NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES (NJAH)
Nigerian Journal of Arts and Humanities (ISSN: 2814-3760; E-ISSN: 2955-0343) is an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the promotion of scholarship and research in Arts and Humanities. It publishes well-researched scholarly papers in all areas of arts and humanities and related disciplines. The journal welcomes the submission of manuscript that is original and devoid of plagariasm. NJAH accepts papers in English, French, Chinese and Nigerian languages. It is domiciled in the department of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Department of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
APPLICATION DES PROCÉDÉS LINGUISTIQUES DE TRADUCTION DANS LA TRADUCTION FRANÇAISE DE THE PASSPORT OF MALLAM ILIA DE CYPRIAN EKWENSI: ENJEUX LEXICAUX, CULTURELS ET STYLISTIQUES
Cette article examines comment différents procédés linguistiques peuvent être appliqués à la traduction d’une œuvre littéraire nigériane anglophone, The Passport of Mallam Ilia de Cyprian Ekwensi, en mettant l’accent sur les défis culturels, lexicaux et stylistiques. En s’appuyant sur la théorie de l’équivalence, les notions d’emprunt, de modulation etc., l’étude propose des stratégies de traduction pour rendre le texte intelligible tout en préservant sa coloration culturelle. Etant donné qu'aucune traduction prealable dans une langue cible (par exemple français) n’a été attiché, l’analyse est donc faite à parties de la traduction que nous avons faite et illustrée par des exemples modélisés.
Professeur Oluchukwu ASADU; IGBOEKWE Dike Innocent
IMPACT OF PENTECOSTALISM IN IGBOLAND: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
There is no doubt that every religious sect has the potential to revolutionize its host society and Pentecostalism is no exception. In Igboland, the arrival of Pentecostalism has awakened a tremendous yearning for a primal spirituality. The Pentecostal spirituality was highly welcomed among the poor of our society, hence by the majority, since most Igbo Christians are economically poor. This impetus finds support and tremendous enthusiasm among Christians of various denominations and ecclesiastical affinity, since it addresses the raw spiritual desire of men. The boom of Pentecostalism in Igboland is a direct indication to the mainland Churches to reconsider their Christian testimony and proclamation of Jesus Christ, as the Saviour and Redeemer of all people. The advent of Pentecostalism in Igboland, constitutes a theological and ecclesiological obstacle for many theologians. Adopting the thematic historical approach, with the use of primary and secondary sources, this paper argues that it is indisputable that Pentecostal experience and spirituality have come to stay in Igboland, given their presence in virtually all parts of Igboland since the 1970s. The presence and the realness of the divine power is intrinsic to African worldview. Pentecostalism has also eaten deep into the religious consciousness of the contemporary Igbo society, and its influence and repercussions can be observed across religious strata in the Igbo society. Thus, Igboland is gradually moving into a new religious culture, developing from contemporary Pentecostalism.
Ezekwelu, Pat-Lawrence O.; Augustine Uche Igwe, PhD
WHY THE ARTS MATTER: MUSIC, DRAMA, POETRY AND DANCE AS EXPRESSIONS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
This opinion article argues that the arts are not merely decorative additions to human life but are fundamental ways of knowing, understanding, and experiencing the world. It explores the interconnected roles of music, drama, poetry, and dance as forms of expression that foster education, empathy, memory, and human flourishing. The article contends that the arts perform three interrelated functions. First, they transform human experiences, including grief, joy, hope, fear, and belonging, into symbolic forms that make these emotions communicable and meaningful. Second, they expand the social imagination by connecting individuals with diverse bodies, voices, histories, and communities, thereby deepening understanding and empathy. Third, the arts are presented not simply as therapeutic tools but as practices that affirm human dignity, recognise individuals as active agents in their own healing, and acknowledge the inherent meaning of their lives. Within this framework, music is understood as relational sound, drama as embodied empathy and moral rehearsal, poetry as reflective language, and dance as a form of embodied knowledge. The article challenges the narrow evaluation of the arts based solely on measurable economic or clinical outcomes, arguing instead that their true value lies in their capacity to humanise individuals and shape education, healthcare, public culture, and everyday life. Ultimately, it concludes that neglecting the arts diminishes society's ability to develop humanely and to fulfill its ethical responsibility toward others
Humour as Veritable Instrument for Sustainable Development in a Chaotic Society: Nigeria Example
Language is a tool in the hands of human beings. It can be used to create and re-create different contexts and situations. Language can serve as a tool for making a bad situation becomes a good one and a good situation to become bad. In the past few years in Nigeria, a lot of conspiracies abound concerning the happenings around, from killings, maiming, kidnapping, raping to other social vices. All these have represented using language. From these happenings some concepts such as Herdsmen, Boko Haram, IPOB, Unkwown Gunmen and so on have come into existence. Also, humans have been living in much fear and tension. Most people have lost their lives because of fear of the unknown. Language being a two edged sword can be used to put smile on people’s faces and help to reduce tensions and conflicts created by these ugly situations in Nigeria. To do a proper analysis of this work, Whatsapp humorous messages were selected and analysed and recorded. A psychological theory known as Relief or Tension Release Theory propounded by Lord Shaftesbury (1709) is used for this work. At the end of the analysis it was observed by the researchers that humour, laughter and smile are instruments for the release of tension built up by fear or false expectations. The researchers therefore recommend that humans should learn to be humorous so that they will not fall prey to conspiracy theories that can lead to untimely death and therefore hamper sustainability.
