A THEMATIC AND STYLISTIC STUDY OF ARABIC ZUHD POEMS OF ‘ALI B. HUSAYN

F.O. Jamiu

Department of Religious Studies

Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

email : fatja_miu @ yahoo. Com

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to explain the thematic and stylistic elements of Arabic Zuhd poems of ‘Ali b. Husayn. In order to enhance the accomplishment of our goal, the paper starts with introduction, gives biographical accounts of the poet, traces the origin of Zuhd and discusses it as a theme of Arabic poetry. The paper is based mainly on data and information collected from various scholars. Other materials were also obtained from private libraries to form the data base. In order to fully comprehend the ideas of Ali b. Husayn on his various topics, the content and literary analysis of some extracts from corpus of his poetic works at our disposal were carried out. The study revealed that the poems were composed either as responses to societal situation or answer to question put across to him. Some other poems have been composed to express his intellectual frame of mind. Some ideas expressed in most of his poetic work are original to him. The structure of his poems shows that he attempted to maintain the pattern of classical Arabic poetry. Apart from being immense benefits to categories of students who may wish to have a concise but encompassing knowledge of Arabic language, the study also provides useful information to researchers about the level of literacy and creativity of Husayn on which further studies can be focused. The poems therein could serve as a source of inspiration to contemporary students and scholars who may be motivated by the challenges posed by Husayn to employ poetic form as a medium of disseminating ideas, thoughts and information. The translation of his poems into English would afford those who are not Arabists the opportunity of appreciating the views of Husayn. Afterwards, certain recommendations are made which include that this kind of poem should be read for a self-reflection or assessment so that one would amend from time to time. It is crystal clear that with the memorisation of this poem, people would constantly recognise that life of this world is ephemeral and transient in nature. The teachings of the poem should be rendered in other languages so that people benefit from it maximally. The message of this poem could be utilized for curbing nefarious activities in the institutions of higher learning.

TERRORISM – A MONSTER FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF RELIGIOUS EGO: A RELIGIOUS SURVEY

Temitope T. Bello

Department of Religious Studies

University of Ado- Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

e-mail: venttbello@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The concern of this publication is to look into the religious terrorism in the world, Nigeria in particular.  It has been viewed from the point of religious hatred and killing of opposite party, that people terrorize themselves because of religious differences and faith.  It has become a system where by a group of the people that believe in the same faith use terror against their neighbors in the name of God.  It is mentioned in this publication that all major religious can justify violence, and religion having long been associated with terrorism ever since there was good and evil. It will let people know that terrorists are disgruntled elements who pose as freedom fighters, and believe that by causing havoc; his or her requests will be given attention. These terrorists were trouble shooters who always want to use force in intimidating their prey to have their way.  This intimidation might either be religious or political in nature.  It is also a means whereby violence and fear with formidable forces are used as instrument to have their freedom. It would be read in this paper, the cause of terrorism in the society.  The cause includes intimidation, defending one’s faith, depriving people from their rights or freedom, marginalization, and so on. The paper will also mention the havoc wrecked by terrorists both on political and religious matters. It will look into religious terrorists in Nigeria.  Then, it will be known that, like other parts of the world, Nigeria is also affected by the influence of other terrorist’s countries of the world.  The expression, religious terrorism, is also applied to various religious persons or groups in Nigeria.

THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL VALUES ON ALADURA CHURCHES IN EKITILAND (SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA)

Jegede, Gabriel Gbenga

Department of Religious Studies

University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

e-mail: gbemigajegede.unad@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The kernel of inculturation theology in church history scholarship is that Christianity has demonstrated throughout history that it has always found expression and has the capability of being spread in other cultures.  Ekiti in South-western Nigeria is not an exception.  Many scholars agree that Africa’s religious insights and cultural values have a lot in common with that of the Bible. This paper is therefore an attempt to assess the level of inculturation between Christianity and some cultural values in Ekiti.  The emphasis in this paper is on divination and communalism (akodi system).  Such dialogue is more noticeable in the African Indigenous churches which have been given the nomenclature – ‘Aladura’ in Ekitiland.  Notable among the Aladura Churches are: Celestial Church of Christ, Cherubim and Seraphim Society, The Church of the Lord (Aladura) and Christ Apostolic Church.     It expounds the influence of Ekiti cultural values such as divination and communalism (akodi) on the varieties of spirituality in the Aladura Churches.  It discusses how the level of inculturation in these churches is being used to solve human existential problems.        It also discusses the social and ecological impacts of the Aladura Churches in Ekiti.  The paper concludes that Christianity enjoys wide acceptability in Ekitiland due to its ability to adapt to the traditional values of the ethnic group.

Keywords:  Aladura, Churches, Cultural Values, Impact, Ekitiland.

