capacities and that can be ranked as inferior or superior. The Holocaust is the classic example of institutionalized racism which led to the death of millions of people based on their race. While the concepts of race and ethnicity are considered to be separate in contemporary social science, the two terms have a long history of equivalence in both popular usage and older social science literature. "Ethnicity" is often used in a sense close to one traditionally attributed to "race": the division of human groups based on qualities assumed to be essential or innate to the group (e.g. shared ancestry or shared behaviour). Therefore, racism and racial discrimination are often used to describe discrimination on an ethnic or cultural basis, independent of whether these differences are described as racial. According to a United Nations convention on racial discrimination, there is no distinction between the terms "racial" and "ethnic" discrimination. The UN convention further concludes that superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and there is no justification for racial discrimination, anywhere, in theory or in practice. ("International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination" Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Retrieved December 23, 2011)
Racist ideology can become manifest in many aspects of social life. Racism can be present in social actions, practices, or political systems (e.g., apartheid) that support the expression of prejudice or aversion in discriminatory practices. Associated social actions may include nativism, xenophobia, otherness, segregation, hierarchical ranking, supremacism, and related social phenomena.
In the 19th century, many scientists subscribed to the belief that the human population can be divided into races. The term racism is a noun describing the state of being racist, i.e., subscribing to the belief that the human population can be classified according to race. The origin of the root word "race" is not clear. Linguists generally agree that it came to the English language from Middle French, but there is no such agreement on how it came into Latin-based languages, generally. A recent proposal is that it derives from the Arabic ra's, which means "head, beginning, origin" or the Hebrew rosh, which has a similar meaning. (Online Etymology Dictionary retrieved 21 February 2016) Early race theorists generally held that some races were inferior to others and that differential treatment of races was consequently justified. (Garner, Steve 2009). These early theories guided pseudo-scientific research assumptions; the collective endeavours to adequately define and form hypotheses about racial differences are generally termed scientific racism.
Today, most biologists, anthropologists, and sociologists reject a taxonomy of races in favour of more specific and/or empirically verifiable criteria, such as geography, ethnicity or a history of endogamy. (Bamshad, Michael; Steve E. Olson December 2003). To date, there is little evidence in human genome research indicating that race can be defined in such a way as to be useful in a genetic classification of humans. (Patrinos, Ari (2004)
An entry in the Oxford English Dictionary (2008) defines racialism simply as "An earlier term than racism, but now largely superseded by it," and cites it in a 1902 quote. ("racialism, n." OED Online September 2013) The revised Oxford English Dictionary cites the shortened term "racism" in a quote from the following year, 1903. It was first defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the theory that distinctive human characteristics and abilities are determined by race", which gives 1936 as the first recorded use. Additionally, the Oxford English Dictionary records racism as a synonym of racialism: "belief in the superiority of a particular race". By the end of World War II, racism had acquired the same supremacist connotations formerly associated with racialism: racism now implied racial discrimination, racial supremacism and a harmful intent. (The term "race hatred" had also been used by sociologist Frederick Hertz in the late 1920s.)
As its history indicates, popular use of the word racism is relatively recent. The word came into widespread usage in the Western world in the 1930s, when it was used to describe the social and political ideology of Nazism, which saw "race" as a naturally given political unit. (Fredrickson, George M. (2002). It is commonly agreed that racism existed before the coinage of the word, but there is not a wide agreement on a single definition of what racism is and what it is not. Today, some scholars of racism prefer to use the concept in the plural racisms to emphasize its many different forms that do not easily fall under a single definition and that different forms have characterized different historical periods and geographical areas. (Garner 2009) summarizes different existing definitions of racism and identifies three common elements contained in those definitions of racism. First, a historical, hierarchical power relationship between groups; second, a set of ideas (an ideology) about racial differences; and, third, discriminatory actions (practices)
Racism in literary studies is defined by Wikipedia as the belief of genetic factors which constitute race, are the primary determinants of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produces an inherent superiority of a particular race. Racism effects are called racial discrimination. Although the term racism usually denotes race based on prejudice, violence, dislike, discrimination or oppression. Racism is also defined simply as a reflection of the economic system and its cultural, ethnic and political ways. The concept of racism is derived from the word race and it is believed that one racial or ethnic group is inferior to another and the unequal treatment is therefore justified.
