Aesthetics and Meaning: A Poetic Comparison of Selected Igbo and Alago Proverbs

Abstract

Proverbs are pivotal in Nigerian society in terms of edifying language and enriching meaning in human communication. However, the neglect or inadequate research on minority literatures have created a wide gap particularly in paremiological studies between the major and minority Nigerian cultures. This paper, therefore is an attempt at inclusiveness; it draws attention to the proverbs of one of Nigeria 's 'minority'' and less researched culture. It explores the aesthetics, literariness and poetic values of Alago proverbs by comparing it with one of Nigeria's 'major's and vastly researched proverblore - the Igbo proverb. This study observes that Alago proverb is replete with poetic devices such as simile, metaphor, symbolism, personification, alliteration, paradox, etc., Other areas of similarities include thematic preoccupation, functions, use of images and syntactic construction; this affinity in thought pattern, expression and experience is explained by Carl Jung's "Collective unconscious ".  This ethnographic oriented research adopts the structural approach and incorporates an admixture of methodological techniques such as interviews, participant observation and review of available literature.  This study identifies Alago language and literature as viable for further scholarship. This paper will contribute to the reservoir of literature on minority cultures. It will also contribute towards bridging the gap in paremiological studies between the majority and minority cultures in Nigeria.