The Crisis of Self and Individuation in Nigerian Postcolonial Fiction: A Close Reading of Cyprian Ekwensi’s Iska And Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s Season of Crimson Blossom

Abstract

The impacts of colonialism and postcolonialism have positioned Nigerian literature as a creative space where individuals seek to find their identity. From early heroic tales by Amos Tutuola and Chinua Achebe to later works that address socio-cultural issues, some critics argue that these literary worlds often reflect how culturally ingrained beliefs can hinder personal development, making it hard to define a unique identity within society. This paper re-examines these conflicts through selected works by Ekwensi and Ibrahim. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, especially Carl Jung’s and Friedrich Nietzsche’s ideas of individuation, the study reveals that these authors’ efforts to rethink social identity lean towards promoting inclusion rather than exclusion. It argues that Nigerian postcolonial fiction offers a symbolic reflection not only on the crisis of human identity but also on the possibilities of achieving what Jung calls a sense of individuation, or “wholeness,” in human relationships across social, cultural, religious, and racial boundaries. It concludes by calling for further critical research into how literature can expand and protect the boundaries of the intersubjective domain.