Le Symbole Archétypique De L’Océan Dans Deux Romans De Fatou Diome
The ocean has been a powerful symbol in literature and mythology, representing various ideas such as life, death, rebirth, chaos, and transformation. In Fatou Diome's novels, Le Ventre de l'atlantique (2003) and Celles qui attendent (2010), the ocean symbolizes both separation and connection between Africa and Europe. This reflects the complex relationship between the two continents, shaped by colonialism, slavery, and migration. Previous research on these novels has focused on migration and utopianism, but little attention has been given to the use of the ocean as an archetypal symbol. This article aims to explore how Fatou Diome employs the ocean as a symbolic representation to convey themes of migration, identity, and belonging. By examining specific examples from her novels using Carl Jung's archetypal theory, we can gain a deeper understanding of how Diome uses this symbol to create meaning and convey important messages about contemporary African society.
The Language of Newspaper Advertising: Stylistic and Semantic Perspectives
Stylistic is a branch of linguistic that studies the language patterns of particular authors. It is a branch of Linguistics which studies the linguistics features of situational distinctive uses (varieties) of languages made by individual and social groups in their communication. Semantics is a branch of linguistic that studies meaning. Meaning is the relationship between language and the external world. Combining stylistic and semantic features in advertising will give rise to efficiency. The uniqueness of the diction makes the language of advertising a specialized field of study. This study investigates the stylistic and semantic features involved in newspaper advertising. The research adopted a textual analysis approach to the qualitative research method. The population of study are 9 popular Nigerian daily newspapers that advertised organizations, products or services. The researcher used the purposive sampling techniques to select four commercial banks namely: GTB, FIRSTBANK, ACCESS and FCMB in Nigeria who advertise in these Nigerian daily newspapers were purposively sampled. The research used secondary sources or documents. The data analysis was done using documentary analysis where words, expressions and signs used in the newspaper adverts were analyzed in relation to what they seek to communicate to the audience. The study found that all stylistic devices proposed in this research such as Phonological devices, Grammatical devices, Graph logical devices, symbolical devices (pictures, icons etc.) and distinctive features among others are present in newspaper advertisement. The study also found that newspaper advertisement uses semantic features such as acronym, emotional connotative, adjectives, repetition and metaphor, among others to inform, entice, excite and induce the audience towards patronizing their products. The study concluded that stylistic and semantic analyses in newspaper advertisements have been serving as an effective way of bringing services to the audience as well as communicating and appealing to the emotions of customers. The study recommended that future researchers may explore some other linguistic approaches in the study of newspaper advertisement.
Okponsi Festival in Amaokpala Town: A Hermeneutical Approach
Culture arguably is the way of life of a people and therefore, man as a social being is a product of culture. Amaokpala is an agrarian community and is blessed with a rich cultural and traditional heritage, that has been transmitted through oral traditions from generation to generation. Okponsi is an annual festival and obviously the most prominent and popular festival in Amaokpala, even to this day. The apparent misinterpretation cum misrepresentation of this all-important cultural practice by some religious zealots, non-indegenes, and non-initiates, etc, motivated this research. Okponsi is a four days festival characterized by the following features-preparation, izu-ufolo, agu-mmanwu, okobolo, iya, mmanwu, mgbako-mmanwu, oso-mmanwu and inu-mmanwu. The methodology of this research is hermeneutics and analysis in order to unravel the ontological, axiological, sociological, religious and ethical implications of this festival. The findings of this research are multifaceted and thus encompass all the aforementioned implications and more. Summarily, Okponsi should be sustained as a rich cultural heritage of a unique African community, while allowing modifications where necessary in view of current realities.
