Harry Olufunwa | Federal University Oye-Ekiti (original) (raw)

Papers by Harry Olufunwa

English Studies in Africa

Identity-politics refers to the way in which a specific section of a given society agitates for e... more Identity-politics refers to the way in which a specific section of a given society agitates for equal rights, increased recognition and greater opportunities based on the specific ethnic , religious, gender or other characteristic that simultaneously binds it together as a social group and sets it apart from other groups. This essay looks at the changing nature of identity-politics in the drama of the contemporary Nigerian dramatist Ahmed Yerima. It argues that the playwright traces crucial shifts in relationships that obtain between and within the individuals and social groups depicted in his plays part of his overall concern with the nature of society.

If you were asked the hypothetical question, "Write everything you know about Thomas Hardy's The ... more If you were asked the hypothetical question, "Write everything you know about Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge," how would you go about it? If you decide to write about the novel's themes, or structure, or setting, you might not be answering the question. This is because the question does not say, "Write about the theme of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge," or "Write about the structure of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge," or "Write about the setting of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge."

The changing role of women has been one of the major themes in African women's fiction. This pape... more The changing role of women has been one of the major themes in African women's fiction. This paper is an examination of five novels by Buchi Emecheta, a prominent female Nigerian novelist, and it points out the ways in which she uses the concept of work to highlight the difficulties that women face in modern Nigerian society. Emecheta claims that, while traditional notions of appropriate work for men and women have changed, women are still expected to assume roles that prevent them from attaining self-fulfilment. The paper concludes that Emecheta's female characters show an increasing understanding of the essentially arbitrary nature of gender roles, as they seek to realize their potential as human beings and as women.

If a child washed his hands, he could eat with kings" (Apart 5). This is the traditional Igbo say... more If a child washed his hands, he could eat with kings" (Apart 5). This is the traditional Igbo saying that opens Chinua Achebe's classic first novel, Things Fall Apart. More complex and multifaceted than at first seems apparent, the proverb simultaneously explicates the motivation of the novel's main character, Okonkwo, sums up his achievement, and underscores his tragedy. This paper will examine the various meanings that food, eating, and hunger acquire in the portrayal of Okonkwo.

This article examines the relationships that obtain between humans and nature in the work of the ... more This article examines the relationships that obtain between humans and nature in the work of the contemporary Nigerian poet Niyi Osundare. The primary eco-issue that Osundare raises is the deterioration of this relationship. In portraying a relationship between humans and nature, what Osundare implies is not a connection in the sense of a marriage of convenience between elements that have little choice, but a bond that is so intricately interwoven that it is actually a symbiosis in which both are so dependent upon each other that they ultimately become virtually indistinguishable. Thus, its disruption is not merely a damaging or severing of close ties; it is actually the ruination of the fundamental pillars upon which society is built, with ramifications that are all-embracing in their comprehensiveness. Osundare attributes the environmental crisis primarily to the advent of colonial rule which he argues fundamentally disrupted the hitherto harmonious relationship between indigenous Africans and nature. This disruption redefined the way the two related to each other by placing nature at the receiving end of relentless exploitation. Another way in which imperialism upset this relationship was in imposing an educational and social outlook on the indigenes which alienated them from nature. Thus, what existed formerly as a friend and helper had now become a thing to be disrespected, even while it was being exploited. In Osundare’s poetry, the relationship between humans and environment is seen from multiple dimensions and perspectives: it is personal, reflective of individual moods, hopes and desires; it is communal, demonstrative of a communal ethos, cultural attitudes and ways of life; it is political, simultaneously reflective of and resistant to attitudes and ideologies that are disruptive of a harmonious relationship; it is patriotic, reflective of a centripetal national character, incorporating ethnic, religious, ideological and other divides, and thus transcending them, to offer what might be called a “natural nation” which every citizen would have no hesitation in calling their own.

This paper explores the broad theme of social change in relation to young people in a selection o... more This paper explores the broad theme of social change in relation to young people in a selection of Nigerian novels. In the novels examined, children and youth are seen to symbolize specific social phenomena, particularly the effects of far-reaching social change.

As one of the major ways by which interaction between men and women is regulated in society, marr... more As one of the major ways by which interaction between men and women is regulated in society, marriage has offered a useful yardstick for the assessment of gender relations in many works of African fiction authored by women. The paper examines the way in which the prominent female Nigerian novelist Buchi Emecheta portrays marriage in several novels, including Second-Class Citizen, The Bride Price, The Joys of Motherhood and Double Yoke.

Studies in Literature , 1999

Over a writing career spanning three decades, the dramatist, Bode Osanyin, has made significant c... more Over a writing career spanning three decades, the dramatist, Bode Osanyin, has made significant contributions to the development of Nigeria drama. He has, in particular, assisted in the creation of a viable linguistic medium for the Nigerian stage, the development of a workable compromise between the imperatives of educating and entertaining the audience, the restoration of drama to its former status as one of the popular arts without negating its importance as a burgeoning academic discipline; and the development, over time, of an original portrayal of the issues and concerns the fears and hopes that beset contemporary Nigeria. This chapter examines one of his most recent books of plays, Bode Osanyin's Three Plays (2000) and focuses on the ways in which the author draws upon aspects of the country's turbulent past and troubled present, and uses theme, character, incident, spectacle and plotting, to provide his audience with very original perceptions of the Nigerian situation as an aspect of the human condition.

