Literary Perspectives of the Japa Syndrome in the 21st Century Nigerian Society: Selected Migration Narratives.

Abstract

The recent upward trend in transnational migration in the 21st century Nigerian society has become an issue of great concern among scholars from different fields. The advancing trend of issues like insecurity, 
unemployment, declining standard of education, ethno-religious disputes, and the resultant social instability are considered to be the major contributors of this alarming exodus. These experiences create uneasiness and disillusionment in the nation, giving rise to the ideology that relocating to other nations is a sane decision as well as an escape route from suffering. Thus, the term japa has become an adopted concept by many for the migration discourse in Nigeria. Although the word originates from the Yoruba language, japa is recently used to explain an escape or flight from trouble or suffering. This goes to suggest that for many citizens in 21st century Nigeria, emigration is an escape route from the harsh socio-economic conditions in the nation. However, the concept of emigration has generated myriads of discourses from literary writers both within the country and in diaspora. This paper adopts the migration theory to examine how Micheal Afenfia and Chimamanda Adichie perceive the causes, effects and solutions to the japa syndrome in Nigeria through their respective novels: Leave My Bones in Saskatoon and Americanah. It seeks to conclude that transnational migration is not an ultimate solution to the predicaments of post independent Nigerian society rather, the solution lies within the citizenry, especially the leaders.