A STUDY OF THE POLITICAL POETRY OF EX-STUFFY

Project Abstract

This research investigates and analyzes the political poetry of Ex-Stuffy ( Fater, Kaha aka Awambe a Tiv) whose poetic talent seems to have eluded the attention of other literary scholars. The work is carried out with specific objectives which are to draw attention to the songs of Ex-Stuffy (Awambe a Tiv), to preserve the poet’s work for posterity, to highlight the moral value of the songs as well as to encourage interested scholars to give attention to other Tiv poets especially political singers that have never received attention so as to promote and preserve the Tiv culture. It looks at the thematic preoccupations of the poet, the recurrent motifs and the dexterity with which he uses figures of speech and other poetic devices to pass his message to the audience. In the course of this investigation, the researcher collected ten of the poet’s songs on tape and these songs were transcribed and translated into English language. This formed the data that was analyzed in this work. From the analysis, the study discovered the poet’s consistent commentary on the corrupt acts of the political leaders or those in authority in the society generally. The issues addressed by the poet include corruption, ridicule, eulogism and a host of others as exhibited in the work. The research also revealed a copious use of poetic devices by the poet to enrich his subject matter. One can consider or study the literary qualities of these songs for they show no sign of dying out or fading away especially in the Tiv, Nigerian and the African politics entirely.

Project Overview