INDIGENOUS DEMOCRATIC NORMS AND VALUES OF PRE-COLONIAL AFRICA: LESSONS FOR CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA

Timbee Akuul

Department of Political Science

Benue State University, Makurdi

e-mail: timbeeakuul@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

This paper examines indigenous democratic norms and values of pre-colonial African societies. It has been established that contrary to the western notion that democratic practice in Africa and indeed Nigeria is derived from western orientation, it is true that democratic norms and values were part and parcel of African indigenous socio-political systems long before the advent of colonialism. These democratic values such as popular will, popular participation, consultation/consensus, checks and balances, fair representation and accountability are democratic values that existed and were practised in pre-colonial African societies before they were undermined by colonialism. In order to sustain our present democratic system in Nigeria, these values and norms should be adopted and applied in order to strengthen democratic practice in the country.

Key words: Indigenous, Democracy, Values, Norms.

SYNCRETIC MOTIFS IN IYAYI SOCIETY OF THE ESAN, EDO STATE OF NIGERIA

*¹Aluede, Esther Omone and ²Aluede, C. O.

*Department of Music, Esan Model Boys’ College, Uromi, Edo State,

Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State

ABSTRACT

Quite often, it has been said that the authentic mores of a people can be extracted from their traditional religious beliefs. This is so because a great number of scholars have the assumption that traditional religious societies do not yield so easily to forces of acculturation occasioned by western education, Christianity and effects of urbanization. This statement is proved wrong in this setting as this study reveals that as a deliberate attempt to upgrade this one-time traditional religious society, frantic efforts have been made to merge practices of adjacent beliefs so as to tilt more towards Christianity. This paper explores the use of music in the achievement of their intentions. This is evident in the texts of the songs examined in this study. In it one could see the attempt to collapse the divide between the Christian and traditional worship in a bid to attract more members.  It is therefore suggested that in this modern epoch, some of these religio-musical fields should be periodically reappraised so as to be able to palpate the trends in practice from time to time. 

COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN DRAMA: A STUDY OF FEMI OSOFISAN’S ONCE UPON FOUR ROBBERS AND RED IS THE FREEDOM ROAD

Moses Africa Adakonye and Rotimi Jegede

Department of Languages

Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State

ABSTRACT

Literature is one of the most potent forces for attaining a desirable and enviable society when all other ways have terminated.  It exposes, reflects and indeed magnifies the decadent under belly of any given society.  The artist as a moral eye of his society applies all form of strategies to denounce economic and socio-political vices and prescribes an alternative to the anomalous solution.  This paper examines Femi Osofisan’s “Once Upon Four Robbers” and “Red is the freedom Road” as the potent tool for building a better and humane society in this new era of “Re-branding” in Nigeria.  It concludes that the task of re-building a nation is a collective responsibility which every well-meaning Nigerian should be ready to shoulder in order for the country to be a better place for everybody.  

KEYWORDS: Collective-strategy, nation-building, socio-political vices, collective-responsibility, change.

LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF CODE MIXING AND CODE-SWITCHING AMONG THE EDUCATED IGBO BILINGUALS

Uduma, Eke O.

Department of English

Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun-State, Nigeria

Email Address: eminentrefound@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

English as the official language in Nigeria has continued to play diverse roles. It is the language of education, government, administration, commerce, journalism, legislative and international deliberations; it lives alongside other Nigerian languages, interacts with them and adapts itself to the Nigerian environment. This interaction with Nigerian languages; Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba led to pidginization, nativization and acculturation of English. Igbo language and culture has also influenced the English language. The thrust of this paper is examination of speech behavior of the educated Igbo -bilinguals who may not be able to speak Igbo language without code switching or mixing of English language. This paper used texts of interviews and responses to questionnaire administered in previous works. It examined corpuses to identify linguistic features of code-switching in the speech behavior of the educated Igbo bilinguals. It analyzed the simple sentences and WH-clause structures of Engligbo using Chomsky’s Transformational Generative Grammar Theory.

Keywords: Educated-Igbo bilinguals, nativization, Igbo language and Engligbo.

THE ISSUES OF ACCESSIBILITY: A LEXICO-SEMANTIC READING OF CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE’S Half of A Yellow Sun

Rotimi Jegede

Department of Languages

 Federal Polytechnic, Idah Kogi State

ABSTRACT

Scholars in Stylistics believe in the assertion that style is the man.  That is, we do not all write the same way. Studies have equally shown that part of what that goes to determine originality in a writer’s work(s) derives strongly from the unique way he/she expresses himself/herself.  The question therefore, is, to which extent could a writer’s style of expression open or block the gateway of meaning and accessibility in their works? If communication is the main preoccupation of a writer, how does he set to achieve this by the manner in which he expresses himself?  The questions in the foregoing will be our guide as we attempt to do a lexico-semantic reading of Chimamonda N. Adichie’s Half Of A Yellow Sun.

KEYWORDS: Style, Expressions, Meaning, Accessibility, Communication