Literary Creativity and the Condition of the Nigerian Writer in theAge of Globalization and Capitalist Economy
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Date
2024-12
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SAVANNAH JOURNALOF LANGUAGE, LITERATUREAND COMMUNICATIONSTUDIES (SAJOLLCOS)
Abstract
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of social change on the Nigerian literary writer in
the contemporary Nigerian society. The social change in the country, as in the rest of
Africa, has been occasioned by globalization within a capitalist economy which
Nigeria practices. Such change in the Nigerian social consciousness has made the
African literary writer redefine his/her social identity and more than ever place
emphasis on material acquisition. The new orientation of wealth acquisition,
however, conflicts with the age-long stereotype of the African literary writer as an
austere scholar whose main essence of living is to serve as a watchdog on the ills of
the society. This is a reflection of the tenets of the philosophical theory of
Determinism as the theoretical framework for the study. Globalization has exposed
the Nigerian populace to glamorous lifestyle of Western celebrity, which the society
expects the African literary writer to satisfy, in a stifling capitalist economy. Yet,
literature, the means of income for the writer, has lost its dominance as the primary
source of enlightenment in Nigeria. This may indicate that literary creativity is
negatively affected in Nigeria. Consequently, vocational literary creativity may not
be so lucrative to many people as a viable source of income. The writer is, therefore,
caught between his/her role as the conscience of the society and the expectation of
wealth acquisition that the glamour of globalization and an austere economy has
madethesociety have of him/her.
Key words: Literature, Globalization, African literary writer, Capitalism, Social
change