Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Yoruba literature'

This thesis explores four contemporary literary transformations of the topos of agbonrin and efon, antelope (woman) and buffalo (woman) respectively, in D.O. Fagunwa's Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmale and Igbo Olodumare, Amos Tutuola's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, Mobolaji Adenubi's "The Importance of Being Prudent", and Ben Okri's three abiku narratives. The Famished Road, Songs of Enchantment, and Infinite Riches. The introductory chapter raises theoretical issues regarding the notion of a topos itself and examines how these resonate with central Yoruba concepts. Furthermore, it provides an overview of Yoruba cultural beliefs associated with the figures of antelope (woman) and buffalo (woman) and comments on contemporary literary transformations of this topos in general. Each of the consecutive chapters represents an in-depth analysis and interpretation of one contemporary author's literary transformation of the topos of antelope (woman) and/or buffalo (woman). By putting each writer's deployment of the motif of agbonrin and efon in a biographical, historical and socio-cultural perspective, I explore how he or she - more or less consciously - invests it with new meanings and, in the process, transforms it, and how the topos of antelope (woman) and buffalo (woman) thus comes to serve manifold symbolic or metaphoric purposes, reflecting on and expressing a whole range of issues. Not only is the topos as such continuous beyond the precolonial period but it also assumes a new relevance with respect to the socio-cultural and political anxieties generated in the colonial and post-colonial climates. The contemporary literary transformations explored in this thesis all mediate and negotiate personal, socio-cultural and political anxieties in the wake of sustained contact with the West, especially through Christian missionary activity and colonialism. The thematisation of gender relations plays an important symbolic, metaphoric and metonymic role in this respect, since the way in which each writer's literary transformation of the motif of agbonrin and efon relates to the issue of women and female agency in Yoruba culture, or, more generally, in Nigerian culture, is an important means of communicating and conceptualising change.

Travel writing criticism has sometimes suggested that little travel writing has been produced by Africans. This thesis shows that this is not the case, through a literary study of writing about travel published in Yoruba-speaking southwestern Nigeria between 1914 and 2014. This is a study of writing about domestic travel – Nigerians travelling within Nigeria – and of both Yoruba- and English-language texts. It is both a study of conventional ‘travel writing’ such as first-person travelogues, and of the motif of travel in writing more broadly: it encompasses serialised newspaper columns, historical writing, novels, autobiography, book-length travelogues and online writing. As well as close readings, this study draws on archival research and an in-depth interview with travel writer Pelu Awofeso. This is not an exhaustive study but rather a series of case studies, placed in their historical context. I examine southwestern Nigerian writers’ re resentations of laces within Nigeria and changing communal identities: local, translocal, regional and national. I explore their ideas about the benefits of travel and travel writing, knowledge and cosmopolitanism. I argue that we can read these texts as products of a local print culture, addressed to local readers, as well as in relation to the broader travel writing tradition.

