The Igbo Tradition in the Nigerian Novel

Abstract

This study aims to establish the Igbo tradition in Nigerian literature through the use of English language. The language of the writers of Igbo literary tradition is an ethnic variety of Nigerian English, which is characterized essentially by lexical innovation, translation and linguistic and cultural transfer. Chinua Achebe stands out in this direction in view of his contributions to Nigerian literature through his peculiar and creative use of language. This effort is not peculiar to Achebe, but an Igbo tradition which emanates from Igbo language and culture as has been demonstrated in the works of some of the most prolific Igbo English writers, precisely John Munonye, Buchi Emecheta, Chukwuemeka Ike, Cyprian Ekwensi, Nkem Nwankwo, and Elechi Amadi. This literary tradition has become a significant stylistic device in that it grants writers the freedom to use the English language creatively.