Vistas of Corruption in New Nigerian Poetry: A Marxist Perspective on Halima Amali’s Poetry

ABSTRACT: Wanton corruption has characterized Nigeria’s fourth democratic dispensation. Though this has retarded growth and development, it has engaged the attention of contemporary Nigerian poets. Deploying the theory of Marxism, this paper discusses the poetic representations of Nigeria’s democratic and undemocratic principles in Halima Amali’s poetry. Exploring her application of poetic instruments to portray corrupt practices by some of the Nigerian political elite, it discusses her poetic vituperations against Nigerians’ tacit acquiescence of corrupt practices that run contrary to democratic ideals. Analyzing her poetry from a Marxist perspective, the paper argues that her poetry is mass-oriented, confrontational, and optimistic as it depicts a dialogue with self and society intertwined with a clarion call for persistent and calculated actions against anti-democratic agents, forces, and personages. The paper concludes that emergent Nigerian poets are still keenly concerned with the plight of the masses especially in relation to corruption and its negative impacts on society. It highlights poetry as an instrument for mass mobilization, orientation, reawakening, and sensitization against corruptive and anti-people elements and forces in Nigeria.