According to Charles V. Hamilton and Kwame Ture they defined racism as “A prediction of decision and policies on consideration of race for the purpose of subordinating a racial group and maintaining control over that group”.
On the other hand, oppression is defined by the encyclopedia as torture or degrading treatment and the use of threat or violence. It is also the exercise of power/authority in a burden, cruel or unjust manner. Oppression is also defined by Wikipedia as an act or instance of oppressing the state of being oppressed and the feeling of being heavily burdened; mentally or physically by troubles adverse conditions and anxiety.
It is this experience of Black Slaves that Richard Wright and Peter Abraham tries to capture in in their respective books Black Boy (1945) and My Boy. In the text, Wright recalls the plight of the Africans that were sold into slavery between the early 1700’s and 1860’s through the convenience of their own fellow Africans. They were transplanted to American, Canada, the Caribbean Island and other parts of the world. The Africans taken into America were now referred to as “Black Americans” while those on the Caribbean Island are called “Afro Caribbean” but they all have a common roots and common problem- Racial Discrimination. The Africans faced a great ordeal trying to survive hardship on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean on arrival to America; they were conscripted into force labour, maltreated, abused and demoralized on the cotton fields and plantation where they were put to work as slaves. As a result of this hardship deprivation and degradation, the blacks began expressing themselves through Negro spirituals which marked the beginning of the artistic expressions of the emotion. They told stories of unpleasant experience of slavery and oppression through pamphlet and short stories, which formed the basic of Black writings and which were later referred to as “Slave Narrative” or “secret text” because they were written without the knowledge of the slave owners. This inhuman trade led to the transportation of Africans to American to work as slave on the plantation where they experienced unimaginable oppression from the white owner. Many youth are ignorant of this fact and see American as a peaceful place and a bed of roses.
The project therefore sets out to trace the origin of racism in Africa and try to expose the horrible experience that the black slaves went through. The experiences of the blacks recounted by Richard Wright in Black Boy and Peter Abraham in My Boy will therefore by analyzed to expose the themes of racism and oppression as aspect of the African society.
Racism and oppression of the Blacks has been a thing that is as old as the World itself sad enough, most people does not know its origin in the African continent and how deep it has eaten into the fabrics of the content. The blacks on the other hand do not know their worth and most of them discriminate among their selves. This project therefore will focus on analysing the concept of racism as showcased in the novel Black boy and My boy written by Richard Wright and Peter Abraham.
The objective of this study is to create an awareness of racism and oppression using the personal experience of Richard Wright in his autobiography Black Boy and Peter Abraham in My Boy.
This project concentrates on the theme of racism and oppression in Black literature. The intention of the researcher is to show that racism and oppression indeed is a prominent theme in Black Boy and My Boy especially because the book was written during the Jim Crow era at a point where racism was very prominent in the American society.
It also looks at the personal understanding of the Blackman’s point of view and his situation. Examples of racism and oppression are cited in Black Boy. This project exposes how racism and oppression affects the mentality and the way of living of the Black race, reducing them to a level of inferiority, in every aspect of their lives.
- SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:
The scope and limitation is on the theme of racism and oppression in Black Boy and My boy by Richard Wright and Peter Abraham so as to prevent the project from being untidy and ambiguous in nature. From intense research we believe that Black Boy, an eye witness account is accurate enough to fully express the terms of racial segregation and oppression because it has made a strong impact on American literature with its strong commentary on the cultural, political, racial and social issues going on during the period of 20th century racism.
The very title of the book “Black Boy” already gives us an idea of our thematic discussion because he uses the term ‘Black’ in the title to emphasize the fundamental racial facts of his life (the author Richard Wright); the black against the white. Black race subordinate to the white race which is the main and only scope and limitation.
