Publication Title ECO-LITERATURE AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher Abraka Humanities Review Vol. 6 No. 3 2014
Publication Authors EJIODU, MICHAEL O. EKPENISI, KINGSLEY E.
Year Published 2014-04-04
Abstract For literature to be functional, it must address contemporary challenges to bring about a better society. There is no doubt that humans at the turn of this century are confronted with environmental issues such as, pollution, deforestation, depletion of the ozone layer, flooding, ice-melting, global warming, earthquake, etc. These constitute some of the contemporary challenges which are faced by Africans especially, and the world at large. These problems are threatening human existence. As such, urgent steps need to be taken if planet earth is to be preserved. It is against this background that this paper x-rays eco-Literature, a new area of scholarship in literary circles, with a view to accessing the contribution of literature to the fight to rescue the earth, our environment. Literature is used as a veritable instrument to protest against further degradation of our natural environment. This is the concern of recent Nigerian writers among whom are Niyi Osundare and Tanure Ojaide. This paper concludes that the protection of the ecosystem is a duty which all must participate in so that our earth will not die.
Publication Title RECONSTRUCTING THE FUTURE THROUGH LITERATURE Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher African Journal of Arts and Cultural Studies, Volume 4, Number 1,2011
Publication Authors Ejiodu, Michael Onyeisi
Year Published 2011-11-11
Abstract This paper examines the current state of affairs in the world with particular reference to the degradation of human life, and the fact that it is the future that is destroyed in killing (in its various forms) the youths. It also decries the level of lack of love among the human race, be it inter- or inlra- racial and/or tribal, and states that this and the utter hatred among humans are the key factors responsible for the destruction of the future. The paper however opines that the future could be reconstructed through literature by presenting such materials as could engender love and/or expose the ills of war in all its facets or, at least, reduce 'the bickering and wrangling among mankind to the barest minimum. The paper concludes that it is only when these are done that there can be hope for the future as we would have started on the tortuous road to the reconstruction of the future.
Publication Title "LITERATURE AND SUB - REGIONAL INTEGRATION: THE WAY FORWARD" Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher The Journal of the Inter-College Association of French Teachers Nigeria INTERCAFT (REVUE), Volume 8, No 1, November 2007
Publication Authors EJIODU, MICHAEL ONYEISI
Year Published 2007-07-07
Abstract It is generally upheld that literature plays so many important roles in the life of a people, whether as individuals or as a group. One of such roles which is also universally acclaimed the most important, along with entertainment, is education. Literature is an all embracing phenomenon which transcends races, tribes, social classes, educational classes and so on most often exposing their common features with a view to unifying the people. Therefore one can conclude that literature is a prodigy with the ability to integrate the various tribes and peoples of this world. However, for the purpose of this paper we have limited ourselves to the West African sub-region. Towards this end we have examined literature with a view to seeing how it could be employed as a tool for the integration of the West African sub- region. This could not have been properly done without first examining the concepts of literature, sub-region and integration.
Publication Title Commitment and the Nigerian Literary Artist: A Study of the Works of Soyinka and Osofisan Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher Journal of the Association of Nigerian Languages Teachers
Publication Authors EJIODU, MICHAEL ONYEISI
Year Published 2007-04-01
Abstract
Publication Title ANTHROPOCENTRIC-REALISM IN THE NIGER-DELTA REGION: A STUDY OF RUKY DIVINE OGEDE'S FESTERING WOUNDS
Publication Type journal
Publisher Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics
Paper Link http://www.iiste.org/
Publication Authors Michael Onyeisi Ejiodu
Year Published 2023-05-31
Abstract This paper examines the relationship between literature and the environment. The major focus is on the anthropocentric attitude and activities of man, and how these impinge on the environment. The paper tries to xray some concepts such anthropocentrism, biosphere, earth, environment, man and the Others. The paper argues that the concepts in their physical manifestation are cardinal for the existence and survival of humanity as well as themselves. In addition to these, the paper looks at the effects of the degradation of the environment on mankind; the interrelationship between the degradation of the earth, corruption and protest among the citizenry. Another aspect examined is the political implication of the despoliation of the environment. These could be summed up in the perennial and circular flow of corruption and the attendant suffering and degradation of human life, leading ultimately to resistance among the populace. The text of analysis is Ruky Divine Ogede's Festering Wounds. The paper concludes that mankind no longer seems to understand or realise that humanity cannot exist nor survive in isolation. Another conclusion is that the environment’s response to the degradation of the earth is a prelude to youths’ restiveness and social revolts
Publication Title Literature in the Service of State: A Panacea for Political Conflict
Publication Type journal
Publisher CLAREP JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND LINGUISTICS (C-JEL)
Paper Link DOI: https://doi.org/10.56907/geiok95q
Publication Authors Michael Onyeisi Ejiodu
Year Published 2022-11-01
Abstract Literature emanates from society and is about society. It is about people and their interaction, both at the intra- and the inter-levels. It is a record or reflection of the actions and/or inactions and thoughts of humans. To this effect, the problems and general situations of man are given life outside of the human body, that encasement that gives tangibility to the life force. Politics, on the other hand, has to do with the art of governance and/or the methods and techniques of ascendancy onto the seat of power. Over the generations and most especially in recent times, politics has downgraded man. Man has degenerated on the altar of politics and the art of governance. The implication of this is that crises have engulfed the world. The most frequently heard news and information these days are about war, terrorism, crises, corruption, banditry, kidnapping, and so on. Often, these come as a result of people or groups striving to occupy some positions of authority/governance. The implication of this is that the road to the seat of governance is littered with limbs, heads and body parts, as well as rivers of blood. This paper argues that literature, which is about man and his society, could be employed in fostering the positives in the body polity and the politics in the State, both in the microcosm and macrocosm. This could be done by identifying the vices and values, and then decrying the vices while espousing the positive values. Often, politics tries to bring about the desired harmony, but unfortunately, the generator cannot be the solution, hence a different medium (literature) is sought as an instrument for the ultimate elimination of the crisis. The Chronological Approach is employed for this study, which employs a folklorist play, The Placenta of Death by Sam Ukala as the text for analysis. The focus of this paper is the quest for the solution to the problem posed by the search for political relevance, which since politics cannot proffer we have to seek in literature.
