Covenant Journal of Language Studies (CJLS) Vol. 4, No. 1.

June, 2016

Eco-conflict in Niyi Osundare’s Horses of Memory: An Interface

between the Natural and the Built Environments
The Road Crosses the River/The River Crosses the Road - Niyi Osundare
Isaiah Fortress, Segun Omidiora & Oluwole Alagbe
Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria.
Abstract: In our exploration of eco-conflict between the natural and the built environments,
we examined Niyi Osundare‟s the “road crosses the river” metaphor in order to examine how
the poems represent the social and aesthetic values of the natural and built environments. We
analyze poems adopted from poem “XV” in “The Dream, the Dream is a Moon,” in
Moonsongs; “Forest Echoes”, “The Rocks Rose to Meet Me” and “Harvestcall” in The Eye
of the Earth. We adopt a contextual analysis approach of “Memory‟s Road” (II.90-163) in
Horses of Memory and subject same to content analyses. The study applies the eco-critical
theory. Our findings show that man‟s handling of the environment is determined and limited
to his knowledge of nature and his worldviews. However, there are those who are conscious
of the danger of environmental degradation, but are constrained by economic, political and
social considerations. While nature can do without human culture and structural beauty, the
human society depends solely on the delicate balance of the eco-system for his survival. The
social and aesthetic implications of eco-conflicts are thus succinctly constructed through the
literary dynamics of eco-poetics.
Key words: eco-conflict, Horse of Memory, The road crosses the river metaphor, natural and
built environment.
1. Introduction implication, human civilization
In spite of advancement of scientific impacts on the natural environment
knowledge, nature still creates a and the consequent eco-conflict. The
sense of amazement, and holds great study adopts an intrinsic contextual
mysteries that are yet unraveled by analysis of selected poems of Niyi
man. Hence, in frustration, man tries Osundare and explores their social
to control the natural environment by and aesthetic importance. It also
enforcing control and order through examines how eco-conflict is
physical activities aimed at constructed through a symbolic
domesticating it; the results have representation of the natural and built
sometime been catastrophic human environments in Osundare‟s
induced environmental disasters. “Memory‟s Road”: II.90-163 in
This paper through poetry examines Horses of Memory. This eco-
the literary interaction between dramatic poem provides a literary
imaginary characters like road, river, platform for the symbolic enactment
bridge, sky and earth among others; of the conflict between natural
and by so doing, explore how by environments symbolized by the

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 Covenant Journal of Language Studies (CJLS) Vol. 4, No. 1. June, 2016

River and built environment that is, beauty must have social
symbolized by the Road. relevance. He emphasizes the need to
Osundare‟s response to the balance aesthetic elegance with
immediate issues of communal life is social relevance. In the Yoruba
premised on his poetic vision and cosmology, the corporate survival
two impulses command his poetic and wellbeing of the people cannot
vision - social imperative and be separated from the wellbeing of
aesthetic imperative. He is land, its physical and spiritual
constrained to give artistic form to landscape, thus, Osundare uses the
his mode of social response. element of minatory in his poetry to
Aesthetically, the sublime in caution humanity against the dismal
Osundare‟s poetry is largely akin to state of the natural environment in
what Longinus refers to as “an “Humanity in Every Sense” II.434-
adjective, grand and lofty in thought 475 in Midlife; “Ours to Plough, Not
and in language.” “A poet of word to Plunder” II. 23-26 and “Our Earth
impression” (Fortress, 46) and a Will Not Die” II. 1-16 in The Eye of
performance poet, Osundare the Earth.
introduce the total poetry, a form He uses oral poetic artistry and social
akin to the Yoruba oral folk poetry. experience to promote the course of
He reads or chants his poems the natural environment and justify
accompanied by musical instruments his concern for it. He constructs
like the flute and heavy drums, “agba images of rural setting by adapting
drum”, “bata music”, “rain drum” in Yoruba oral poetry in “The dream,
the poems; “Forest Echoes”, “The the dream, is a moon”:
Rocks Rose to Meet Me”, osupa olomi rooro
“Harvestcall” and “Let Earth‟s Pain to ba di role a besu lori
be Soothed” in The Eye of the Earth her pestle is iroko
(Fortress, 45). In his Yoruba peasant her mortar a cratered depth
ancestry, poetry is acclaimed as the in Oroole‟s bosom. The yam,
people‟s property, and aesthetic whenpounded,
elegance has to be balanced with is the clay rump of Agidimo mountain
social relevance. Thus, his dream is Poroporoporoporo
to bring his poetry to his people and Osupa olomi rooro
to seek the meeting point of the To ba di role a besu lori
beautiful in art and the useful in Her soup is the sea
society. John Keats, a romantic poet, With a teeming tribe of simmering fishes
also known as a poet of beauty, Her spice is the loyal shrub
contends that “what the imagination which tickles the nose of lofty hills.
seizes as beauty must be truth” (Moonsongs, II. 8-19).
(Eruvbetine, 254). Osundare, in There was already in place a well-
agreement with this view distinctly established poetic tradition centered
combines the beautiful and the useful on the natural environment in

