Language and Nationalism in Selected Láwuyì Ògúnníran’sWritings

Abstract

This paper examines the language of nationalism as reflected in Lawuyi Ògúnníran’s literary texts and as they are foregrounded also in the background to nationalism in Nigeria. It points to the national issues raised by Ògúnníran in the selected texts: Ààrẹ Àgò Aríkuyẹrí, Níbo Layé Doríkọ, O ̣̀nà Kan Ò Wojà, Ọmọ Alátẹ Ìlẹ̀ kẹ̀ and Igi Wo ro ko . The paper is anchored on Mirror-Image and Talcott Parson’s functional approach under the theory of sociology of literature for its analysis and interpretation. The selected texts portray some national issues such as: agriculture, education, politics, hardwork, law and society, eulogy and patriotism. The paper identifies the challenges facing Nigeria and the Yorùbá nation within it. It highlights the factors responsible for these challenges and the solutions proffered by the author . The paper establishes Ògúnníran as a nationalist writer and concludes that the selected texts can be employed as veritable tools for nationalist struggle.