Theme of Superstitious Beliefs in Bago Adebowales Lonely Days and Amma Darkos Faceless

THEME OF SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS IN BAGO ADEBOWALE’S LONELY DAYS AND AMMA DARKO’S FACELESS

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

Superstitious beliefs and exploitation are the major focus of this research. It should however be born in mind that whenever they occur in the society they take various ways and forms according to the needs and aspiration of the people in the larger society and indeed Africa as world.

Superstitious beliefs as we all know is a belief in which a particular events happen in a way that cannot be explained or bring good or bad woman to belief or accept a particular thing. In many part of the African society today, superstition beliefs, humiliation, exploitation and struggle for survival has eaten deep into the heart of the Africans. This has become an important problem that requires urgent solution. Bayo Adebowales lonely Days and Amma Darko’s Facaless are exemplified as those texts that expose the vices of superstitious beliefs, humiliation, exploitation and struggle for survival in the domain of the Africans

In regard the maxis tm sees the African society has been perpetuated in conflict. Applying this to Bayo Adebowale’s lonely Days and Amma Darko’s Faceless, one will find the work fitting in to the frame work of maxism.

Maxism by a way is derived from German philosopher, Karl Mark whose theory about the African society is a ncall to over flow dictatorship of the Africans or men (the exploiters) and force the women. Therefore, revolution serves as one of the element of maxism. Other element includes protest against violence and struggle for survival of all kind.

Adebowale’s lonely Days deflect the physical by the men. Violence is manifested in the work in terms of hunger, poverty, exploitation, humiliation and struggle for survival by men. Yareemi the heroine of the novel serves as a clear victim by the state of superstitious beliefs.

Similarly, in Amma Darko’s faceless the heroine of the novel is Baby T which also a victim of superstious beliefs, exploitation. Baby T is humiliated and beaten by poison (the street boy) because Baby T was flatly refuses to sleep with Onko who looks for public hair, a female vital parts as ingredients needed to rejuvenate his  business and because of this, poison the street lord beat Baby T to comma. Baby dies as a result of the beating. It is against this back drop that this research work shall examine the theme of superstitious beliefs in Bago Adebowale’s lonely Days and Amma Darko’s faceless.

 

Theme of Superstitious Beliefs in Bago Adebowales Lonely Days and Amma Darkos Faceless

1.2   Statement of the problem

It is quit disheartening and unfortunate to have observed over the years that the African society is still being riddled with superstitious belief, exploitation, in spite of numerous functions performed by literature in our schools system to sanitize the society of these vices. All facet of human society is affected with these vices ranging from the traditional, culture and socio-economic aspect of human lives. Regrettably, the curt of the matter is that so many people in the world today, view superstitious beliefs and exploitation as a necessary shortcut for taking advantage on the widows in a particular family.

Therefore, it is against this background of pervasive exploitation and superstitious beliefs and its effect on the women and the entire society in general that the researcher is wholly committed, to carrying out the research study in order to probe into the literary works with the view to identifying, and exposing how the study of literature in schools can serve as a panacea to superstitious belief and exploitation in our society.         

 

1.3   Significance of the study

The study is significant because of the following reasons.

1. It will serve as a panacea to the prevalent problems of superstitious beliefs, humiliation, exploitation, struggle for survival and other vices in our society.
2. It will help to promote the interest of the students, teachers, school guidance, counselors and the entire African society in literary studies.
3. It will help educational administrators and planners in selecting textbooks that are depleted with moral lessons to learners.
4. It will help the teachers of the subject in the choice of instructional materials for the lesson and also enable them utilize the materials properly.
5. It will help or serve as a stepping stone to students in the department of English and literary studies who may wish to carry out further research on this topic to do so with ease.

 

1.4   Purpose of the study

The study intends to do the following:                 

1. Explore, identify and expose the role of literature as a panacea to superstitious beliefs and exploitation.
2. Enumerate useful criteria for sanitizing the African society of vices such as superstitious beliefs and exploitation.
3. Examine critically and expose the factors responsible for superstitious beliefs and exploitation in our school and the African society at large.
4. The study is limited to Address issues and proffer reliable solutions.                                

Theme of Superstitious Beliefs in Bago Adebowales Lonely Days and Amma Darkos Faceless

1.5   SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The study is limited to two prose works by Bayo Adebowale’s lonely Days and Amma Darko’s faceless. The research work sets out to explore the theme of superstitious belief in Bayo Adebowale’s lonely Days and Amma Darko’s faceless.                       

1.6   Research Methodology

The study will be mainly literary based research.  The two text chosen as a case study will be used as primary sources while other information from the internet, published and unpublished articles, Journals, copied of earlier project from the library and other related sources will be examined.