The intersection of ecology and inequity: postcolonial reflections in oil on water

Adeniga Wewe *

Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria.
 
Review
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2024, 13(02), 2570–2576.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2024.13.2.2424
Publication history: 
Received on 29 October 2024; revised on 09 December 2024; accepted on 11 December 2024
 
Abstract: 
This study situates Oil on Water within the frameworks of ecocriticism and postcolonial studies, analyzing how the novel portrays ecological harm as both a local and global crisis. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, the research examines key motifs such as water as a symbol of destruction and renewal, and the role of narrative in fostering ecological awareness and advocating for systemic change. Habila’s novel transcends its fictional context, contributing to the growing discourse on climate justice and sustainability while underscoring the moral imperative to address environmental and social inequities. Helon Habila’s Oil on Water offers a compelling exploration of the socio-environmental crises plaguing the Niger Delta, a region marked by the paradox of resource abundance and ecological devastation. The novel critiques the systemic exploitation of natural resources by multinational corporations and corrupt state actors, highlighting the cascading effects of oil exploration on human lives, landscapes, and cultural heritage. Through vivid depictions of polluted rivers, displaced communities, and poisoned lands, Habila intertwines narratives of environmental degradation with themes of resilience and socio-political injustice. His work aligns with Rob Nixon’s concept of "slow violence," emphasizing the incremental and often invisible destruction caused by environmental exploitation, and with Cajetan Iheka’s focus on the environment as an active participant in African literature.
 
Keywords: 
Niger Delta; Environmental degradation; Slow violence; Climate justice; Postcolonial ecocriticism
 
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