Satire in Sobowale Sowande's and Bunmi Ayelaagbe's Poems

Table of Contents

1.0 Background to the Study

1.1 Statement of Problem

1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Study

1.3 Scope of the Study

1.4 Research Methodology

1.5 Significance of the Study

1.6 Historical Background of Sóbòwálé Sówándé (a.k.a Sóbò Aróbíodu)

1.7 Historical Background of Bùnmi Ayéláágbé (a.k.a Olígba-ohùn-lọ́nà-ọ̀fun)

2.0 Introduction

2.1 Theoretical Framework

2.1.1 Sociology of Literature

2.1.2 Marxist Criticism

2.2 Definition and Nature of Satire

2.3 Origin of Western Satire

2.4 Types of Western Satire

2.4.1 Horatian Satire

2.4.2 Juvelanian Satire

2.5 Origin of Satire in Yorùbá Society

2.6 Review of Related Literature

2.7 Satire and its Devices

2.7.1 Ridicule

2.7.2 Joke

2.7.3 Sarcasm

2.7.4 Lampoon

2.7.5 Jest

2.8 Functions of Satire

2.9 Satire in Àrùngbè Genre

2.9.1 Elements of Àrùngbè Genre in Sówándé and Ayéláágbé’s Poems

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Representation of socio-political satire in the Poems

3.2 Socio-Satirical Themes

3.2.1 Marriage by Ordinance

3.2.2 Divorce

3.2.3 Celibacy/Solitary

3.2.4 Polygamy

3.2.5 Excessive Drinking

3.2.6 Fornication

3.2.7 Nonchalant Attitude to Education

3.2.8 Non-caring Attitude

3.3 Political Satire

3.3.1 Politico-Satirical Themes

3.3.1.1 Imperialism

3.3.1.2 Incompetence

3.3.1.3 Excesses

3.3.1.4 Injustice

3.3.1.5 Civic irresponsibility and Political Thuggery

4.0 Introduction

4.1 Religio-Satirical Themes

4.1.1 Loss of Religious and Cultural Identity

4.1.2 Hypocrisy

4.1.3 Backsliding

4.1.4 Worldliness

4.2 Ethical Satire

4.2.1 Pride

4.2.2 Gossip

4.2.3 Cultural Decadence

5.0 Introduction

5.1 Stylistic Devices

5.1.1 Parallelism, Repetition and Tonal Counterpoint

5.2 Literary Devices

5.2.1 Metaphor

5.2.2 Simile

5.3 Traditional Materials

5.3.1 Proverbs

5.3.2 Songs

6.0 Introduction

6.1 The Convergence

6.1.1 Satirical Themes

6.1.2 Structure

6.1.3 Stylistic and Literary Devices

6.2 The Divergence

6.2.1 Satirical Themes

6.2.2 Style of Presentation

6.2.2.1 Autobiographical Style

6.2.2.2 Use of Humour

6.2.2.3 Sharp Satirical Method

6.3 Reasons for the Convergence and Divergence

6.3.1 Cultural and Social Background

6.3.2 Civilization

7.0 Introduction

7.1 Summary and findings

7.2 Conclusion and Recommendations

Research Goals and Themes

The primary aim of this research is to investigate the deployment of satire in the poems of Sóbòwálé Sówándé and Bùnmi Ayéláágbé. By utilizing the framework of Sociology of Literature and Marxist Criticism, the study analyzes how these poets utilize the traditional Àrùngbè genre to address contemporary socio-political and ethico-religious issues, ultimately seeking to understand the poets' roles as social critics who strive for societal reformation.

• Satire as a literary device for social and ethical control in Yorùbá society.
• Comparative analysis of the thematic concerns and stylistic choices of Sówándé and Ayéláágbé.
• Examination of the Àrùngbè genre and its evolution in written poetry.
• Use of traditional materials, such as proverbs and songs, to warn against social vices.
• The intersection of cultural identity, religion, and political governance in contemporary Nigeria.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Chapter One: General Introduction: This chapter introduces the role of literature as a reflection of society and defines the research scope and objectives regarding the satirical work of Sówándé and Ayéláágbé.

Chapter Two: Theoretical Framework and Literature Review: The study establishes a foundation using the Sociology of Literature and Marxist Criticism, while providing a thorough review of satire's definitions, origins, and functions within the Yorùbá oral tradition.

Chapter Three: Socio-Political Satire: This section analyzes how the selected poets represent socio-political satire, addressing themes like marriage patterns, divorce, education, and political incompetence or corruption.

Chapter Four: Ethico-Religious Satire: This chapter focuses on how the poets utilize satire to critique religious hypocrisy, the loss of cultural identity, pride, and worldliness within modern religious practices.

Chapter Five: Stylistic and Literary Devices: The analysis shifts to the aesthetic techniques, exploring how parallelism, repetition, tonal counterpoint, metaphors, and similes enhance the satirical messages in the poems.

Chapter Six: A Comparative Exploration of the Views of the Two Poets: A comparative study is conducted to identify convergences and divergences in the poets' themes, structures, and styles, noting the impact of their different backgrounds and historical contexts.

Chapter Seven: Conclusion and Recommendations: The study concludes by summarizing findings and offering recommendations for preserving the Àrùngbè genre and encouraging further scholarly research into Yorùbá satirical poetry.

Keywords

Satire, Àrùngbè, Marxist Criticism, Sociology of Literature, Sóbòwálé Sówándé, Bùnmi Ayéláágbé, Yorùbá poetry, Socio-political satire, Ethico-religious satire, Literary devices, Stylistic devices, Cultural identity, Social reform, Oral tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this research?

This work fundamentally examines the nature, functions, and thematic representation of satire in the poems of two significant Yorùbá poets, Sóbòwálé Sówándé and Bùnmi Ayéláágbé, within the framework of the Àrùngbè genre.

What are the central thematic fields covered in the study?

The work addresses three main thematic areas: socio-political satire (including issues like marriage by ordinance, divorce, and political thuggery), ethico-religious satire (hypocrisy, backsliding, and worldliness), and the stylistic/literary devices used to convey these themes.

What is the core research objective?

The primary aim is to analyze how the selected poets utilize satirical elements and devices to identify and condemn deviant behaviors, with the goal of reforming society and promoting positive social and ethical conduct.

Which scientific methods are employed?

The study adopts a qualitative research approach, utilizing the theoretical lenses of the Sociology of Literature and Marxist Criticism to evaluate the relationship between the literary works and their socio-cultural context.

What is discussed in the main body of the work?

The main body systematically reviews the theoretical foundations, offers a historical background of the poets, classifies the types of satire present in their work, and conducts a detailed stylistic and comparative analysis of their poetic techniques.

Which keywords best characterize the work?

Key terms include Satire, Àrùngbè, Marxist Criticism, Sociology of Literature, Sóbòwálé Sówándé, Bùnmi Ayéláágbé, and Yorùbá poetry, reflecting the cultural and literary essence of the study.

How does the author characterize the 'Àrùngbè' genre?

The author describes it as a cultic song associated with the Orò cult in the Ègbà dialect, which has evolved into a performative tool for criticizing social vices and asserting the poet's freedom of speech.

In what way does the study differentiate between the two poets?

The study highlights that Sówándé, a pre-independence poet, uses a blunter and more aggressive satirical method, while Ayéláágbé, a post-independence poet, often employs a milder, more general approach to address social ills.