As a genre whose main preoccupation is the portrayal of the actions of people in society, the nov... more As a genre whose main preoccupation is the portrayal of the actions of people in society, the novel form has offered significant opportunities for writers to examine the relationships that exist between language and social class. Crystal (1997: 39) claims that "English novelists and dramatists, especially

The word "chronotope" is a literal translation of the Greek words for time (chronos) and space (t... more The word "chronotope" is a literal translation of the Greek words for time (chronos) and space (topos). It refers to the category of literary analysis first articulated by the Russian philosopher and literary scholar, Mikhail M. Bakhtin, who defines it as "the intrinsic connectedness of temporal and spatial relationships that are artistically expressed in literature" (84).

This paper examines the ways in which two contemporary female Nigerian novelists, Chimamanda Ngoz... more This paper examines the ways in which two contemporary female Nigerian novelists, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Sefi Atta, portray enhanced female characters who are designated as superwomen. It focuses on four texts: Adichie's Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, and Atta's Everything Good Will Come and Swallow. It argues that such characters represent a growing realisation that Nigerian women are less prepared to bemoan gender injustice than to make conscious efforts to improve their own lives. The notion of superwomanhood is discussed, and the various elements that comprise it are described, including the attainment and maintenance of personal autonomy, the ability to reverse the dynamic of patriarchy, and the development of insight and foresight. The paper also argues that female characters in the texts undergo a "trajectory of becoming" on their way to attaining the status of superwomen.

This paper examines the ways in which ethnicity and location intersect in selected works of ficti... more This paper examines the ways in which ethnicity and location intersect in selected works of fiction of Chinua Achebe and Ralph Ellison. It argues that the traceable correlation between ethnic origin and geographical location in the novels of these writers affects perceptions of and possibilities for personal and communal growth. Drawing upon Achebe's No Longer At Ease and Ellison's Juneteenth, the paper explores the ways in which characters and situations demonstrate the significance of ethnicity as major determinant of progress or catastrophe in multiethnic societies. It argues that the central characters of the two texts are culturally dislocated and are simultaneous representations of hero and outcast because they demonstrate contrasting elements of social centeredness and marginality.

English Studies in Africa

Identity-politics refers to the way in which a specific section of a given society agitates for e... more Identity-politics refers to the way in which a specific section of a given society agitates for equal rights, increased recognition and greater opportunities based on the specific ethnic , religious, gender or other characteristic that simultaneously binds it together as a social group and sets it apart from other groups. This essay looks at the changing nature of identity-politics in the drama of the contemporary Nigerian dramatist Ahmed Yerima. It argues that the playwright traces crucial shifts in relationships that obtain between and within the individuals and social groups depicted in his plays part of his overall concern with the nature of society.

If you were asked the hypothetical question, "Write everything you know about Thomas Hardy's The ... more If you were asked the hypothetical question, "Write everything you know about Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge," how would you go about it? If you decide to write about the novel's themes, or structure, or setting, you might not be answering the question. This is because the question does not say, "Write about the theme of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge," or "Write about the structure of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge," or "Write about the setting of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge."

The changing role of women has been one of the major themes in African women's fiction. This pape... more The changing role of women has been one of the major themes in African women's fiction. This paper is an examination of five novels by Buchi Emecheta, a prominent female Nigerian novelist, and it points out the ways in which she uses the concept of work to highlight the difficulties that women face in modern Nigerian society. Emecheta claims that, while traditional notions of appropriate work for men and women have changed, women are still expected to assume roles that prevent them from attaining self-fulfilment. The paper concludes that Emecheta's female characters show an increasing understanding of the essentially arbitrary nature of gender roles, as they seek to realize their potential as human beings and as women.

If a child washed his hands, he could eat with kings" (Apart 5). This is the traditional Igbo say... more If a child washed his hands, he could eat with kings" (Apart 5). This is the traditional Igbo saying that opens Chinua Achebe's classic first novel, Things Fall Apart. More complex and multifaceted than at first seems apparent, the proverb simultaneously explicates the motivation of the novel's main character, Okonkwo, sums up his achievement, and underscores his tragedy. This paper will examine the various meanings that food, eating, and hunger acquire in the portrayal of Okonkwo.

