The Aesthetics of Place and Displacement in Ushie's Eco-Poetics.

Abstract

This paper examines the portrayal of environmental exploitation and destruction in Joe Ushe’s "Hill Songs". Focusing on the African context, the poet sheds light on the detrimental effects of leaders exploiting natural resources for personal gain. Through vivid imagery and metaphors, the poems illustrate the relentless and destructive behaviour of the exploiters, symbolized as African mosquitoes and scavengers. The analysis uses ecocritical literary theory to explore the underlying themes of human indifference, the complex relationship between humans and nature, and the consequences of unsustainable practices. In Hill Songs, Ushie employs the metaphor of mosquitoes drilling and sucking the peasant blood (natural resources) to depict the exploitative nature of the well-to-do individuals. The poem highlights the exploiter's consistent and unapologetic actions, disregarding the suffering of the victims and leaving the land empty and depleted. The imagery of a persistent horn sounding in the persona's ear emphasises the exploiter's disregard for human welfare and their insatiable greed. Furthermore, the poem suggests that nature serves as a refuge from human interference, but it also conveys the consequences of human actions on the environment. The persona's cautionary tone warns against the destructive impact of exploitative practices and emphasizes the need to protect the environment. The poems highlight the urgent need to address environmental crises and advocate for the preservation of the natural world. This study underscores the aesthetics employed by Ushie, including vivid imagery, sensory language, metaphors, and irony, to convey the destructive relationship between humans and the environment. The exploration of these themes and literary techniques provides valuable insights into the consequences of environmental exploitation and serves as a compelling call to action to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.