Oral traditional aesthetics in Dike Chukwumerije and Deji Ige’s poetry

Spoken word poetry is an oral poetic form rooted in the oral traditions of ancient literary and performing arts. Many view this art form as a renaissance and reinvention of practices embraced by various communities and cultures, influenced by technology and globalisation. However, due to its recent emergence and rapidly growing popularity in the Nigerian creative landscape, it has received little to no critical attention. Some scholars in oral literature are recognising the links between these traditions but have yet to fully dedicate their time to their study. Thus, this study aims to explore the oral traditions and signifiers present in the spoken word poetry of two Nigerian poets, Dike Chukwumerije and Deji Ige. For the theoretical framework, praxi-phonoaesthetics was adopted, a concept first introduced by Professors Chike Okoye and Stella Okoye-Ogwu. “Praxis” focuses on the theatrical, practical, and thematic aspects of performance, while “phono-aesthetics” addresses the content and delivery, examining the beauty of words and the impact of their sounds on listeners. This study employed an ethnographic and qualitative methodology. Performances were observed in proximity, and analysing the selected texts facilitated the extraction of oral traditions in the poems. Among the few spoken word poets considered for this study, Dike Chukwumerije and Deji Ige stand out due to their innovative and enterprising approaches to engaging with oral traditions in their poetry. Their passion for promoting national unity and their substantial insights into what hybridised oral poetry or spoken word poetry should embody in the African context warrant such a study. Chukwumerije's performance of “Nna Anyi, Is It True?” was analysed, revealing traces of oral traditions, such as legends, choreography, proverbs, folktales, folksongs, dramatic verses, local instrumental accompaniment, and dirges within the poem and performance. Additionally, Deji Ige’s spoken word poem “Kiriji” and his spoken word poetry album, Vintage: A Collection of Spoken Word Poetry, are replete with evidence of Yoruba oral traditions. Deji Ige’s versatility and effective blend of local content were highly commended in the study. The study identified striking markers that illustrate the connection between these art forms and lay the groundwork for demonstrating their equivalence. Furthermore, the study is poised to contribute significantly to knowledge, with its findings and applications likely to promote national development.