Igbo prose writers and moralization: Thematic study of isiakwụdaran’ala, aghịrịịgha and agwọnaihe o loro

Abstract

It is obvious that some Igbo prose works are moralistic and didactic in nature. They satirize some ills in the society and tend to pass one moral lesson or the other to the readers. But it is observed that that many Igbo people prefer to read and study literary works written in English to those written in Igbo due to their apathetic attitude to the Igbo language and culture. Consequently, the moral lessons and Igbo cultural values presented in these works are not appreciated. This situation has motivated the researchers to examine the major themes and artistic features prominent in Isi AkwụDaran’Ala,Aghịrịịgha and Agwọnaihe o loro. To get about this, reader-response literary approach was adopted. The selected literary textswere analysed descriptively. From the analyses, it is revealed that the writers of the selected works mirrored and satirized societal ills in their works. Their aim is to raise the moral consciousness of their readers and enhance social harmony and development. This paper therefore submits that Igbo people, especially the youths should read, appreciate and show reasonable interest in Igbo literary works, so as to exploit the moral lessons presented in them.