Publication Title LITERATURE AS A RECONSTRUCTION MATERIAL FOR THE CULTURE OF A PEOPLE: THE CASE FOR AFRICAN IDENTITY Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher Journal of Arts and Culture
Publication Authors EJIODU, MICHAEL ONYEISI
Year Published 2010-07-01
Abstract This paper examines the relationship between literature and culture. It establishes that literature has. a vital role to play in propagating the culture of a people. It further upholds that via this means, literature has the capacity to re-establish the identity and self esteem of tribes. The paper opines that it is important that literary artists from Africa, objectively and realistically, incorporate all aspects of our culture in their works; emphasising that objectivity and realism are very crucial so as to ensure that the culture is enticing, believable and acceptable: a kind of pas (oralism. The paper finally concludes that it is only in this state that a restoration of African identity and self esteem that could lead to unprecedented development could be achieved in Africa.
Publication Title CULTURAL MOBILIZATION THROUGH DRAMA
Publication Type journal
Publisher A Journal of Nigerian Languages and Culture
Publication Authors EJIODU, MICHAEL ONYEISI
Year Published 2007-03-01
Abstract In the paper, efforts have been made to identify what constitutes culture. Then a discussion was embarked upon identifying how these aspects of our culture could be popularized among our people (both old and young) through the vehicle of drama. The paper was concluded on the idea that if our cultural values are propagated and popularized through the instrument of drama (oral and written) there will be increased cultural awareness in Africa.
Publication Title THE CAUSES OF THE 'PAIN OF LIVING': A SURVEY OF W. H. AUDEN'S POETRY Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher The Nigerian Journal of Research and Production
Publication Authors EJIODU, MICHAEL ONYEISI
Year Published 2003-09-01
Abstract The paper takes a peep into the life of man with a view to exposing the experiences of man. The result of this is the identification of pain as being about the only thing that man seems created for in addition to the grave. Blamed for this by poets generally, and W.H. Auden specifically are "Man" and "God" who have been identified as the real and remote factors that cause this "pain of living." However, the immediate factors identified as the causes of pain of living are: "futility of life," "human indifference" and "capitalism". For this exercise W. H. Auden's poetry forms the major reference.
Publication Title A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN: A STUDY IN MYSTERY Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher NKA A Journal of the Arts
Publication Authors Michael Onyeisi Ejiodu
Year Published 2006-11-01
Abstract
Publication Title LANGUAGE AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher NATECEP JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES (NJECS))
Publication Authors Ejiodu, Michael Onyeisi and Ehinze, Sunday Ndubuisi
Year Published 2011-09-01
Abstract Some observers have predicted that the fifty years old Nigerian Federation may witness another civil war if the grievances of some ethnic groups are not properly addressed and in good time. This prediction is based upon the existence of the common centrifugal tendencies manifest in the forms of ethno-political, ethno-religious and militant or youths' crises and conflicts in the federation. This paper is, however, not interested in assessing the veracity or otherwise another civil war prediction, rather it is concerned with the option of language as an important instrument that can be used to manage if not eradicate the various crises and conflicts that exits in Nigeria. To this end the paper takes a look at what language is and its importance in the society, how language affects the society in various ways, i. e. language in social context. It also treats the language situation in a multilingual Nigerian as well as aspects of meaning to show how language works in a society and lastly the use of language as an instrument for conflict management.
Publication Title TOWARDS THE MANAGEMENT AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT IN PRESENT-DAY NIGERIA: THE FUNCTION OF POETRY Download PDF
Publication Type journal
Publisher NATECEP JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES (NJECS)
Publication Authors Ejiodu, Michael Onyeisi and Ehinze, Sunday Ndubuisi
Year Published 2011-09-01
Abstract This paper examines the relationship between poetry (literature, generally) and human society with respect to conflict management and/or resolution. It establishes that literature has a vital role to play in the management and resolution of conflict in human society. The paper demonstrates that poets have cautioned over the years about vices and problems and their possible consequences, but that often, people do not heed the warnings and that is the reason there are too many crises in Nigeria today. The paper concludes that it is important that the voices of poets be listened to so as to avoid the conflagrations of the past and present in the future beginning from now.
Publication Title LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AS INSTRUMENTS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Publication Type journal
Publisher NATECEP JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES (NJECS)
Publication Authors EJIODU, MICHAEL O. AND EHINZE, SUNDAY NDU
Year Published 2013-09-01
Abstract Language and literature are vital aspects of people's culture which makes other people recognize them. These vital aspects of people's culture when adequately utilized for maximum benefits become a source of power for other elements of development. Some uninformed people may be tempted to ask what could possibly be the rapport between language and literature. There is a dialectical relationship between language and literature because they are both institutions of the society. Language and literature have a symbiotic relationship such that one impacts on the other. On the other hand, literature is an expression of society because it depicts social, political and economic realities of any given nation and it does this through language as the only medium. The high point of this paper is that adequate development of human capital and self-reliance in a nation depends largely on language and literature. It further takes a look at this contemporary thinking and essence of utilizing language and literature for national development.