Unmasking Politics in the Niger Delta Narrative: Eco-Degradation and Activism in Tanure Ojaide’s the Activist and Christie Watson’s Tiny Sunbirds Far Away

Abstract

The global outcry of ecological degradation by mankind has been the thematic focus in the creative oeuvres of writers and eco-critics in the literary domain as regards the degraded Niger Delta region of Nigeria and its consequent activism amongst her people. In view of the foregoing, this research in distancing itself from previous studies, seeks to examine the politics in the representation of ecological degradation and activism in the Niger settings of Tanure Ojaide’s The Activist and Christie Watson’s Tiny Sunbirds Far Away. Furthermore, this study equally examines points of similarities and differences within the dynamics of degradation of places and characters as well as resultant reactions among characters in both novels. This study deploys an eco-critical approach as its theoretical framework. Based on the findings of this study, it is evident that the unguided oil exploration activities by multinational oil companies as well as self-induced actions among characters spell doom on the environment as both living and non-living things become negatively affected in all ramifications. This study also reveals various forms of eco-activism ranging from radical, liberal, civil, conservative to revolutionary standpoints among characters in both texts. It is concluded that the two authors, though from different socio-cultural backgrounds used both texts as channels of creating global awareness towards promoting environmental conservation and various means of entrenching peace in the fictional devastated Niger Delta environment.

Keywords: Eco-degradation, Activism, Politics, Environment, Niger Delta Region

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/52-06