INCULCATING DISCIPLINE IN THE YOUTHS THROUGH IGBO LITERATURE

Abstract

The work examines Igbo literature as a school subject, as a medium of moral upbringing and character training of Nigerian youths. Igbo Literature, in this context, has the capacity to inculcate in the youths’ good morals and ethics of the society because it dwells on human issues and by its nature appeal to the youths. The Nigerian government and other agencies have at one time or the other made effort to eradicate youths’ indiscipline and violence in our school and society, but all these efforts proved almost abortive. Literature, if carefully articulated as a school subject, at all levels, has the power to create a lot of impact on the lives of the youths, thereby, making them reasonable and responsible human beings. The thrust of this paper is to examine the capacity of Igbo literature in the area of three Igbo genres as a school subject in eradicating youth’s indiscipline and violence in school, in particular and in Nigerian society in general. The work is an analytical survey. To carry out the work effectively, the researcher critically studies the selected works from the three genres of Igbo literature; namely prose, drama and poetry. In addition, some literatures relevant to the study were reviewed. Thus adequate information were gathered and analyzed. The theoretical framework adopted for the study is Aristotle’s Rhetorical theory. This literary theory is relevant to this study because it advocates the type of discourse whose chief aim is to persuade an audience to think and feel or act in a particular way. It is hoped that this work will help in curbing the youths’ indiscipline and violence, as it will inculcate moral values and sense of responsibility in them.