“There’s still something positive about the Niger Delta ecology”: Metaphor and ideology in the Niger Delta poetic discourse

Abstract

Studies on Niger Delta (ND) poetry have applied stylistic and discourse analyses in exploring the metaphorical elements of the deplorable ecological condition of the region, but how these elements have been used in creating an alternative positive image of the ecology, especially in Otobotekere’s poetry, has not attracted enough scholarly attention. This study examines metaphors in selected poems from Otobotekere’s My River. The poems were subjected to critical analysis, with insight from conceptual metaphor theory, phenomenonalistic construal, and aspects of ideology discourse. Three conceptual metaphors were observed with their respective phenomenalistic interpretations: the Niger River is a parent (sourced from the construal of ancestry, seasons and source), Niger River flow is entertainment (from the construal of theatrical display, music making and journey) and contacting Niger River is therapy (from the construal of relaxation and care giving). The mappings are associated with three natural traits imaginarily projected by the river, namely, identity, recreation, and comfort. Identity relates to the parental posture of the river, recreation deals with enjoyable nature of it, while comfort has to do with the care derived from coming in contact with the river. Through these metaphorical descriptions, Otobotekere is able to inscribe the ND ecology with an admirable landscape, which seems like an attempt by a former oil worker at greenwashing or changing the predominant ideological outlook of the environment. Thus, conceptual metaphors in Otobotekere’s poetry, with their phenomenalistic interpretation, demonstrate that there is still something positive about the ND ecology.