A Marxist Reading of Chibundu Onuzo's Welcome to Lagos and Yishau Olukerede's in the Name of Our Father

Abstract This study deploys the principles of Marxism to explore instances of class oppression, ideological conditioning and systemic exploitation as portrayed in Chibundu Onuzo's Welcome to Lagos and Olukorede Yishau's In the Name of Our Father. These novels illuminate the perpetuation of alienation, commodification, and marginalisation of citizens entrenched in the Nigerian socio-politcal and economic spheres by the capitalist system. Onuzo provides a periscope of Lagos as a vibrant metropolis with unequal opportunities where survival implies moral compromises which are a reflection of the contradictions of capitalist modernity. The experiences of the characters foreground the economic disparities which ultimately create endless cycles of hope and despair, thereby compelling individuals to navigate a system that thrives on inequality. Yishau, on the other hand, explores the ideological mechanisms that sustain oppression, focusing on the complicity of religious and political institutions in upholding exploitative systems. By conflating narratives of personal struggles with broader critiques of power and control, Yishau interrogates how faith and authority are manipulated to justify exploitation and silence. The study observes that both authors employ compelling narrative techniques to humanize the consequences of entrenched inequality, crafting stories that resonate with the raw realities of contemporary marginalised societies. Thus, their works transcend the goal of depicting struggles to challenge the entrenched systems, provoke critical contemplation, and inspire a reimagined social order rooted in equality and justice. By anchoring the study on Marxist criticism, this study emphasises the role of literature in amplifying marginalised voices and fostering awareness on the need to challenge the systemic forces that hold the society hostage.