Politics in the Nigerian Novel: A Study of Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People
Publication Date: 07/12/2018
Author(s): Emmanuel Akaana Tarhemba (Ph.D), Louis John Ogah, Mercy Mayo Enwongulu.
Volume/Issue: Volume 1 , Issue 1 (2018)
Abstract:
Many African writers have been influenced very much by politics. This may be due to the fact that, the African intellectual is part and parcel of the political elites. Achebe, one of the renowned African writers maintains that, politics and social affairs cannot be kept out of literature in Africa. This is probably because, by the virtue of its socio-historical developments, the African literature is heavily predicated on problems of socio-economic nature. However, the growing trend of political violence, thuggery and rigging among other vices associated with politics in Africa by the politicians and other key players in election conduct remains a source of worry to many writers. Considering the role elections play in instituting a democratic regime, if this trend is not checked or mitigated, it would mitigate, Africa’s quest for a democratic culture which is necessary for good governance. Therefore, in this paper, Achebe’s AMOP (1966) is critiqued in the light of the above scenario. In particular, the paper discussed Achebe’s perception on the Nigerian politics of the 1960s and the link he establishes between politics and society. Furthermore, a functional approach towards combating electoral violence, thuggery, rigging, corruption and inefficiency in Nigeria is advocated.
