Through the Prism of History: Ecological Re-reading of Wale Okediran’s after the Flood

Abstract

Through the prism of history, this paper examines ecological issues in Okediran’s After theFlood. Ecological issues have been widely recognized as one of the major threats facing theplanet, as man’s activities continue to endanger his ecosystem leaving in its wake, myriads ofhazards and lethal consequences. Consequent upon this, environmental writers have madeenvironmental concerns top on the agenda of literature and the creatives. Wale Okediran is oneof the few Nigerian ecological writers whose work continues to attract favourable criticism inthis regard. The paper underscores the environmental issues raised in the novel, most importantly,the writer’s stance that these crises are largely manmade and avoidable. With ecocriticism as atheoretical anchor, the study concludes on the confluence of history and literature in addressingenvironmental crisis as gleaned from Okediran’s After the Flood, vis-à-vis the practicable waysenvironmental issues can be addressed towards a healthy, humane, and more habitable society.