Literary Creativity and the Condition of the Nigerian Writer in the Age of Globalization
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2025
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Abstract
This paper examines the impact of social change on the Nigerian literary writerinthe contemporary Nigerian society. The social change in the country, as intherestofAfrica, has been occasioned by globalization within a capitalist economywhichNigeria practices. Such change in the Nigerian social consciousness has madetheAfrican literary writer redefine his/her social identity and more thanever placeemphasis on material acquisition. The new orientation of wealth acquisition, however, conflicts with the age-long stereotype of the African literary writer asanaustere scholar whose main essence of living is to serve as a watchdog ontheillsofthe society. This is a reflection of the tenets of the philosophical theoryofDeterminism as the theoretical framework for the study. Globalization has exposedthe Nigerian populace to glamorous lifestyle of Western celebrity, whichthesocietyexpects 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 primarysource of enlightenment in Nigeria. This may indicate that literary creativityisnegatively af ected in Nigeria. Consequently, vocational literary creativity maynotbe 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 expectationofwealth acquisition that the glamour of globalization and an austere economyhasmade the society have of him/her. Key words: Literature, Globalization, African literary writer, Capitalism,