A Comparative Study of Black Women Poets Catherine Acholonu and Lorna Goodison
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The Sacred Impetus behind Creative Empowerment in Poetry: A Comparative Study of Black Women Poets Catherine Acholonu and Lorna Goodison A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of English University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan By Hannah Ngozi Eby Chukwu © Copyright Hannah Ngozi Eby Chukwu December 2005. All rights Reserved i Permission to Use In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the libraries of the University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for the copying of this thesis, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professors who supervised my thesis work or, in their absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition should be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of material in this thesis in whole or in part should be addressed to: Head of the Department of English 9 Campus Drive University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A5 ii Abstract Examining poetry under the rubric of religion, geography, and gender provides a lens through which I read postcolonial literatures, thus positing new emphasis in literary studies, and suggesting for African women empowerment as opposed to weakness, articulation as opposed to silence. Religion and poetry among Black people in Africa and the Black diaspora are sacred because religion pervades values, beliefs, and socio- political life, and religion saturates the environment; as well, the role of a poet is connected to that of a seer or a sage. Comparing Turn Thanks, a collection by Jamaican- born Afro-Caribbean poet Lorna Goodison with The Spring’s Last Drop, a collection by Nigerian poet Catherine Acholonu, reveals that African and Afro-Caribbean women’s strong sense of community, spiritual sensitivity, holistic attitude of women’ fight for liberation, the quest for healing and hope through the power of crafted words and rituals present an ideology of Africana womanhood as embedded in African cultural traditions. The two poets are rooted in their culture and being rooted empowers them as members of the community and speaking voice to build on values in their communities. In terms of the structure and themes of their books, the diction of their poems and the titles of their works, the poets suggest that there is a spirit connected with the works that readers must discern and become attuned to in order to unravel the meaning and the significance of the works. Both poets go back to the primacy of the word in the spiritual and oral traditions. The thesis argues that spirituality will continue to interest scholars because it represents a strong desire of twentieth-centruy humanity to maintain equilibrium in the face of socio-political upheavals through a discerned integration of both the spirit and iii body for a holistic existence and survival of communities and to understand the potential of applying and realizing the power of the spirit in connecting rather than fragmenting individuals and communities. On the whole, African people in Africa and the diaspora have utilized their spirituality in order to survive, to maintain the sanctity of their culture, and to present communities that have the quality of constituting a complex unity. People from other cultures and vocations can apply the benefits that can be gained from spirituality in their communities and vocations, not only for creative empowerment but for wholeness in those communities and maximum benefits in their vocations. iv Acknowledgements I thank my supervisor Professor Susan Gingell whose success with international graduate students in the department of English is untrammeled. Her invaluable support and encouragement gave me the morale, academic boost, strength and emotional stability, especially during those dreary months when I battled with loneliness and felt like completely giving up the program. I thank her especially for her expert advice, incisive and constructive criticisms, careful attention to details, and in particular for her enthusiasm for my total wellbeing. She has become more than a supervisor but a friend indeed. Even when I was back in Nigeria in 2004, and she was away on sabbatical, she kept encouraging me to finish the thesis and promptly read all the drafts I submitted to her. I am deeply indebted to her for this work. I thank the members of my committee, Professors Carol Morrell and Yin Liu. I appreciate the input of Professor Dianne Hallman as the external examiner for my thesis. I thank them all for their advice and affirmation of the work. My program passed through four graduate chairs: from 1999 when I was admitted into the program and Professor Ron Cooley was the graduate chair, to 2002 when Professor Kathleen James-Cavan threw her weight against every obstacle hindering me from joining the program. She even had to apply for an Equity Scholarship for me. Your perseverance and thoughtfulness will always be remembered. Then in September 2002 when I finally took up the program Professor Anthony J. Harding was the graduate chair, and he became my academic adviser and saw the program to its advanced stage. In particular, I thank Professor Harding for his generousity of heart, and the simplicity with which he made me his Research Assistant in the Coleridge Project from 2003-2005. I thank Professor Ray v Stephanson during whose term as the graduate chair the program is being completed. I appreciate his advice. I have the pleasure to remember my teachers Professors David Parkinson, Kristina Fagan, and Janice Fiamengo, for they contributed greatly to the positive experience I had studying in the department of English. I thank Professor Parkinson for encouragement and professional support when I was a tutorial leader in his section of English 110. I appreciate the physical and spiritual fellowship I shared with Professor Janice Fiamengo, especially for many good conversations we had with regards to the thesis. I appreciate greatly the spontaneous assistance, advice, and encouragement I received from her. I thank Professor Brent Nelson for his professional assistance and friendliness during the program. The constant affirmation and friendly concern of Dr. Suzanne Stewart will not pass unmentioned. I am very grateful to the College of Graduate Studies and Research as well as the English department for the University of Saskatchewan Scholarship and Equity Scholarship that greatly helped me financially towards completion of this program. I appreciate the travel grants I received from the department of English, College of Graduate Studies and Research, and Assistant Vice-President (Students’ Services) to enable me to attend the ACCUTE conference in 2003. I cannot forget to thank the International Student Advisor Kurt Tischler for his advice and immense help before and during my time in the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. It is my pleasure to work together with him, Jacquie McDermott, and Germaine Riou, as a volunteer in the International Student Office during International student orientation for two sessions. I always feel at home when I visit their office. To my international friendship partners Doreen and Glenn Stumborg I send my heartfelt gratitude. They came into my life when I vi needed a friend so as to partially fill the vacuum created by the absence of my family. To Kathy and Richard Evans I say thank you for your friendship and help in every respect. With deep joy I remember Reg Pope, and Peter and Arlene Block for their physical and spiritual support and friendship under the auspices of Inter-varsity Christian Student Fellowship. With pleasure I remember Professor Ike Oguocha of Mechanical Engineering for his constant support with regards to my professional development. I thank Professor Ogbu Kalu, my bother-friend for his mentorship and advice. I thank Nik Thompson, Kathy Weiman, Patty Harpell and my colleagues in the department of English for providing me with a learning community. With a profound sense of gratitude and happy obligation I thank my husband Dr. Kingsley I. Chukwu for his continual support and encouragement in this program. He was convinced I should go to Canada, even when I did not want to hear that because of the uncertainties and sacrifice associated with such an endeavour. He walked with me through the processes of making up my mind to come until I finally arrived in Canada in 2002. He held the fort in Nigeria and braved all the challenges. His love and vision will continue to inspire me to soar unto greater heights. I appreciate my children Nobleman, Chimdalu, Idinakachukwu, and David for their understanding and love. Your being in Canada at this time to witness the completion of this work is one of the benefits of spiritual empowerment that brings healing and stability in the midst of the pain of separation. I thank my brothers and sisters for their encouragement, support, concern, and prayers for me and my family. To the God of my mercies, who makes all things beautiful in His time, I turn my thanks and pledge my allegiance. vii Dedication To my mother, Mrs. Mercy Ogbonne Umeakanne (Nwunye Onyenkuzi), ideal help-meet, staunch advocate of spiritual values, my teacher for you believe in independence and empowerment through education and you taught me how to read and write in the mother tongue as a necessary literary appreciation of my heritage.