Trauma, Stereotypes and Ethnic Prejudice in Selected Nigerian Civil War Plays
Keywords:
Ethnic Stereotypes, Nigerian Civil War, Transgenerational Trauma, Social Categorization Theory, Igbo-Hausa/Fulani RelationsAbstract
The Nigerian Civil War has inspired numerous creative and critical works. However, the impact of stereotypical representations among the major ethnic groups involved in the conflict remains under-researched. This paper examines two Nigerian dramatic texts, For Love of Biafra by Amanda Adichie and Whispers of the Gods by Perp’ St. Remy Asiegbu, through the lenses of stereotype and Tajfel and Turner’s theory of social categorisation. The study aims to expose how negative ethnic stereotypes intensified tensions between the Igbo and Hausa/Fulani communities before, during and after the war. This investigation is significant in light of the ongoing strained
relations and polarised political discourses between these groups in post-war Nigeria—manifestations of unresolved transgenerational trauma and the looming threat of renewed violence driven by ethnic stereotypes transmitted through oral traditions, literature and digital media. The selected texts reveal that the same prejudices that fueled the conflict remain deeply entrenched in Nigerian society. By analysing selected characters, the paper argues that engaging with counter-stereotypical figures in literature can challenge and reshape prejudiced perceptions, fostering a more inclusive national consciousness and supporting nation-building. Consequently, this study underscores the urgent need for advocacy efforts that confront the dangers of ethnic stereotyping.
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