Contemporary Nigerian literature and the idea of a canon.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 260
Description: Contemporary Nigerian literature derives from a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual environment. Owing to its use of the English language, a large part of Nigerian written literature is in dialogue with the whole body of other literatures worldwide. What distinguishes Nigerian literature from, say, American or Australian literature is a distinct interplay of values, which although they might be found to be present in all human culture, do not combine in the same temporal, historical, geographic or ontological space in the same circumstances and dimensions as those which generate the literature that we designate as Nigerian. Within itself, Nigerian literature has yet to determine what constitutes its core values, although these values are embedded in its narratives. If these values are identified and reiterated, it is possible that a canon of Nigerian literature will be determined.This dissertation argues that the category of nation is still valid in literary discourse, especially because both academic institutional practices and socio-political realities support this theoretical position. It argues that cultural globalization is an imperial ruse, another ploy to rob weaker nations of what is left of their identity. Its beneficiaries are the empires themselves. It therefore takes the validity of a Nigerian literature for granted, only identifying and questioning its constituent elements. Although the dissertation acknowledges the larger canon debates, it restricts itself to theorizing a model of evaluation for a Nigerian canon.This study is both theoretical and evaluative. It re-examines such concepts as values, nation, tradition and canon in terms of the overall intention of the work. Both as bases for theorizing its problem and for elucidation, it uses a variety of literary texts. Although this work suggests the constitutive elements of a Nigerian canon, it does not prescribe a list of works or an exclusionary canonical model. What it does is to suggest a set of principles that will guide scholars interested in canon formation.
Notes: Adviser:  Edward J. Chamberlin.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 65-05, Section: A, page: 1777.