Son innumerables las semejanzas culturales entre Cuba y Bahía en las características de la composición étnica y cultural en las cuales el aporte de varias razas que vinieron de las mismas regiones geográfica crearon una mezcla cultural que presenta puntos comunes en la música, la danza, la culinaria y principalmente en lo que se refiere a la religión de los afro descendientes. También la literatura, integrando el lado simbólico de esas culturas, no podría dejar de recrear esa realidad. En este trabajo me propongo comparar dos novelas latinoamericanas de esas regiones. Ellas son O Sumiço da Santa del escritor brasileño Jorge Amado (1912-2001) y Cuando la sangre se parece al fuego del cubano Manuel Cofiño (1936- 1987). Las obras presentan puntos de convergencia de un diálogo intercultural del que participan las deidades de la religión yoruba, lo que permite que ambas presenten elementos de un confronto de culturas y razas que serán estudiados a partir de la categoría de lo sagrado africano. Para el estudio de lo sagrado dirigimos nuestro interés principalmente para los trabajos de Èmile Durkheim (1996) que define lo sagrado como un hecho social. Como lo sagrado africano aparece en las o obras utilizando el procedimiento de lo real maravilloso incluimos también esa categoría basando nuestro estudio en la obra de Irlemar Chiampi (1980) que incorpora el elemento magia dentro de la categoría de lo real maravilloso. Fue posible constatar que la interrelación de los personajes humanos con los personajes divinos, a través del procedimiento de lo real maravilloso posibilitó, en los primeros un entendimiento del pasado con el presente y la comprensión de las particularidades de una sociedad, en la cual la mezcla racial dio paso a una mezcla cultural que la caracteriza.
São inúmeras as semelhanças culturais entre Cuba e Bahia, nas características da composição étnica e cultural em que o aporte de varias raças vindas das mesmas regiões geográficas criaram uma mistura cultural que apresenta pontos em comum na musica, na dança, na culinária e principalmente no referente à religião dos afro-descendentes. Também a literatura, integrando a face simbólica dessas culturas, não poderia deixar de recriar essa realidade. Nesta pesquisa me proponho comparar dois romances latino-americanos dessas regiões. Eles são O Sumiço da Santa do escritor brasileiro Jorge Amado (1912-2001) e Cuando la sangre se parece al fuego do cubano Manuel Cofiño (1936-1987). As obras apresentam pontos de convergência de um diálogo intercultural do qual participam as deidades da religião yoruba o que permite que ambos apresentem elementos de um confronto de culturas e raças que serão estudados a partir da categoria do sagrado africano. Para o estudo do sagrado dirigimos nosso olhar principalmente para os trabalhos de Èmile Durkheim (1996) que define o sagrado como um fato social. Como o sagrado africano aparece nas obras utilizando o procedimento do real maravilhoso incluímos também essa categoria baseando nosso estudo na obra de Irlemar Chiampi (1980) que incorpora o elemento magia dentro da categoria maravilhoso. Foi possível constatar que a inter-relação dos personagens humanos com os personagens divinos, através do procedimento do real maravilhoso possibilitou, nos primeiros, um entendimento do passado com o presente e a compreensão das particularidades de uma sociedade, em que a mistura racial deu passo a uma mestiçagem cultural que a caracteriza.

En Cuba y Brasil, así como en algunos países de América Latina no se puede hablar de cultura sin tener en consideración los elementos de origen africana que están presentes en la música, en los bailes, en las fiestas populares, en la culinaria, en el teatro, en las artes plásticas, y también en la literatura. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la representación del sagrado de raíces africanas en cuatro novelas latinoamericanas, que son: O compadre de Ogum (2006), del brasileño Jorge Amado; Del amor y otros demonios (2004), Del colombiano Gabriel García Márquez; Como un mensajero tuyo (1998), de la cubana Mayra Montero y Ponciá Vicêncio (2006), de la brasileña Conceição Evaristo. Analizo, en los tres primeros, la presencia de lo sagrado y lo profano y la forma con la que los narradores utilizan la ironía como estrategia para invertir la hegemonía de las religiones. Fue posible observar la existencia, en esas tres novelas, de personajes híbridos, los mensajeros que se dislocan entre mundos aparentemente opuestos realizando puntos de unión entre ellos. Con el propósito de observar como el mito yoruba ultrapasa los personajes en las narrativas contemporánea escrita por mujeres, comparé las obras Como un mensajero tuyo (1998) e Poncia Vicêncio (2006). Aunque en esas dos obras los orishas aparezcan de forma menos evidente, ellos no se debilitan, pues los personajes rescriben esos mitos en el texto literario otorgándole un papel destacado a las figuras femeninas.
Em Cuba e no Brasil, assim como em alguns países da América Latina, não se pode falar de cultura sem ter em consideração os elementos de origem africana que estão presentes na música e dança, nas festas populares, na culinária, no teatro, nas artes plásticas, e também na literatura. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a representação do sagrado de raízes africanas em quatro romances latino-americanos, que são: O compadre de Ogum (2006), do brasileiro Jorge Amado; Del amor y otros demonios (2004), do colombiano Gabriel García Márquez; Como un mensajero tuyo (1998), da cubana Mayra Montero; e Ponciá Vicêncio (2006), da brasileira Conceição Evaristo. Analiso, nos três primeiros, a presença do sagrado e do profano e a forma como os narradores utilizam a ironia como estratégia para inverter a hegemonia das religiões. Foi possível observar a existência, nesses três romances, de personagens híbridos, os mensageiros , que se movimentam fazendo uma ponte de união entre dois mundos aparentemente conflitantes. Com o propósito de observar como o mito yoruba permeia os personagens das narrativas contemporâneas de autoria feminina, comparei as obras Como un mensajero tuyo (1998) e Poncia Vicêncio (2006). Embora nessas duas obras os orixás apareçam de forma menos ostensiva, eles não enfraquecem, pois os personagens reescrevem esses mitos no texto literário outorgando um papel de destaque às figuras femininas.

