The Form and Content of Ogele: Ijaw War Poetry: A Reflection on Ijaw War Aesthetics and Attitudes

Kokowei, Timiwei

ISBN 10: 333007101X / ISBN 13: 9783330071018

Published by LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2017

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 26405870934

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Form and Content of Ogele: Ijaw War Poetry: A Reflection on Ijaw War Aesthetics and Attitudes
• Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing
• Publication Date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 333007101X
• ISBN 13: 9783330071018
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

A handful of works done so far on the Ijaw has been mainly of anthropological and ethno-historical significance apart from J. P. Clark’s documentation, translation and literary review of the oral Ijaw epic, Ozidi, as performed by Okabou Ojobolo. This present work particularly explores the performance of Ogele, Ijaw oral war poetry, in terms of its literary, ideological, cultural and artistic orientations of a people. Using the Formalist and Functionalist theoretic/analytic principles, the book identifies the formal/structural features of the war chants, showing how they are aesthetically blended to achieve meaning. It also assesses the moral, psychological, historical and ritualistic significance of their content within the Ijaw society. The book will essentially draw the attention of all Ijaw at home and in diaspora to their core socio-cultural and artistic values and identity. It will be highly useful for both young and veteran scholars who are interested in traditional African poetry, and particularly, in the heroic or war genre.

About the Author

Timiwei Kokowei is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Literature. He is a researcher as well as a creative writer. His research interests are: African literature, history and culture. His creative works include "The Demented Hen" (a novel), "Poetic Sensibilities" (poems), and "The Oputooru Plays" comprising "When Slaves Reign" and "Taste of Freedom".