This article examines the relationships that obtain between humans and nature in the work of the ... more This article examines the relationships that obtain between humans and nature in the work of the contemporary Nigerian poet Niyi Osundare. The primary eco-issue that Osundare raises is the deterioration of this relationship. In portraying a relationship between humans and nature, what Osundare implies is not a connection in the sense of a marriage of convenience between elements that have little choice, but a bond that is so intricately interwoven that it is actually a symbiosis in which both are so dependent upon each other that they ultimately become virtually indistinguishable. Thus, its disruption is not merely a damaging or severing of close ties; it is actually the ruination of the fundamental pillars upon which society is built, with ramifications that are all-embracing in their comprehensiveness. Osundare attributes the environmental crisis primarily to the advent of colonial rule which he argues fundamentally disrupted the hitherto harmonious relationship between indigenous Africans and nature. This disruption redefined the way the two related to each other by placing nature at the receiving end of relentless exploitation. Another way in which imperialism upset this relationship was in imposing an educational and social outlook on the indigenes which alienated them from nature. Thus, what existed formerly as a friend and helper had now become a thing to be disrespected, even while it was being exploited. In Osundare’s poetry, the relationship between humans and environment is seen from multiple dimensions and perspectives: it is personal, reflective of individual moods, hopes and desires; it is communal, demonstrative of a communal ethos, cultural attitudes and ways of life; it is political, simultaneously reflective of and resistant to attitudes and ideologies that are disruptive of a harmonious relationship; it is patriotic, reflective of a centripetal national character, incorporating ethnic, religious, ideological and other divides, and thus transcending them, to offer what might be called a “natural nation” which every citizen would have no hesitation in calling their own.

This paper explores the broad theme of social change in relation to young people in a selection o... more This paper explores the broad theme of social change in relation to young people in a selection of Nigerian novels. In the novels examined, children and youth are seen to symbolize specific social phenomena, particularly the effects of far-reaching social change.

As one of the major ways by which interaction between men and women is regulated in society, marr... more As one of the major ways by which interaction between men and women is regulated in society, marriage has offered a useful yardstick for the assessment of gender relations in many works of African fiction authored by women. The paper examines the way in which the prominent female Nigerian novelist Buchi Emecheta portrays marriage in several novels, including Second-Class Citizen, The Bride Price, The Joys of Motherhood and Double Yoke.

Studies in Literature , 1999

Over a writing career spanning three decades, the dramatist, Bode Osanyin, has made significant c... more Over a writing career spanning three decades, the dramatist, Bode Osanyin, has made significant contributions to the development of Nigeria drama. He has, in particular, assisted in the creation of a viable linguistic medium for the Nigerian stage, the development of a workable compromise between the imperatives of educating and entertaining the audience, the restoration of drama to its former status as one of the popular arts without negating its importance as a burgeoning academic discipline; and the development, over time, of an original portrayal of the issues and concerns the fears and hopes that beset contemporary Nigeria. This chapter examines one of his most recent books of plays, Bode Osanyin's Three Plays (2000) and focuses on the ways in which the author draws upon aspects of the country's turbulent past and troubled present, and uses theme, character, incident, spectacle and plotting, to provide his audience with very original perceptions of the Nigerian situation as an aspect of the human condition.

As a genre whose main preoccupation is the portrayal of the actions of people in society, the nov... more As a genre whose main preoccupation is the portrayal of the actions of people in society, the novel form has offered significant opportunities for writers to examine the relationships that exist between language and social class. Crystal (1997: 39) claims that "English novelists and dramatists, especially

The word "chronotope" is a literal translation of the Greek words for time (chronos) and space (t... more The word "chronotope" is a literal translation of the Greek words for time (chronos) and space (topos). It refers to the category of literary analysis first articulated by the Russian philosopher and literary scholar, Mikhail M. Bakhtin, who defines it as "the intrinsic connectedness of temporal and spatial relationships that are artistically expressed in literature" (84).

This paper examines the ways in which two contemporary female Nigerian novelists, Chimamanda Ngoz... more This paper examines the ways in which two contemporary female Nigerian novelists, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Sefi Atta, portray enhanced female characters who are designated as superwomen. It focuses on four texts: Adichie's Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, and Atta's Everything Good Will Come and Swallow. It argues that such characters represent a growing realisation that Nigerian women are less prepared to bemoan gender injustice than to make conscious efforts to improve their own lives. The notion of superwomanhood is discussed, and the various elements that comprise it are described, including the attainment and maintenance of personal autonomy, the ability to reverse the dynamic of patriarchy, and the development of insight and foresight. The paper also argues that female characters in the texts undergo a "trajectory of becoming" on their way to attaining the status of superwomen.

This paper examines the ways in which ethnicity and location intersect in selected works of ficti... more This paper examines the ways in which ethnicity and location intersect in selected works of fiction of Chinua Achebe and Ralph Ellison. It argues that the traceable correlation between ethnic origin and geographical location in the novels of these writers affects perceptions of and possibilities for personal and communal growth. Drawing upon Achebe's No Longer At Ease and Ellison's Juneteenth, the paper explores the ways in which characters and situations demonstrate the significance of ethnicity as major determinant of progress or catastrophe in multiethnic societies. It argues that the central characters of the two texts are culturally dislocated and are simultaneous representations of hero and outcast because they demonstrate contrasting elements of social centeredness and marginality.