Historical Analysis of the Palestine Question
The cause of the continued conflict between Israel and Palestine has been contested since the crisis began in the early 20th century. Countless studies have explained the origins of conflict. This paper analyzes the conflict from a historical perspective. This paper argues that the conflict emerged due to the conflict of interests arising from both parties- Jews and Palestinians. Israel is of the view that they are the rightful owners of the land originally occupied by the Palestinians. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to trace the origins of the Palestine Question. And second, to attempt a discussion taken by the crisis since the twentieth century.
The Role of the English Language and Language Policy Reforms in Nigeria
This paper investigates and focuses on the importance of the English Language in our education system. The paper adopts descriptive analysis in lieu of theoretical framework. On methodology, the paper considers the historical perspectives of the different aspects of language policy reform in Nigeria. The different observed weaknesses of language policy in Nigeria are then used to make some recommendations and draw conclusion. The English language is the foundation stone towards the improvement in learning most subjects or courses taught in our schools and institutions of higher learning. The English Language, as a national language, has its own share of problems, enveloped within the folds of teaching, studying in higher primary schools, and tertiary institutions. Many administrators and policy makers have left out the important part of re-examining and re-appraising the role played by the English Language in the lives of our students. Therefore, in this paper, attention is drawn to such problems, and recommendations made, with a view to making the policy reform a reality. The paper concludes with a call for training and re-training of the English language teachers and a call for full implementation of the language policy reforms in Nigeria.
The present paper aims at examining the Igbo sense of aesthetic as it relates to the womenfolk in order to determine to what extent it impacts on the culture or the Igbo society in general. The approach is analytic. It is discovered that unlike western aesthetic judgments that can be somewhat ‘disinterested’ or aesthetics for its own sake, the Igbo aesthetics has utilitarian and communal sense of beauty. This is to say that beauty consists not only in attractive or appealing physical appearance but also in the qualities of the human person. In the Igbo cultural context, the template for aesthetic judgments is an admixture of physical, communal, axiological cum moral imperatives. The above concept of beauty promises to be a panacea to the present ugly phenomena of radical individualism, indecency and I-don’t-care attitude in dressing, beauty without morals. The paper submits.
Retirement Phobia among the Clergy of the Anglican Province of the Niger: A Search for Solution
Retirement Phobia among the Clergy of the Anglican Province of the Niger in Anambra State, Nigeria is considered one of the emerging issues, which has posed and is stilling posting a serious threat to the zealous workers, the evangelization of the missionary work and its development. This has influenced the life of the serving clergy and continued to distabilise their effort even after they have retired from the service. The problem of role status among the society, adjusting and adapting to a new life style within the environment, the challenge to cater for economic problem and maintain normal life of the clergy as a role model are the things both the serving clergy and retired clergy should try to live with till death. The main purpose of this study is to examine the need to plan, adopt, adjust and implement strategies to ease the pain, trials and challenges associated with life in the service and life after retirement among the clergy of the Anglican Province of the Niger in Anambra State. Primary and Secondary data collections were applied, primary involves oral interviews of which the data were descriptively analysed. The secondary data collections were sought through published books articles etc. Theories of subculture of aging and the Person-Environment fit were applied in this study. Subculture theory is the ability to adjust to retirement from the work force with less active roles while the Person-environment-fit theory is the reciprocal relationship that exists between people and environment, the abilities in relation to specific jobs and personal needs with regard to work values. The researcher recommend that the Church needs to organize retirement programmes, equipping the clergy in terms of ability to plan and set up new business after retirement, in order to take care of themselves and family. Furthermore, to strengthen and encourage the clergy to invest in assets and financial ventures so that at retirement, they can earn additional income from these assets and financial ventures to supplement their pension income, and they should embark on continuous education and skill acquisition and training as a way of preparing for life after retirement without phobia in view.
