The Reality Behind the Nigerian Civil War in the Novel ‘Amāliqah al-Syamāl: A Sociological Approach to the Work of Najib Kailani

Abstract

This study examines the reality of the civil war between the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The war occurred due to a series of prolonged conflicts since Nigeria gained independence from Britain. The issues addressed in this study concern the portrayal of Nigerian society during the civil war in the novel ‘Amāliqah al-Syamāl, the aspects documented by Najib Kailani, and the real-life impact of the civil war. The aim of this research is to assess the representation of the events in the novel ‘Amāliqah al-Syamāl in reflecting the historical events of the past. The method employed in this study is a qualitative descriptive method, referring to the sociological approach to literature from the perspectives of René Wellek and Austin Warren. The findings of this study indicate that ‘Amāliqah al-Syamāl is a novel that can serve as a reflection of the social life of Nigerian society during the civil war. Through the text analysis of the novel, various conflicts that led to the outbreak of the war are revealed. Although not all events are presented by Najib Kailani, significant aspects such as the leaders, the five key events that triggered the war, and several cultural elements of Nigerian society are depicted in the novel. Similarly, the impact of the civil war, which claimed the lives of millions of civilians, is presented concisely and engagingly.