Gothicism in African Literature: The Concept of Ghost and Ghost Lovers in Rem's Umeasiegbu's Ghost Stories

Abstract

Gothicism as a literary concept generally refers to stories and events about ghosts and ghost related issues. It also concerns itself with the influence of the supernatural in human affairs. Ghost lore on the other hand is a sub genre of literature that deals with stories about ghosts. It is different from folktales as it predominately deals with ghosts who play prominent roles in the story. In Ghost lore we are invited to feast on stories where the living and the dead interact; where human beings come in crossroad with ghosts a contact that often leaves behind varying degrees of issues and situations worthy of critical attention. Ghost lore is one of the neglected subtypes of literature. Ghost stories are uncommon in Nigeria but that does not in anyway undermine the existence of ghost lore and stories in our society. Rems Umeasiegbu is one of our renowned ghostlorist writers who have taken it upon themselves to search and document some of these Ghost stories, which in turn will appeal to our conscious about the reality and existence of ghost in our societies. This paper selected one of his collections entitled Ghost Stories. The paper examined the concept of love and varying degrees and dimensions of love between humans and ghosts as highlighted in some of the ghost stories and concludes with moral lessons inherent in these stories as part of justification of ghost lore as a unique genre of literature.