SUBALTERN IMAGINATION IN THE POETRY OF G’EBINYO OGBOWEI IN THE HEEDLESS BALLOT BOX

ABSTRACT

The contribution of this essay to the study of Ebinyo Ogbowei’s poetry is to be noticed in the thematic development and the Niger Delta struggle. This essay has examined the critical aspects of Ogbowei’s commitment. Three areas of critical interest have been explored in this essay. Ogbowei’s poetry is distinct in thematic engagement. The poet has used poetry to expose the plight of the Niger Delta people by inscribing the pain and agitation of ethnic minorities. The poet relies on historical allusion specifically, the Odi Massacre of 1999 to reveal the abuse of power by the almighty federal government over a federating unit. This is done with the purpose of calling for ethnic minorities rights to be respected in the federation. Also inscribed in the poems is the marginalization of the Niger Delta people who are among the ethnic minorities in Nigeria. Ogbowei’s poems contain scenes of violence, blood and destruction. In fact, Ogbowei versifies pain and death as indices of change. While exploring the theme in the poems, one notices the preponderance of alliteration which intersperses the stanzas. They are poetic devices which the poet relies on to convey the pain and agitation of ethnic minority naturalism. Another critical weapon is metaphor to help situate the images and build ideas in order to create a strong mental picture. Apart from creating visual pictures, there are instances of auditory and thermal pictures to convey the sense of heat and flame.