Between the praise and defense of nature: An eco-critical discourse of Niyi Osundare and Tanure Ojaide’s eco-poetry

Abstract

One critical area that the poetry of Niyi Osundare and Tanure Ojaide addresses is nature—the physical environment. Hence, their poetry is classified as eco-poetry. Although studies on the poetry of Niyi Osundare and Tanure Ojaide have focused on traditional aesthetics, political power, exile and African experience (Ojaruega, 2015; Tsaaior, 2011; Nwagbara 2008, 2010; Okunoye, 2011) sufficient studies have not been done on their defense of natural environment. This study examines how their poetry celebrates nature and how they are used to caution the imminent danger of mismanagement of the physical environment. Thus, Niyi Osundare’s The Eyes of the Earth and Tanure Ojaide’s Delta Blues & Home Songs are studied to provide insights into the forms, patterns and concerns of their eco-poetry. The study leverages eco-criticism—the study of the relationship between literature and the natural environment—as its theoretical insight. The paper contends that though these poets celebrate nature’s beauty and potentials, their poems chastise exploitative activities of man and urge moral and social change in favour of the natural environment. It equally argues that the poets’ particular environments influence the form and style of their poetry, maintaining that there are more environmental challenges in the contemporary world of Tanure Ojaide which his poetry reflects in contrast to Niyi Osundare’s.