Preserving The Igbo Indigenous Knowledge Systems Within Folksongs: The Functionality of Nigerian English Pidgin (NEP)
This study investigates the suitability of Nigerian English Pidgin for preserving indigenous Igbo knowledge systems. It sets to verify the (in)adequacy of Igbo language as a linguistic tool for coding, sustaining and mainstreaming Igbo cultural values in an ever-changing Nigerian social linguistic environment. This study is anchored on symbolic interactionism. A random sample of 40 NCE students at the School of Languages, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri who are of Igbo origin were studied to decipher how well they can render folksongs documented in Igbo language. Structured and unstructured questions were posed to elicit information on their language choices and the underlying reasons for such preferences. The study reveals that about 60% of respondents cannot read the folksongs coded in Igbo Language fluently. This study, therefore, argues that the transliteration of Igbo folksongs into NEP, the language a significant number of respondents accept they conveniently and consistently use in everyday communication, a language that can verbalize socio-cultural distinctions, will reduce to the barest minimum the loss of cultural values of the Igbo people. The study therefore recommends that policies be enacted to facilitate the standardization of NEP for use in codifying Igbo folksongs.
Structure syntaxique de Proverbe Yoruba traduit en français
La syntaxe est l’étude des principes et des processus au par lesquels on construit des phrases dans des langues particulières. Le but du linguiste qui cherche à décrire une certaine langue est de rendre compte de ce que c’est qu’une personne connaît lorsqu’on peut dire de cette personne qu’elle connaît une langue. La description syntaxique a pour but fondamental de déchiffrer l’une de facettes de cette connaissance, c’est-à-dire, ce qu’un locuteur d’une langue donnée sait de la combinaison des mots pour former des phrases acceptables dans cette langue. Ce travail étudie les variations de la syntaxe du roman réré rùn traduit en français comme catastrophe au rendez-vous, suivent des éléments syntaxiques en langues française et yorouba qui forment les phrases acceptables par les communautés linguistiques en deux langues.
This article appraises the widespread belief amongst young people in Nigeria that school is a scam. It argues that, despite the challenges of the educational system, the school remains a valuable investment for individuals and society as a whole. The article examines the reasons why many youths and parents have lost faith in the education system, including factors such as poor infrastructure and lack of job opportunities for graduates. However, the article contends that a quality education provides not only the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the workforce but also the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that are essential for navigating life’s challenges. The article concludes by urging individuals and society to continue to support and invest in education as a means of building a brighter future.
Insecurity and Economic Development in South-East Nigeria Since 2020
This paper examined the effect of insecurity on development in South-East Nigeria. It explained the concept of security, insecurity and economic development with focus on South East Nigeria. An overview of insecurity in the area in recent times was x-rayed and it revealed that the region was once voted as the safest in Nigeria. To understand the security situation, the various forms of insecurity was examined to include IPOB agitation, activities of Eastern Security Networks, attacks and assassinations by Unknown Gunmen, reprisal attacks and abductions by government security agents, kidnappings and killer herdsmen’s attacks. The study underscored that insecurity impacted negatively on the economy of the region in several ways. It further recorded that security plays a major role in the existence and sustenance of citizens, but when a society is saddled with the problem of insecurity many other sectors are negatively affected. It concluded on the need of the government to undertake a holistic approach in resolving the security challenges. Recommendations were also proffered to the five governors of the south east geopolitical zone.
Egwu Ọdịnala Igbo: Ngwaọrụ E Ji Azụlite Ụmụaka
Egwu nwere ikike dị egwu n’iji zisaara ọhanaeze ozi dị mkpa, ma bụrụ otu ụzọ e si azụlite ụmụaka n’ihe ga-abara ha uru na ndụ. Ọ bụ ihe na-agba anya mmiri na nleghara anya ụfọdụ ndị na-elekọta ụmụaka leghaara iji egwu ọdịnala na-azụlite ụmụaka na-etolite etolite n’oge ugbua. Ọnọdụ a so ebute agwa ọjọọ dị iche iche a na-ahụ n’etiti ndị na-etolite etolite. Ebumnobi nchọcha a bụ: izipụta ụzọ a ga-esi kwalite egwu ọdịnala Igbo dịka ngwaọrụ a ga-eji na-azulite ụmụaka na-etolite etolite n’ịkpa ezi agwa maka ọdịmma obodo. Nchọcha a ga-emekwa ka ọnọdụ egwu ọdịnala Igbo kwudosie ike. A gbasoro Atụtụ Nzụlite Ụmụaka nke Thompson Ross (2008) dere. A gbara ndị mmadụ ajụjụ ọnụ site na mpaghara ala Igbo dị iche iche iji chịkọta egwu ọdịnala maka ụmụaka. A gbadoro ụkwụ n’ajụjụ nchọcha anọ wee nweta ngwaọrụ e ji mee nchọcha a. Ha bụ: (a). Olee egwu ọdịnala dị iche iche e ji azụlite ụmụaka n’oge gboo? (b). Ndị na-elekọta ụmụaka a ka ji egwu ọdịnala azụlite ụmụaka n’oge ugbua? (ch). Kedụ ọghọm dị n’ileghara egwu ọdịnala anya wetere n’ọnọdụ ịzụlite ụmụaka? (d). Zipụta ụzọ a ga-esi kwalite egwu ọdịnala ka ọnọdụ ya wee kwụrụ chịm? A chọpụtara n’ọtụtụ ndị na-elekọta ụmụaka anaghịzị enwekebe mmasị n’egwu ọdịnala, mezịa ka ịmụta ezi agwa n’ebe ụmụaka nọ na-ama afọ n’ala. Nchọcha a ga-enye aka n’ịhazi akparamagwa ụmụaka maka ọdịmma obodo. Ọ dị mkpa ịlaghachi azụ n’iji egwu ọdịnala azụlite ụmụaka ka obodo wee nwee agamniihu. Egwu dị nnkwu mkpa ma bụrụ ihe mmadụ apụghị ileghara anya na ndụ.
