Ecocritical Analysis: A Comparative Study of Imbolo Mbue’s How Beautiful We Were and Helon Habila’s Oil on Water

This research paper presents a comparative analysis of Imbolo Mbue’s How Beautiful We Were (2021) and Helon Habila’s Oil on Water (2010) under the framework of ecocriticism. A qualitative research method was adopted, followed by textual analysis, guided by Jolliffe’s rhetorical framework for data collection and analysis. Further, the theory of ecocriticism by William Rueckert (1978) was adopted to examine the themes of ecocriticism using literary devices, particularly foreshadowing. The literary device not only facilitated the interpretation of the text of the novels but also acted as a tool for engagement with the ecological crisis. The analysis of texts of selected novels reveals that both authors of their work clearly agreed on ecological destruction. For them, 'slow violence' is going on on a daily basis, where the root cause is neo-imperialism. Author Mbue focuses on the necessity of physical resistance for the protection of nature. At the same time, Habila highlights the power of journalism in exposing environmental exploitation. Thus, both authors reject the definition of anthropocentrism and promote principles of ecocriticism. The study concludes that literature in modern times functions as a powerful tool for ecological activism, focusing more on accountability and deep environmental awareness.