International Journal of

Arts , Humanities & Social Science

ISSN 2693-2547 (Print) , ISSN 2693-2555 (Online)
DOI: 10.56734/ijahss
LITERARY IMPACTS OF GOVERNANCE NARRATIVE METAPHORS ON SOCIAL WELL-BEING

Abstract


Narrative and literary-metaphor are literary forms and formats of literature employed by writers in scripting historical archives, mediating structural realities, intervening in socio-cultural contexts and moderating contemporary textual creativity. They are also employed by artistes in translating literary texts and interpreting them into contrived-reality, pseudo-reality and virtual-reality scenarios in our globalised post-modernist world. The intersections of popular democracy and government narrative metaphors amid the resource-curse dilemma, is the focus of this study.  Governments globally derive from the people, and narrative literary elements guide the communication and interpretations of policies and determine how the people can be focused on these policies and goals. However, governance narrative elements and its metaphorical intents do not always serve noble purposes for the peoples’ benefits and aspirations for nationhood, but can be altered, adjusted or contrived to serve other nefarious purposes in governance. This paper draws from the assertions of narrative theorists such as Todorov, Propp and Barthes to deliver an assay of the consequences of literary narratives within the context of mixed-metaphors and resource-curse dilemma that impinge upon good governance dynamics in Nigeria and Africa.