Colonialism in Africa: Theories and Practices
Direct political domination of people by other people is what is known as colonialism. These dominations also extend to socio-cultural cum religious domination. These dominations are achieved by direct application of military force in other to impose political control which ultimately leads to the establishment of colonies on foreign lands other than the lands of the colonizers. It is the domination of the minority over the majority of people not minding their ethnic, cultural, political, religious and economic affiliations of the colonized. The colonizers claim cultural, racial and religious superiorities over the colonized and refer to them as barbarians, savages and primitive. As a result, the colonized are brutalized dehumanized and psychological enslaved. A lot of theories had been advanced by scholars as to the reason for advent of colonialism in the continent of Africa and these theories and its follies is what this article is set to look into. The paper tries to explain what theory is and various theories that was advanced to justify colonialism such as balance of power theory, economic theory, humanitarian theory, religious theory to mention but a few. The study adopted the thematic approach, combined with descriptive, historical and analytical method in arriving at its findings and conclusions
Semantic and Pragmatic Interpretation of Igbo Proverbs in Contrasting Opposition
Proverbs in contrasting opposition are antithetical proverbs in which one proverb says something from one perspective and another proverb of equal value counters it. This paper examined 15 out of a total of 50 Igbo proverbs collected for the study, by providing their semantic and pragmatic interpretations. The aim is to highlight the fact that there are always two sides to the same coin when it comes to Igbo proverbs. The data were drawn from Igbo language consultants and complemented by interviews, library sources, participant’s observations and native speaker intuition. The data were presented in lucid tabular format of two broad columns, A and B. The Relevance Theory (Sperber & Wilson, 2002), used within cognitive linguistics and pragmatics, was adopted in the analysis and discussions. It states that a speaker’s every utterance conveys enough relevant information for it to be worth the addressee’s efforts to process the meaning of an utterance. The results show that proverbs in contrasting relationships are not as popular as the regular ones. Igbo proverbs are culture-specific and since each culture has its unique features, they do not have direct English equivalents. This study provides readers with useful information about Igbo people’s worldviews as embedded in their proverbs. It contributes to efforts being made to develop and preserve the Igbo language through research and documentation of its different aspects. The paper recommends that children be taught their language and culture through the use of proverbs.
In view of crimes in Nigeria: Another perspective to functional illiteracy
Generally speaking, functional illiteracy is a state in which an individual is unable to apply knowledge acquired to solving problems in their immediate environment. This paper deconstructs this definition in view of the rate and dimensions of crimes in Nigeria. It advances the position that functional illiteracy is the choice or failure of an individual to apply skills acquired formally in educational institutions or other training centres to solving problems to the benefits of society but channels or harnesses the capacity accruing from such skills to perpetration of crimes in the society. Currently, Nigeria is experiencing a surge in crimes like drug peddling and trafficking, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, bunkering, cybercrime, etc. Observations and facts from arrests made in connection with some of the crimes in the country reveal that most of the suspects are considerably educated or well educated. In fact, there are records of crime suspects who are university and other tertiary institution graduates. More so, cybercrime, hacking, phishing, data breach, scam calls, and bugging are technically demanding for an illiterate to deal in. In other words, perpetrators of these crimes are skilled but do not direct such skills to the benefit of their society but to hurt it. Here, they are described as ‘literately illiterate’, being the redefinition of functional illiteracy as advanced here. Again, subject to this, a redefinition of functional literacy is posited as the ability to translate acquired skills, reading, writing, and computing for the benefit of oneself and one’s immediate or larger community. That is, literacy with the absence of an ability to translate acquired skills for the benefit of oneself and others qualifies ‘literately illiterate’ with a token of meaning that could facilitate a behavioral change in the response of skilled persons to crimes and thereby curbing them.