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:
Many works have been carried out on Black American literature majorly focusing on self-identity and racism. For example Babalola (1992) “The concept of racism and crisis of self-identity in James Baldwin’s Go Tell it on the Mountain (1954) and George Lamming’s Water with Berries (1972) focused on aspect of racism. Both novels highlighted the concept of self-identity. The present study will be different from the works mentioned above. It will shed more light on oppression experienced by the African’s using Richard Wright’s autobiographical novel {Black Boy} and Peter Abraham novel (My boy) black American literature.
The methodology used in this project is a Carl Jung (1952) psychological approach in literature. It is believed that this approach will best expose the inner mind and psychological torture of the Black American characters in Black Boy. Oppression and Racism are better analysed, examined and portrayed through the workings of the intellectual thinking of those affected black American literature. This approach is the only approach that has helped to review visual and close insight of confrontations and conflicts between the Blacks and the Whites. Black American literature Concentration is placed on the major character which serves as the representative character for the Blacks. Black American literature through his life experience, we can deduce the predicament of the Black Americans in South Africa. Black American literature | Abstract
This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the errors in the use of English adjectives among second language learners with particular reference to selected secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Also with the intention of possibly recognizing error competence as a new variable related to L2 learners structural weakness. It explored the nature of English adjectives; the errors committed by L2 learners and proffered solutions to alleviating the problems. The researcher observed that the English adjective main syntactic role is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified. The adjective category performed the syntactic function of ascribing superiority or inferiority of quality and property to persons, objects etc. Both field and library researches were used to get the facts needed for the analysis. Five research questions guided the study with a view to discovering the degree to which L2 learners commit errors in their use of English adjectives. Also the relationship between error competence and structural competence of L2 learners in the use of English adjectives were examined. Three secondary schools were selected using simple random sampling. Forty students were selected from each school which comprised SS1 and SS2 students. The total number of students selected were one hundred and twenty in all. The researcher made use of questionnaire and structural test questions as the research instruments. The structural test was divided into two parts: a blank filling test and a multiple-choice test. These tests were given to test students proficiency level i.e. real knowledge in the use of English adjectives while the questionnaire was used to assess error competence of learners. The result, therefore, revealed that the blank filling test questions depicted the students real knowledge of the English adjectives. Also the result showed that certain error types are problematic to L2 learners thereby increasing their tendency in committing errors on their usages. Effective assimilation is required by users to attain mastery of the use of English adjectives. Based on the findings some recommendations which aimed at improving the learning of English language were made. The researcher suggested that further studies of this kind be conducted in other word class to know where lapses existed for improvement. In conclusion, this investigation has paved the way to support the idea of having error competence as a strategy which needs training and management.
Table of Contents
Title page i
Approval page ii
Certification iii
Acknowledgements iv
Dedication v
Abstract vi
Table of contents vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Purpose of the Study 3
1.4 Significance of the Study 3
1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study 4
1.6 Research Questions 5
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF SCHORLASHIP
2.0 Introduction 6
2.1 Conceptual Framework 6
2.2 Theoretical Framework 27
2.3 Empirical Studies 29
2.4 Summary 38
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design 40
3.2 Area of Study 40
3.3 Research Instrument 40
3.4 Sample and Population of the Study 41
3.5 Method of Data Collection 41
3.6 Reliability of Instrument 42
3.7 Method of Data Analysis 43
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Data Presentation 44
4.2 Data Analysis 48
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Discussion of Results 55
5.2 Recommendations 58
5.3 Suggestions for Further Studies 59
5.4 Conclusion 61
Works Cited 63
Appendix 70 |
ABSTRACT
This research work is geared towards assessing the similarities and differences of marking plurality in English and Igbo languages. This long essay is organized in five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction that entails the background of study, objectives of study, significance of study, research problem questions, scope and delimitation of the study and the research methodology. Chapter two contains the review of literature, which is the analysis of peoples opinion of plurals and the theoretical framework. Chapter three treats the description of population of the study, research instrument, the questionnaire method, the textual material method, the procedure for data collection, sampling procedure, research design and data analysis techniques. Chapter four is the presentation of the data analysis that is used in the research and findings. Finally, chapter five is the summary of the work, conclusion and recommendation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE I
