Dialectics of Patriotism in Niyi Osundare’s ‘A Villager’s Protest’ and Tanure Ojaide’s ‘Kings of Fools’

Abstract

The alliance between poetry and politics has never been cornucopian; contestable intruding from both sides has been endless. As an important conditioning factor, politics is a major aspect of human life and it is only a matter of exigency that poetry should not take its eyes off politics.

This study, through the lens of Marxism, explores the dialectics of patriotism of the Nigerian electorates and their leaders in Osundare’s 'A Villagers' Protest' and Tanure Ojaide’s 'kings of Fools.' It also exemplifies the benignant judgement of glorification to a patriot of a nation. The study finds that for democracy and rules of law to thrive in Nigeria, patriotism should be reciprocated (rewarded), due process should be upheld and bad leadership should be adequately interrogated and rewarded in accordance with the law of the land.