Nigerian Pidgin: A Solution to the Language Situation in Nigeria and Its Developmental Processes
English language has become a medium for communication among people of diverse cultures and tribes in Nigeria. The use of language if looked into, is quite embedded in people’s culture or their way of life. English language serves as a unifying factor for a country like Nigeria with more than (250) two hundred and fifty ethnic groups and well over (525) five hundred and twenty-five indigenous languages without a well articulated language policy to foster unified integration and peaceful co-existence among its member states. Nigeria as a multilingual and multi-cultural country, make Nigerian language communities a diverse and complex society to survive in. This is because people of different ethnic groups, tribes and tongues live together without a common language or culture except for English language which is not spoken by at least 40% of its populace especially when one considers the proficiency of the users of the language. This as a result, made the Nigerian Pidgin language a lingua franca in some geo-political zones in Nigeria and a non-standard in some areas. Linguistic Relativity theory was adopted for this study. This research is a qualitative research with heavy dependence on library sources and interview sessions. Four questions were raised for interview purposes. This interview took place at Choices, an eatery at Awka road Onitsha where twelve persons were purposely interviewed by the researcher which comprises; four males and females and four youths. The researcher made an opinion from the interviewees’ responses using Linguistic Relativity theory. This study therefore established the need for a language policy to manage the linguistic situations experienced in the Nigerian polity. It recommends that the federal government should set up a linguistic institute to equip and incorporate Nigerian Pidgin into our curriculum to serve as a language that unifies our ethnicity and multicultural diversity in Nigeria. To also follow a well articulated language policy that will carry everyone along considering our diversities and cultural differences.
Igbo Language as an Endangered Language: Causes and Possible Solutions
This paper tries to examine the reason why Igbo language has been classified as one of the languages that will be endangered within the next five decades. An endangered language is a language that is at the risk of going into extinction as its speakers die out or choose to speak other languages instead of their own. Language preservation on the other hand is the taking care of endangered language. Therefore, the major objectives of the study are to x-ray the causes of Igbo language endangerment, the steps government and some individuals have taken to avoid the endangerment and the possible measures to be adopted to avoid the language being endangered. The paper adopts Ethno-linguistic Vitality Theory of Bourhis, Giles and Taylor (1977). The work is a descriptive survey one and the data for the work are sourced from relevant literature. Findings of the paper show that influence of foreign culture, negative attitude of the owners of the language, migration among others contribute to the endangerment. Hence the study suggests that government should improve upon the existing efforts through the provision of incentives and award of free scholarships to candidates that intend to study Igbo language at higher levels and also create job opportunities for them. In addition, more days should be added to the one day already earmarked per week for the promotion of the Igbo language and culture in Igbo land and finally authors and writers in different aspects of the language should be celebrated as an encouragement. Finally, it is believed that language teacher, language students, parents, schools, government, and the entire Igbo language owners will benefit immensely from the paper while the use of Igbo language will improve generally.
The Relationship between Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Engagement in Preventive Behaviours among Undergraduate Students
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to pose significant public health challenges worldwide despite the consistent effort to reduce the spread. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between knowledge/awareness of HIV/AIDS and engagement in preventive behaviours among undergraduate students. The study deployed 154 undergraduate students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka using purposive sampling technique. The study utilized a correlational design, employing a structured questionnaire to collect data from a sample of undergraduate students. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and engagement in preventive behaviours. The study also indicated a significant positive relationship between awareness of effects and consequences of HIV/AIDS and engagement in preventive behaviours. Based on the findings, the study concluded that there is a significant positive relationship between knowledge/awareness of HIV/AIDS and engagement in preventive behaviours. The implications of these findings suggest the importance of targeted educational interventions to enhance HIV/AIDS knowledge and promote prevention strategies among undergraduate students.
