z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
The Dialectics of Political Ideology and Power Relations in African Literature: A Reading of Adébáyọ̀ Fálétí’s Baṣọ̀run Gáà
Author(s) -
Sola Owonibi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
yoruba studies review /yoruba studies review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2578-692X
pISSN - 2473-4713
DOI - 10.32473/ysr.v3i2.129989
Subject(s) - ideology , dialectic , politics , power (physics) , colonialism , resistance (ecology) , sociology , aesthetics , institution , political economy , political science , law , social science , epistemology , philosophy , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Ideology underscores how we make sense of history and reality. It is the underlying theory that governs every organized movement, institution, and government. In Politics, ideology superintends the constructs, subversions, moderations, and resistance of power. In Literature, ideology plays even a deluxe role as it is the vehicle that drives political and cultural purposes. A close consideration of the African creative canvass reveals that her imaginative writings are burdened with the ideology of socio-cultural redemption. Although replete with a recasting of themes that stress the subversions and resistance of political and religious power, especially in the continent’s post-colonial space, there is not much thematic commitment among creative writers to the ideology that constructs and moderates power. Using the New Historicism as the theoretical basis, this paper proposes that to understand the logic that has bedeviled post-colonial African governance, there is need to revisit power structures that characterize the continent’s pre-colonial history. It is in this burden that this paper shall attempt to examine the dialectics of political ideology, power relations and the prophetic in Baṣọrun Gáà ̀. The paper also argues that the private anxieties of the playwright, as presented in the play, 160 Lere Adeyemi are prophetic in nature and that Baṣọrun Gáà is weakened by the burdens of ̀ his strength, in other words, blinded by sight.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here