CERTIFICATION II
APPROVAL PAGE III
DEDICATION IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V
ABSTRACT VI
TABLE OF CONTENTS VII
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY 1
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY 10
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY 10
1.4 RESEARCH PROBLEMS 11
1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION FOR THE STUDY 12
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 12
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW 13
2.1 THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK 29
2.2 THE TRADITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF WORD FORMATION OF
THE PLURALITY IN ENGLISH AND IGBO LANGUAGE 29
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 INTRODUCTION 31
3.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE POPULATION OF THE STUDY 31
3.2 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT 31
3.3 THE QUESTIONNAIRES METHOD 32
3.4 THE TEXTUAL MATERIAL METHOD 32
3.5 PROCEDURE FOR DATA COLLECTION 32
3.6 SAMPLING PROCEDURE 33
3.7 RESEARCH DESIGN 33
3.8 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES 34
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 INTRODUCTION 35
4.1 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 35
4.2 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS 35
4.3 FINDINGS 45
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 INTRODUCTION 47
5.1 SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS 47
5.2 CONCLUSION 48
5.3 RECOMMENDATION 51
WORK CITED 52
APPENDIX 54
| CHAPTER 1
Introduction:
One of the most important differences between man and animal is mans ability to speak and make others understand him. Language is only possible because within each society, people agree to understand a particular pattern of sound in a particular way. For instance, all English speaking countries understand the meaning of the word water. According to Akindele and Adegbije, language is:
A human phenomenon that has form which can be described in terms of units of sound phonemes, word, morphemes, phrases, sentences and paragraphs or discourse 1.
This definition shows that language has often been identified as the most unique attribute of man. It is through language that human beings grasp and understand reality and transmit it from one generation to another. This view is buttressed by Blakar who asserts that we actually live and behave in a world of language 4. Victoria Fromkin and Robert Rodman quoted Noam Chomoky as saying that:
When we study human language, we are approaching what some might call the human essence. The distributive qualities of mind that are so far as we know unique to man. 1.
Language, which Oyewo Yinka describe as the medium or vehicle for conveying ideas, a system of arbitrary vocal symbol based on social cooperation; the totality of meaningful utterance in any given society 15 is by far the most important means of human communication.
The effects of Nigerian Pidgin English on students is the focus of this research work. Pidgin has their different histories about language contact and subsequent borrowing and codemixing. The origin of Nigerian pidgin can be traced to the contact which was established between multilingual coastal communities and Portuguese merchants, who were joined later by the Dutch and the English. Nigerian Pidgin English is in fact becoming very popular in the country, especially in the secondary schools and in the universities; even at public function as well as in the offices. It is a lingua franca for social integration among diverse ethnic groups in the country.
Nigerian Pidgin English has developed to the extent that it is utilized for literary communication. Some of the works which Nigerian pidgin is employed as a medium of expression are Dis Nigeria Sef a poem written by Ken SaroWiwa, No Food No Country a play by Tunde Fatunde, and Grip Am a play by Ola Rotimi; though some people consider it to be a low social status. Nigerian Pidgin has come to stay as the major lingua franca adopted for communication among the many different speakers in Nigeria. According to Jowitt:
The situation today is that pidgin flourishes as a medium of interethnic communication, especially in the south, and especially in the large cities with many nonindigenous residents Bendel, Benin, Port Harcourt, etc or throughout States with small many ethnic groups13
Nigerian Pidgin in this case is a situation where normal language pattern is altered, but generally accepted to convey meaning. The language does not only evolve but also has its origin from a mixture of other languages. Experiences have shown that among the students for which this work was conceived, Nigerian Pidgin English has gained a wider audience in all sectors of the economy, especially the educational sector.
Background to The Study:
The term pidgin is used to refer to a language which develops in a situation where speakers of different languages have a need to communicate but do not share a common language. Once a pidgin has emerged, it is generally learned as a second language and used for communication among people who speak differently.
Language is the most creative and unlimited instrument for social communication and it helps us to understand the deep seated social relevance, culture involvement and the human relatedness of language. Having said this, we can therefore agree that pidgin is a language of its own and not just a supplementary tongue as some people see it, since it serves as an unlimited instrument of social communication especially in a multilingual community as Caritas University.
