BETWEEN THE HOSTS AND THE GUESTS: REPRESENTATIONS OF CULTURAL TRAUMA IN
KEHINDE AKANO’S EMIRATE BLUES AND HOME RESIDENCE
Abstract
Recent literary theorisation of trauma entails an emphasis on
sociological approaches aimed at creating a cultural framework that is
devoid of the perceived Eurocentric mode of the ‘classical’
psychoanalytic trauma theory. This movement away from the mono-cultural,
individualistic bias of the Caruthian psychoanalytic trauma theory
causes the birth of Alexander’s cultural trauma theory with its
empirical approach to literary trauma representation. This study
primarily aims to investigate the best way to represent trauma in the
non-Western literature. To achieve this objective, cultural trauma
theory was used to analyse Kehinde Akano’s poetry collection, Emirate
Blues and Home Resistance. In the end, the findings of the research show
that: (a) Moro Concerned Group is identified as a carrier group in
Emirate Blues and Home Resistance; (b) the ‘stoical’ fiefdom labourers
and citizens, descendants of Laderin and Awongaga form the audience; (c)
there are ‘claims’ that Emirate system is a threat to the soco-cultural
make-up of the poet’s collectivity; (d) descendants of Awongaga react to
the ‘claims’ by erecting a signpost in their land; and (e) Afonja and
the Fulani are the victim and the perpetrator respectively. These
results indicate that, by Alexander’s set standard in cultural trauma
theory, Emirate Blues and Home Resistance can be classified as a trauma
(poetic) narrative.