The Past in the Present: Comprising An Exegesis And The Novel 'Too Long a Night'

Abstract

This thesis, comprising a creative work, the novel "Too Long a Night," and an exegesis, investigates the precolonial traditional society of Nigeria from the microscopic world-view of the Yoruba people. Yorubaland, with its own culture, tradition, literature, world-view and language existed well before Nigeria fell under colonial rule. The administration of traditional Yoruba society included the Baálè or an Oba at the apex, the Ogboni cult as the judicial arm in many kingdoms, and the elders' council comprising compound heads and the other titled men. As common with any society, while this system functioned well, it was fraught with many imperfections as epitomised by certain traditional institutions that were, and still are, major custodians of the people's culture and traditions. These traditional institutions embody both the beauty and ugliness of traditional society, which have spilled over to the contemporary society. Therefore, this thesis is a recreation of the past for the contemporary Nigerian society to mirror itself and see if, indeed, these imperfections are a spill-over from the traditional past or they are colonial or postcolonial phenomena.