Perspectives on Cultural and National Development as Reflected in Two Igbo Poems

Abstract

Some of the challenges of development in Nigeria are leadership and citizenship based. Much have been written on national development and leadership in literature in English, especially by Nigerian writers, but very little and inadequate attention has been paid to the issues by writers employing Igbo language medium. This study examines the question of national development by two Igbo poets with a view to identify the attributes of a good citizen, the portrayal of leadership, and the literary style used to buttress the claims. Two poems - Maduekwe’s “Ezi onye obodo” and Ekechukwu’s “Obodo anyi” - purposively selected from Akpa Uche: an anthology of Igbo poems (Ekechukwu, 1979) are used as samples for the analysis with guidance from the theory of inference and implication. The study shows that much is expected from both the citizens and leaders (for instance in “Ezi onye obodo”, Maduekwe uses simple language and repetition to depict the citizen as one who is rich in African culture exemplified in the promotion of green environment and peace, which is a forerunner of national development. Other needed virtues are respect for the rule of law, restraining from spreading fake news, and tampering with public funds. All of these engender unity and progress in the polity. Also in “Obodo anyi”, Ekechukwu employs mainly proverbs, idioms, and symbols to subtly depict Nigerian leaders as inept, wasteful, and uncultured. These attitudes result in poverty despite the rich natural endowments of the land). The paper, therefore, concludes that the attainment of national unity and progress is the outcome of a mutual sacrifice consciously undertaken by cultured citizens and leaders.