The Catholic Church on the Common Good: A Panacea to Tribalism and Ethnicity in Nigeria’s Politics
One major problem facing Nigeria politics from Nigeria’s political independence to date is ethnicity. This has been a serious clog on the wheel of national cohesion and development. This work identifies this factor as a great setback to the politics and governance of the country. This work made use of primary and secondary methods of data collection to generate information, while the impartial government theory was the background upon which the work holds that why Nigerians are still clamouring for their tribesmen in politics is because of lack of efforts to carry every ethnic group along in politics and decision making that affects the entire country, catering for general well-being of the people. As a solution to this, this work presents the principles of the common good as taught in the Catholic Social Teaching which emphasises the need to promote the general good instead of sectional good. By promoting the common good by those at the helms of political affairs of the state, the country would experience a decline in the tempo of ethnicity in Nigeria politics.
MUSIC STUDENTS’ UNPRECEDENTED APATHY TO STUDIES: THE NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE
This paper interrogated Nnamdi Azikiwe University music students’ unprecedented apathy towards studies with the aim of finding a solution to the problem. The problem has spread to all the levels of undergraduate study and is gradually becoming irredeemable if no pragmatic counter measures are engaged. The malaise portends obvious dangers for the students, the lecturers, the Department of Music, the entire University and the future of formal music education in Nigeria because of the existential threats it poses to the department. Primary data was sourced from class room observation of the behavior of the students, class attendance registers, performance rating of the students in quiz and examinations over the span of four years, group rehearsal attendance and participation, lecture notes and lecture delivery of the lecturers. Questionnaires and interviews were granted to the students and lecturers of the Department to seek their candid opinions regarding the problem and this formed the secondary source of data of the research. Data garnered from these sources were considered and analyzed using some qualitative tools of data analysis. Findings show that the major factors fueling the apathy are forced admission, prevailing economic crises, trending peer pressure to amass wealth, social media/internet culture, issues from mobile learning, parental indifference, financial distress, inadequate teaching approaches, and rigid curriculum of studies. It is recommended that students should not be admitted into the department of music against their wish, more learner friendly approaches should be engaged by the lecturers to encourage the students, students also should put off all peer distractions and youthful utopia and brace up to the challenges of university education.
AFRICAN SOCIETY, MARRIAGE AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY
This paper is a qualitative research that attempted to discuss the growing trend of globalization and its effects on the African traditional marriage system. These transitions are driven by factors that are western practices through the concept of Globalization and Modernization. The paper tried to counter the logic put forward by the global community through Western ideology and put forward a superior Afrocentric narrative on the issue of marriage and for the very survival of the African marriage systems and also sustaining the family. The question as to whether the African family is in crisis or not and what the future holds is the prime focus of this discussion. The paper also illustrated the adverse effect of globalization in the context of the African marriage system. Finally, it presented recommendations that will go a long way in preserving and protecting the African marriage system from total collapse.
THE PROLETARIAT IN AFRICAN PROLETARIAN NOVEL: A SOCIOLOGICAL READING OF PETER ABRAHAM'S MINE BOY AND FESTUS IYAYI'S VIOLENCE
Workers have been the most marginalised aspect of the human society. The rise of capitalism ensured the dehumanisation of the working class. Writers over the years have captured the plights of the working class with such verisimilitude that the genre “proletarian novel” has come to represent all works depicting the existential condition of the working class in the entanglement of capitalism. This paper seeks to investigate how writers in Africa have captured and represented the lives of the proletarian class in their fictions. Furthermore, using the principles of sociological criticism, the material condition of the workers of Africa as represented in Festus Iyayi's Violence and Peter Abrahams' Mine Boy is investigated. The novels, it is observed, were written at different phases of African history. Mine Boy was written in the epoch of colonial hegemony while Violence was written years after the deconstruction of colonial structures. However, uneducated and unskilled workers in the novels share similar fate and survived under similar existential conditions.It is concluded that, African proletariat share common fate, especially unskilled labourers who try to etch a living amidst crunching poverty, illiteracy and the scythe of capitalism. In calling the attention of the world to the abject situation of the proletariats, proletarian novelists move towards bettering the lot of the workers.