This study seeks to provide a descriptive analysis of vowel lengthening in Standard Yoruba. It explores the phonological, morphological, and syntactic processes that condition Yoruba vowel lengthening. Vowel lengthening in Standard Yoruba can be shown to be a product of two interacting phonological processes, consonant deletion and vowel assimilation. These phonological processes are conditioned lexically and syntactically. Syntactic constructions determine the applicability of vowel lengthening or its inverse, vowel deletion. Tone is shown to operate independently of segmental assimilation, but not deletion Finally, this study examines the pedagogical implications of vowel lengthening to second language learners of Yoruba
acase@tulane.edu

The study examines two selected Yorùbá movies, focuses on the oral tradition, feelings, and messages in them. Its purpose is to show that the classification or categorisation by previous scholars is not limited to Yorùbá movies; it is adaptable to other movies. Consequently, the study sets out to find an identity for Yorùbá movies and is able to accomplish its aim. It draws on copious examples of oral tradition genres in the selected movies, extract their examples from the movies, and use the extracts to make an argument that the unique way to identify Yorùbá movies is the Yorùbá oral tradition which frequents in the movies. In its attempt to find its focus, it highlights scholars’ ideas of oral tradition worldwide and narrows the concept to the Yorùbá paradigm. The dissertation contains information on research approach, theories, analysis, and findings. Also, it presents the weaknesses of the study and offers useful recommendations. Finally, the study asserts its claim and proves it with evidence from its data.
African Languages
D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

