JAMB - Literature In English (2025 - No. 28)
Niyi Osundare's "The Leader and the Led" is a fable because of the
lies in it
simplicity of the language
witty nature of the poem
use of animals who act as humans
Explanation
The poem is classified as a fable because it uses several traditional elements of this literary genre. The poem features a variety of animals, such as the Lion, Hyena, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Warthog, each representing different human leadership traits or personality types. For example:
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The Lion represents power and strength.
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The Hyena symbolises greed.
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The Zebra reflects duplicity or deception.
The "animal kingdom" in the poem serves as an allegory for human society. It specifically critiques the socio-political struggles for leadership in Nigeria and across Africa. The interactions between these animals mirror the power dynamics found in human government and elections.
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