Corruption is one of the syndrome of African leaders ranging from those that are leading in small sectors to the political leaders. Many so called leaders have enrich themselves with the public wealth and as a result holding the lives of the masses in ransom. Consequently, the masses are living abject poverty as many graduates could not get good employment opportunity after they have graduated in the higher institutions of learning.
The most terrible thing is that the so called masses friends the judicial arms of the government and the law enforcement agent Incahoot with the corrupt politicians have betrayed the trust of the masses through their unjust judgments and eventualy leave the masses in dilemma. Consequently, this paper seeks to show the display of madness of corruption and anarchism by many African leaders.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. Synopsis of Harvest of Corruption
3. Harvest of Corruption: The display of madness of corruption in African countries
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the pervasive nature of corruption within African societies, specifically focusing on the play "Harvest of Corruption" as a reflection of societal decay. It aims to analyze how political leaders exploit their positions for personal gain, the resulting impact on the masses, and the symbolic use of satire and madness to critique the lack of visionary leadership.
- Analysis of corruption as a systemic issue in Nigeria and across Africa.
- Evaluation of literary techniques, specifically satire and agricultural imagery.
- Examination of the "Law of Harvest" as a metaphor for retributive justice.
- Critique of democratic institutions and the failure of checks and balances.
- The symbolic juxtaposition of the "visionary mad man" against corrupt political elites.
Excerpt from the Book
Harvest of Corruption: The display of madness of corruption in African countries
The issue of corruption has become rampant in most of African countries as the news of missing money in several sectors pervades the countries like an epidemic of diseases. Corruption as a sign of moral decadence has become a norm in most of African countries as every individual contesting for any political office has an underline motive of taking his or own portion of national cake consequently, this has inspired some African writers like Wole Soyinka and Achebe and many others in many of their writings. Many people have given many definitions of what corruption means however, am going to use the definition of Ekiyor:Ekiyor (2005) in his broad view of corruption defined it as the unlawful use of official power or influence by an official of the government either to enrich himself or further his course and/or any other person at the expense of the public, in contravention of his oath of office and/or contrary to the conventions or laws that are in force. From the above definition it is evident that corruption has to do with abuse of power especially to enrich ones pocket.
In this writing, I will show how the play wright present the madness of corruption in the play. The play wright through the literary device of metaphor which is a direct comparison of two thing that are not the same projects the madness of using the political office to amass wealth and to be involving in one illicit business. The play wright put the scene of the mad man called Showboy is to juxtapose the character of the visionary mad man and may African leaders who do not have vision for their countries:
Summary of Chapters
Abstract: Provides an overview of the systemic corruption syndrome among African leaders and the resulting poverty that plagues the masses.
Synopsis of Harvest of Corruption: Outlines the narrative arc of the protagonist Haloho, whose disillusionment after university leads her into a corrupt political environment, ultimately resulting in her downfall.
Harvest of Corruption: The display of madness of corruption in African countries: Analyzes the broader implications of the play, utilizing literary devices to expose the moral bankruptcy of leadership and the inevitability of retributive justice.
Keywords
Corruption, African Leadership, Harvest of Corruption, Frank Ogodo Ogbeche, Satire, Retributive Justice, Socio-political, Nigeria, Political Abuse, Moral Decadence, Metaphor, Governance, Economic Exploitation, Public Wealth, Democracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines the pervasive issue of corruption in African countries, using Frank Ogodo Ogbeche's play "Harvest of Corruption" as a primary lens to critique political malfeasance and its impact on society.
What are the main thematic areas discussed?
The work explores themes of systemic corruption, the failure of democratic institutions, the moral decadence of leaders, and the concept of retributive justice or the "law of harvest."
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to illustrate the "madness" of corruption and anarchism displayed by leaders who prioritize illicit wealth accumulation over the welfare of the masses.
Which scientific or literary methods are employed?
The author uses literary analysis, specifically focusing on satire, agricultural imagery, and the use of metaphors, to connect fictional characters to real-world political realities.
What is addressed in the main body of the text?
The main body analyzes the plot of the play, defines various forms of corruption, examines the sentencing of corrupt officials as a metaphor for retribution, and discusses the symbolic character of the "mad man."
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include corruption, African leadership, satire, retributive justice, moral decadence, governance, and public wealth.
How does the author define corruption in this context?
The author adopts Ekiyor's (2005) definition, which frames corruption as the unlawful use of official power or influence for private gain in violation of one's oath of office.
What role does the character "Showboy" play in the narrative?
Showboy, the "visionary mad man," is used by the playwright to contrast the perceived sanity of corrupt leaders with actual wisdom, effectively highlighting the absurdity and lack of vision in contemporary African political leadership.
- Quote paper
- Olosunde Oluyinka (Author), 2016, Harvest of corruption. The display of madness of corruption in African countries, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/334501