The Emergence of Pressure Groups on Nigeria: A Sectarians Upheaval of Oduas People’s Congress (OPC) and Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP)
The entity called Nigeria has constantly fallen into the quagmire of existence since its amalgamation in 1914. Against this backdrop, it has consequently basked in the euphoria of ethnic isolation, religious bigotry and sectarian interest to the detriment of its success as an entity and one indivisible nation. The bane of this backdrop calls for the nexus of this research paper which sets out to investigate the backdrops and origin of pressure groups in Nigeria, its adverse effects and possible solution employing the ethnographic and analytical methods with Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and ODUA People Congress (OPC) as a case study. The pressure groups’ ideologies are interest groups or associations whose interest informs the basis of the group. Within its pure and undiluted forms, it stands to define the common goals of its general members. But this noble goal has over time been hijacked and bastardized by regional interest and separatist ideology which has today hydra-headed into banditry and terrorism. It is within this understanding that this research intends to look at the origin, history and the attendant problems of two major pressure groups and how they affect the economical, political and social structure of Nigeria.
A RELIGIO-SOCIO ASSESSMENT OF IGBO NAMING CEREMONY AMONG THE ANAEDO PEOPLE OF IGBO ANAMBRA STATE
The present researcher undertook an ethnographic assessment of the Igbo naming ceremony in Anaedo Anambra state. The aim was to identify the vector quantities implicated in the practice of this ceremony as well as the symbolic acts and fixed expressions that constitute the fabric of the ritual process of the iba nwa afa (naming) ceremony. Also explored were the principal myths underpinning its practices and the extent to which the study of the ceremony could be used as a ladder into achieving a holistic understanding of the basic tenets of Igbo religion. The research paper argued that it is by means of this ceremony that a newly born Anaedo child gets to become defined as an individual human being through the ritual act of being assigned a name by which to identify him or her in the course of his or her earthly existence. Hence, the findings of this research confirm Horton’s assumption that the benefit tenets of African Traditional Religion could be discovered through a comprehensive study of the important rituals and ceremonies of the various African peoples. Both primary and secondary methods of data collection were executed in this paper.
DIVINE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN TEACHER: THE CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVES
This descriptive research examines the roles of teachers in the Nigerian society. It is aimed at exposing the identity and responsibilities of a trained teacher in a rather low income and ethically maleficent population seeking liberation from a self-inflicted corruption. Here many people take to the teaching profession for its economic values and as a means of survival than the desired human development. It also serves as a wake-up call to the Catholic teachers to live up to their missionary mandate of communicating Christ via their profession. To accomplish this all important tasks, the researcher critically examined the identity of the teacher and the teaching profession, their services to education for human wholistic development, the authority of Christ as the Teacher par Excellence, the roles of the Church and Catholic teacher as well as some critical challenges of the teaching profession in Nigeria. The researcher therefore discovered that the teacher must be properly trained to understand and willfully accept their proper roles in the society as mentors and guides to their students; that education is for human development and can only be realised with a proper blend of the physical and spiritual needs of man which Christianity and the catholic church has significantly advocated most recently. To continue to lead this effort therefore, catholic teachers should sustain their desires for continuous learning and self- improvement as well as imitate Christ as light to their societies. This study finally suggests that teachers should be properly remunerated and motivated to enable them focus on their duties and not give in to activities that might hamper their desired successes. They should also value their profession in order to protect its ethics and improve their overall ratings and image in the society.
DAVID HUME’S CRITIQUE OF INDUCTIVE REASONING: IMPLICATIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
Inductive reasoning is one of the methods of reasoning, and it is completely opposed to deductive reasoning. In inductive reasoning, a general conclusion is inferred from observed or examined particular instances. It is commonly used in scientific investigations. However, some scholars have criticized inductive method of reasoning, insisting that it can’t always guarantee true and valid conclusion. Among the scholars that were not comfortable with inductive reasoning is David Hume. The fundamental questions are: What is inductive reasoning? What are the problems associated with inductive reasoning? What are the major criticisms Hume levelled against inductive reasoning? Could it be said that Hume is right in his criticisms of inductive reasoning? Why does science employ inductive method in its investigation of phenomena in the universe? What are the implications of Hume’s critique of induction for scientific investigations? Is there any method that can be better and more efficient than inductive method in scientific investigations? These and other related issues are the major focus of this article, and are to be given scholarly and detailed attention. Employing basically analytical and critical methods of philosophical enquiry, this article examines Hume’s critique of induction and its implications for scientific investigation. This article argues that despite the shortcomings of inductive reasoning, it is still the most appropriate method for scientific investigations. Science has, through inductive reasoning, recorded remarkable progress especially in the modern and contemporary periods, and has contributed immensely towards the improvement of the human condition of existence in the universe.