According to R. Linton he states that the culture of a society is the way of life of its members, the collection of ideas and habits which they learn, share and transmit from generation to generation 12. These cultures, ideas and habits can only be transmitted from generation to generation through language. In linguistic, every language is considered adequate to represent the communicative needs of its people and as such should not be made to suffer any biases.
This cannot be said of Nigerian Pidgin even though it is a language because various attempts have been made by different faction to eradicate the use of Nigerian Pidgin English. These attempts have however been unsuccessful because of the significant value the language has to its users. It is a language that has brought people together in spite of their differences in ancestral culture and language by creating a local culture for itself which blends ideas from different cultures.
Statement of Research Problem:
Nigerian Pidgin is a language just as English and there is enough room for both language to coexist and be mutually enriching. Despite this and the fact that Nigerian Pidgin English appears to be the most popular means of communication among diverse groups and is easier to learn than any other language in the country today it is generally asserted that it is not the suitable language for use in formal setting and its use in such setting is usually frowned at.
This research work will explore the potentials of Nigerian Pidgin English as a language. If Nigerian Pidgin English does have this potential, why is its usage and status denigrated Also, does the speaking of Nigerian Pidgin affect the students academic performance Answers to these questions will enable us make useful recommendations for future studies.
Purpose of the Study:
This work intends to look into the effectiveness and status of Nigerian Pidgin English. It is inherent that for a long period of time that Nigerian Pidgin English has been the means of communication among students in the higher institutions. This research will bring into light if the use of Nigeria Pidgin English has any effect on the students and their academic performance in Caritas University. The finding will be regarded to be generic, affecting also students in other institutions who equally exalt Nigerian Pidgin English above standard English.
Significance of the Study:
This study is important because its results can go a long way to finding out the causes of students negative or positive academic performance. If Nigerian Pidgin English has contributed negatively or positively to the students.
This work will in no doubt contribute to ones knowledge especially in the department of English, Caritas University, Enugu as it will highlight some issues in educational planning. It will be a guide for the federal government in planning for effective educational system.
Scope and Limitations:
The scope of this project is on the effects of Nigerian Pidgin English in university community. An assessment of its use in various forms will be carried out. This research is limited to Caritas University, Enugu even though the findings might be generic.
Research Methodology:
Questionnaires were distributed to hundred 100 students in Caritas University, Enugu State which is my case study and these questionnaires were filled and collected and the hundred questionnaires were returned.
The result/total of responses from the respondents is tabled in the yes/no format. The collection of data was done in two parts. The secondary and primary source. The primary source is the questionnaire; the secondary source includes textbooks, journals and so on. The materials were researched upon in libraries: Benue State University and Caritas University libraries.
The total number of hundred 100 questionnaires were distributed and the percentage system is the method used in calculating the different responses. | ABSTRACT
This research presented in this study aimed at investigating the problems of noun phrase word order in English among the second language learners, using 190 undergraduate students of English Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka as a case study. The study explored the structure of English noun phrase, particularly the complex ones. The researcher observed that the arrangement of components of complex noun phrase often caused difficulties for the ESL students who have attained the level of making complex constructions in their academic writings. The researcher critically examined the problems the students have in dealing with the arrangement of words in the English noun phrase using questionnaire test questions in the form of: formation of noun phrase with simple sentences; rearrangement of premodifiers of the noun phrase, and identifying noun phrases from a passage. These test questions were given to test students proficiency level in the English language. Four research questions guided the study with a view to discovering the extent of these students problems in the construction of the English noun phrase. Information needed for analysis was also gotten from library research. Based on the investigation made, it is observed that the source of the students problem in learning the English Noun phrase word order is because they have little or no knowledge of the infinite number of grammatical forms, the modifiers with their fixed rule of ordering which adversely leads to wrong ordering of NP structure. This study resorted to the theory of group of elements of structural MHQ as expounded by Halliday in his NeoFirthian model of grammatical analysis. On the basis of these findings, pedagogical implications are discussed and recommendations for more research on the construction of complex noun phrases were suggested.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
One of the most important subjects vital to ESL students success in mastering the English language is grammar. The fundamentals of grammar are crucial for achieving fluency in any language, and acquiring the degree of difference between the speakers native language first language or L1 and the language being learned second language L2. To cover any nuance of English grammatical structure would require a great deal of extensive research, and is beyond the scope of this work. The focus, instead, will be on one aspect of English grammar word order within the English noun phrase.
