Literature As Tool for Sustainable Development: A Comparative Literary Analysis of Achebe’s Arrow of God and Tahir’s the Last Imam

Abstract

This paper aims at a theoretical comparative textual analysis of two novels; Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God (1964) and Ibrahim Tahir’s The Last Imam (1984). The focus is on their similarities generally and roles played by the heroes in their different societies as political and religious leaders of the different societies and how their actions and in-actions affect their communities and the polity generally. The paper relates the portrayal these as synonymous to the current political leadership crisis in Nigeria and other African nations. The study demonstrates how this crisis hinders sustainable development in the country and other African countries. They way out of this as possible solutions the turmoil is proffer at the end.