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.