Writing in ... Nigeria

       Both parts of Tony Afejuku's 'Language, Literature and Decolonization of Nigeria's Political Culture' are now available in Vanguard -- parts one and two.
       Afejuku thinks:

Of course, because "huge" Nigeria has no singular language that is our official language, we cannot speak in terms of a Nigerian national culture, strictly speaking, in the same way that Russians, for example, can speak of a Russian national culture.

This is the reason why Wale Okediran, a Yoruba, has not or cannot write his stories, novels and essays in Yoruba. To pass as a Nigerian writer, to pass as a national writer writing about a national culture, he must write in English language, the colonizer's language. Yet Wale Okediran must attempt to de-colonize in his writings Nigeria's political culture. Okediran's problem is the problem of all Nigerian's writers, distinguished and un-distinguished.

       Sure, one can't speak of a national Nigerian culture in the same way one can speak of a national Russian one -- but do you really have/want to ? And I certainly disagree that Wale Okediran (et al.) can't write in Yoruba and still 'pass as a Nigerian writer'. I realize there are difficulties in writing (and trying to publish ...) in languages other than English in Nigeria -- and many other countries --, but I think the market and possibilities are growing; I wish/hope more give it a try .....