Table of Contents
Tile page i
Approval ii
Certification iii
Acknowledgements iv
Dedication v
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Purpose of the Study 5
1.4 Scope of the Study 6
1.5 Significance of the Study 6
1.6 Research Questions 7
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual Framework 8
2.1 Different Perspectives of Language 8
2.1.1 Meaning Construction 9
2.1.2 Word Order 9
2.1.3 The Phrase 11
2.1.4 The Structure of the Noun Phrase in English
13 2.1.5 Structural Patterns of the Element of Noun Phrase 23
2.1.6 The Concept Modification 31
2.1.7 Theoretical Framework 34
2.1.8 Empirical Review 35
2.1.9 Summary 42
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design 43
3.2 Area of Study 43
3.3 Population of the Study 43
3.4 Sampling Technique 44
3.5 Sample Size 44
3.6 Research Instrument 44
3.7 Method of Data Collections 45
3.8 Method of Data Analysis 45
CHAPTER FOUR:
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Data Presentation 46
4.2 Analysis 48
CHAPTER FIVE:
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Discussion of Results 59
5.2 Conclusion 68
5.3 Recommendations 68
Works Cited 71
Appendix 74s | CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Nigerias political problems sprang from the carefree manner in which the British took over, administered, and abandoned the government and people of Nigeria. British administrators did not make an effort to weld the country together and unite the heterogeneous groups of people. Though, many things we have today is due to their enlightenment, they still left us hanging. According to Adewele Ademoyega in his book Why We Struck 1981, he said that when the British came, they forcibly rubberstamped the political state of the ethnic groups of Nigeria, and maintained that status quo until the left. According to him upon their departure nearly a hundred years later, the people resumed fighting for their political rights.
When the British came to Nigeria as an imperial nation to take over the rulership of the country from 1861 with the cession of Lagos, they met the people of the south totally free, only observing and regulating their own monarchies and institutions Adewele Ademoyega: Why We Struck. Chinua Achebe in his work or novel Things Fall Apart, 1958, tries to portray the life Africans lived before and during the arrival of the Europeans in Nigeria.
Things Fall Apart tells the tragic story of the rise and fall of Okonkwo and the equally tragic story of the disintegration of Igbo culture, symbolized by the agrarian society of Umofia, under the relentless encroachments of British Christian imperialism.
For Achebe, Mister Johnson represents the worst kind of portrayal of Africans by Europeans. To him, the portrayal was all the more disheartening because John Cary was working hard to achieve and accurate depiction, unlike many British authors during the imperial colonial period who deliberately, often cynically, exploited stereotyped of Africans and African society. It was precisely because John Cary was a liberalminded and sympathetic writer, as well as a colonial administrator that Achebe felt the record had to be set straight. Achebes purpose then is to write about and for his own people. His first novels form a continuum over one hundred years of Igbo civilization. The Europeans have not yet penetrated Umuofia, the setting of the first novel, when Things Fall Apart beings. When the novel ends colonial rule has been established. His other novels talk about the different changes that took place before independence and after it.
The British governed Nigerian indirectly through their traditional rulers, as a result, the true leader of the masses hamstrung and held down. Just because Africans were given authority to rule over her own people, they saw it as a means to maltreat those that have wronged them, extort from those that have more than them and sell his/her own brother and sister for favours from the superior leaders The British. Adewele Ademoyega: Why We Struck.
These actions by the local and foreign leaders made the people to sort for independence. Many of them were not thinking straight any more. Many people now saw the need to transfer their faults to others using others as an excuse. The present leader blame the colonial masters and fore runnersforindependence for their actions for not doing what is expected of them well and also for the embezzlement and stealing of public funds. They claim that the colonial masters taught them to do so. The political elites in other to become rich and influencial in the society, steal and blame it on the economy and leaders. No one takes responsibility for his own crime and faults.