M.Tech. Drama and Film Studies.
The aim of this thesis is to explore the concept of Africanisation in the context of the Yoruba culture of the South West of Nigeria. It seeks to study the nature and form of life among the Yoruba people through the lens of selected plays by playwright and novelist Wole Soyinka, focusing on the motivations for the culture that is observed among the Yoruba speaking people. This study seeks to answer two major questions using the qualitative research method. These questions are: What cultural hallmarks and identities of the Yoruba people are represented in the selected plays of Wole Soyinka, which are Death and the Kings Horseman, The Strong Breed and The Lion and the Jewel and how are these represented? And, what is Africanisation and how has Africa responded to it? In order to achieve the above aims, the thesis is written in two parts. The first part focuses on Africanisation and African Renaissance, while the second part focuses on the analysis of the culture of the Yoruba people as presented by Wole Soyinka in the selected plays. As a philosophy, Africanisation entails, but is not limited to, the art of producing and appraising a knowledge system based on African cultures for the benefit of Africa and the world at large. According to Makhanya, Africanisation is acknowledging and introducing knowledge systems that are rooted in and relevant to Africa next to other knowledge systems in the quest to discover, explain and produce knowledge (cited in Ratshikuni, 2010:1). The selected plays analysed are culturally rich Yoruba plays. Some of the ethos of the Yoruba people, including communal life, music and drumming, naming, sacrifice, and death, among others, as represented by the playwright are expounded upon and documented. vi The methodology employed to obtain data for this study is the qualitative research method. This entails content analysis of the plays with a view to studying the cultural content in the plays. In conclusion, the thesis argues that Yoruba culture has sufficient value that can be of great benefit to the unity and progress of Africa and the world at large. But first, Africa and Africans must embrace their cultural values, expose them to the world and allow some culture of the world to blend with it so as to create a greater, meaningful and global impact.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1992.
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L’objectif de ce mémoire est de démontrer le rôle important de la langue dans la pièce de théâtre Death and the King’s Horseman par l’auteur nigérian Wole Soyinka. Le premier chapitre traite les implications de l'écriture d'un texte postcolonial dans la langue anglaise et revisite les débats linguistiques des années 1950 et 1960. En plus de l'anglais, ce mémoire observe l'utilisation d'autres formes de communication telles que l'anglais, le pidgin nigérian, les dialectes locaux et les métaphores Yoruba. Par conséquent, l'intersection entre la langue et la culture devient évidente à travers la description des rituels. La dernière partie de ce mémoire explore l'objectif principal de Soyinka de créer une «essence thrénodique». Avec l'utilisation de masques rituels, de la danse et de la musique, il développe un type de dialogue qui dépasse les limites de la forme écrite et est accessible seulement à ceux qui sont équipés de sensibilités culturelles Yoruba.
The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate the significant role of language in the development of the play Death and King’s Horseman by Nigerian author Wole Soyinka. The first chapter discusses the implications of writing a postcolonial text in the English language and revisits the language debates of the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to English, the thesis observes the use of other forms of communication such as Nigerian Pidgin English, local dialects, and Yoruba metaphors. Consequently, the intersection between language and culture becomes apparent through the description of the rituals. The final section of the thesis explores Soyinka’s primary focus of creating a “threnodic essence.” With the use of ritual masks, dance and music, he develops a type of dialogue that transcends the written form and is accessible only to those who are equipped with Yoruba cultural sensibilities.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of Arts, 2016
This study focuses on the aesthetics and ethics of translating African literature, using a case of two of D.O. Fagunwa’s Yoruba novels, namely; Igbo Olodumare (1949) translated by Wole Soyinka as In the Forest of Olodumare (2010) and Adiitu Olodumare (1961) translated by Olu Obafemi as The Mysteries of God (2012). More specifically, the overall aim of this study is to determine the positions of these target texts on the domestication and foreignization continuum. The study of these texts is carried out using a descriptive and systemic theoretical framework, based on Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS), Polysystem theory and the notion of norms of translational behaviour. The descriptive approach is extended by drawing on ideological and ethical approaches to translating postcolonial and marginalized literature. Lambert and Van Gorp’s model for the description of translation products is used in exploring the position of Fagunwa’s translated novels in the target literary system. A close comparative analysis of a number of extracts from the two target texts and their corresponding source texts is conducted in order to determine the approaches taken by both translators in their translation of the distinctive stylistic features of Fagunwa’s prose. Building on the work of Christopher Fotheringham (2015) in the field of stylistic analysis of translated African prose, this study describes and analyses the occurrence of shifts of formal literary features between these target texts and their corresponding source texts. This is done by employing Antoine Berman’s scheme of deforming tendencies and Anton Popovič’s scheme of stylistic shifts as the basis for the translational shift analysis.
GR2017

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Language Practice, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015.
This research is designed to assess the validity of the Sapir Whorf hypothesis in relation to the linguistic and cultural notions of the Yoruba and Zulu language speakers’ via the evaluation of the culture enriched drama text The Lion and The Jewel by Wole Soyinka. The study, which uses both questionnaires and interviews to derive responses from participants, engages both the primary and secondary data throughout the chapters. The study queried both the hypothesis’ strong version, (language governs thought: linguistic classifications restrain and influence mental classifications); and its weak version, (linguistic classifications and their use influence thought as well as some other classes of non-linguistic activities) and their possible reliability. Participants’ ages were between 16 and 46 years old who all speak both English and isiZulu (isiZulu-speaking participants) and English and Yoruba (Yoruba-speaking participants). Questionnaires were used and interviews were conducted, the research questions were answered and the findings provided support for validity of the linguistic relativity hypothesis, that is, languages indeed influence thought. The findings also revealed that linguistic influence on cognition is not limited to different language speakers alone, but also same language speakers per level of exposure to other languages and concepts. Based on these findings, recommendations have been made. Among which is the soliciting more research on language and culture (acculturation and enculturation) such that societal peace, love, unity and development can be maintained and promoted in any monolingual, bilingual or multilingual society. Also, educators should be aware of the possibility of a psycholinguistic influence on thought and assimilate it into schools’ curriculum so that multiculturation is fully adopted and promoted in the schools.

Text in English
Through an in-depth analysis of selected texts, this study engages with the ways in which Ogun is reimagined by recent selected Nigerian playwrights. Early writers from this country, influenced by their modernist education, misrepresented Ogun by presenting only his so-called negative attributes. Contemporary writers are reconceptualising him; it is the task of this thesis to demonstrate how they are doing so from a decolonial perspective. These alleged attributes represent Ogun as a wicked, bloodthirsty, arrogant and hot tempered god who only kills and makes no positive contribution to the Yoruba community. The thesis argues that the notion of an African god should be viewed from an Afrocentric perspective, not a Eurocentric one, which might lead to violence or misrepresentation of him. The dialogue in the plays conveys how the playwrights have constructed their main characters as Ogun representatives in their society. For example, Mojagbe and Morontonu present Balogun, the chief warlord of their different community; both characters exhibit Ogun features of defending their community. The chosen plays for this study are selected based on different notions of Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron and war, presented by the playwrights. A closer look at the primary materials this thesis explores suggests Ogun’s strong connection with rituals and cultural festivals. These plays exemplify African ritual theatre. Being a member of the Yoruba ethnic group, I have considerable knowledge of how festivals are performed. The Ogun festival is an annual celebration among the Yoruba, where African idioms of puppetry, masquerading, music, dance, mime, invocation, evocation and several elements of drama are incorporated into the performances. The selected plays critiqued in this thesis are Mojagbe (Ahmed Yerima, 2008), Battles of Pleasure (Peter Omoko, 2009), Hard Choice (Sunnie Ododo, 2011), and Morontonu (Alex Roy-Omoni, 2012). No in-depth exploration has previously been undertaken into the kinds of textual and ideological identities that Ogun adopts, especially in the selected plays. Therefore, using a decolonial epistemic perspective, this study offers a critical examination of how the selected Nigerian playwrights between the years 2008 and 2012 have constructed Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron. Such a perspective assists in delinking interpretations from the modernised notions mentioned above, in which Ogun is sometimes a paradoxical god. Coloniality is responsible for such misinterpretation; the employed theoretical framework is used to interrogate these notions. The research project begins with a general introduction locating Ogun in Yoruba mythology, which forms the background to how the god is being constructed in Yorubaland. Also included iii in this first chapter is a discussion on a decolonial perspective, the principles of coloniality, the aims and objective of the study, and the relevant literature review. Thereafter, chapter two focuses on Battles of Pleasure and argues that the play re-imagines Ogun as a god of peace and harvest as opposed to a god of war and destruction. Chapter three discusses how Ododo’s Hard Choice reconceptualises Ogun as a god of justice, in contrast to him being interpreted as a god who engages in reckless devastation of life. Chapter four explores Ogun’s representation in Yerima’s Mojagbe as a reformer who gives human beings ample time to change from their wayward course to a course that he approves. In chapter five, Ogun’s reconception as a remover of obstacles in Roy-Omoni’s Morontonu is examined. The study concludes with a discussion on how Africans should delink themselves from a modernist Eurocentric perspective and think from an Afrocentric locus of enunciation.
English Studies
D. Litt. et Phil.(English)

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1994.
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