Between the politicians and the military they blame one another for a bad government no one agrees that the other is better than himself. In the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, people do all type of things just to steal from the petroleum companies they believe that it is their own right and bunkering which is a common business there is not stealing. That is why Tanure Ojaide uses his novel The Activist to enlighten the people of what is happening in the Niger Delta areas. He says those that claim to be literate in the society are the Chief Criminals sabotaging one another. Everybody in the country is in one way or the other suffering from the harms political corruption brought, we are psychosocial disordered.
Kole Omotoso in his fictions focuses on identifying the problems in Nigerian society and proposing solution. He lived his childhood and adolescence, sharing the nationalist dreams of peace, progress, and prosperity, as an adult and as a writer, he was forced to watch the systematic deferment of these dreams after independence for decades after freedom from colonial rule, Nigeria was cursed by civil strife, including a civil war 1967 1970 and incessant military coups detat. These events, together with undemocratic rule political chicanery and bureaucratic cynicism resulted in a steady decline in the quality of life in a nation that, because it is the most populous black nation on earth is often looked upon as representative of the black race. Omotoso tries to use fiction to talk about the decay and chaos in the society but he tries to make it less real like Armah did in his The Beautyful Ones are not yet Born.
1.1 Definition of Terms
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality is also considered political corruption.
Forms of corruption vary, it include: bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft and embezzlement. While corruption may facilitate criminal enterprises such as drug trafficking, money laundering and trafficking, it is not restricted to these activities. While political corruption is an illegal abuse of power, psychosocial disorder is the mental reaction one gets from it.
Psychosocial disorder is a mental illness caused or influenced by maladjusted cognitive and behavioural processes.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Due to the political dictatorship and the high rate of starvation and poverty in the country, many of the people are suffering from problems caused by the many ways they are treated and controlled.
Their manner of thinking have been blurred with the idea that if they steal or kill to survive, it is not a crime because their leader are also thieves who loot the national treasure and put is in their foreign accounts.
Again due to this, the citizens are psychosocially disordered and their minds corrupt. The key problem is the government. Because of the corrupt nature of the society, the government sells her pride and glory to foreign companies and enterprise. This people now treat the natural inhabitants of the areas where the companies are located like animals without dignity. Example is the Niger Delta area of Nigeria which is the oil producing state.
The major problem is between the people and her government. Both are psychologically and socially sick. The pain of poverty and starvation in abundant money have destroyed the peoples mind that they no longer think or reason straight.
1.3 Aim and Objectives
The objectives of this research are;
To identify the problems caused by political corruption and
To provide suggestion to the prevention of political corruption and psychosocial disorder and find a way to eliminate it completely from the society in general.
1.4 Significance of the study
Political corruption and psychosocial disorder using The Activist by Tanure Ojaide and Arrow of Rain by Oke Ndibe, will serve as a good material to students researchers.
This work will show how the government and the citizens and foreign companies helped in the corruption of the society and her environment and how the act of corruption has disordered everything.
1.5 Scope of Research
This project is restricted to the study of the political corruption and psychosocial disorder, using Tanure Ojaides The Activist and Okey Ndibes Arrow of Rain and other relevant literary work of some other Nigerian and African prose writers and commentaries on corruption.
The research is divided into five chapters, chapter one consist of the introduction, definition of term, statement of the problem, aims and objectives, significance of the study, scope of research and research methodology. Chapter two is the review of related literature, chapter three is textual analysis of the novel The Activist by Tanure Ojaide, Chapter four is textual analysis of the novel Arrows of Rain Arrow of Rain by Okey Ndibe and chapter five is the summary and conclusion.
1.6 Research Methodology
The main source of this research work is textual analysis of The main source of this research work is textual analysis of The Activist by Tanue Ojaide and Arrow of Rain by Okey Ndibe.
The secondary materials are from the library, texts, magazine and some works on African prose writers. |
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