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Osundare‟s Nigerian agrarian Glotfeltry co-edited with Harold

environment long before any western Freeman, a collection of essays on
contact. nature related matters entitled: The
This paper provides a shift from a Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in
wholly human-focused conflict Literary Ecology (1990) and also co-
perspective to a natural environment- founded the Association for the
focused one. While we foreground Study of Literature and Environment
the natural environment and the built (ASLE) in 1992, with a house journal
environments, man, a part of nature called Interdisciplinary Studies in
and also the domesticator, is Literature and Environment (ISLE).
secondary in this discourse, and at The tenets of eco-criticism revolve
the background. The conflict that around the rereading of major literary
arises between the built works from an ecocentric
environments, symbolized by the perspective, with particular attention
„Road‟ on the one hand and the to the representation of the natural
natural environment symbolized by world and to give special canonical
the „River‟ on the other is the gap emphasis to writers who foreground
that this paper intends to fill. The nature as a major part of their subject
disinterested activities/conflicts matter. This includes writers like the
between the natural environment and American transcendentalists, and the
the built/domesticated environments British Romantics like Jonathan
are devises deployed by the poet to Bate, John Clare and Thomas Hardy.
allude to inter-human conflicts. They extend the range of literary-
2. Eco-Critical Theory critical practice by placing a new
The interaction between literature emphasis on relevant “factual”
and nature has been a viable area of topographical writings in their
research, but it has drawn little essays, travel writings and regional
critical attention. In order to put the literature. These writers emphasize
current study in its proper literary “ecocentric values of meticulous
perspective, we need to examine how observation, collective ethical
literary concepts gradually grew from responsibility, and the claims of the
nature conscious individuals into world beyond ourselves” (cited in
organized literary groups which have Fortress, 2013: 32-34). Jonathan
today come to be associated with Bate, the British Romantics makes a
eco-criticism studies. distinction between “light Green”
and “dark Green.” According to him
Eco-criticism refers to an emergent the former are environmentalists who
movement and denotes a critical value nature because it sustains
approach which began in USA in the humanity and contributes to our well-
late 1980s and in UK in the early being. This school believes man can
1990s respectively. Cheryll “save” the planet by more
Glotfeltry is considered to be the responsible forms of consummations
founder of this academic movement.

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 Covenant Journal of Language Studies (CJLS) Vol. 4, No. 1. June, 2016

and production, while “dark Green” human environment. These problems

or “deep ecologisits” take a more are desertification, deforestation,
radical stance. They opine that land degradation, air and water
technology is the problem and pollution, waste mismanagement,
therefore cannot be the solution and acid rain, massive erosion, global
so man has to “get back to nature”. warming, ecological genocide or eco-
The school “dark Green” dislikes the cide, which lead to the gradual
anthropocentric term “environment,” destruction of a large area of land
but prefer the term “nature.” Nature, including all of the plants, animals
according to this school, is there for living there and general threat to
its own sake, not for man‟s sake biodiversity.
(Barry, 1994: 257). The natural environment has its own
Eco-critical literary theory emerged way of reacting to built
from an ever-increasing enlightened environment‟s unwholesome
consciousness and concern about the interference with its harmonious
state of global environment. Post- existence. These reactions are
colonial studies have been involved commonly summed up as natural
in environmental issues, particularly disasters like flooding,
in terms of the relationship between desertification, draught and climatic
humans and their environment. change which are the consequences
Recently, anthropologists, of man‟s unmitigated activities on
geographers and environmental the natural environment.
managers, historians and literary 3. Poetizing Eco-Conflict: the Road
critics have shifted focus from these Crosses the River
broad areas to relationships between By alluding to inter-human conflict,
neo-colonial and eco-centered Niyi Osundare in his Horses of
interests. The scramble for Memory employs the dramatic
modernization has enticed narrative technique for eco-conflict
developing countries to the dialectics. Through literary devices
destruction of their own like personification, abstract and
environments, consequently making concrete imagery, symbols and
the destruction of the environment metaphor, Osundare constructs a
one of the most damaging aspects of poetic conflict that centres on two
western industrialization. Eco-critical main imaginary characters/personae:
theory celebrates the purity and the the Road and the River. The Road
sustenance of the natural and the River symbolize the
environment on the one hand, and built/domesticated environment and
addresses man-made natural disasters the natural environment respectively.
on the other. The latter is the concern When man interferes with the natural
in this paper because they are deeply environment or domesticates it by
problematic issues which conflict building roads and bridges for his
with the disinterested nature of the own comfort, he is advertently

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preparing the ground for eco-conflict of iron

between his own culture, symbolized before joining steel to steel
by the built environment and the in spiderworks of urgent flares
disinterested natural environment Meet me at the crossroads
like the landscape on which the river where strand crossing strand
flows. The yoking of the river and yields a barn of rapid looms (23).
the bridge may remain apparently In the first stanza, the Road employs
stable until the elements of nature the psychological weapon by inviting
break it down through activities like the River to observe its physical
erosion and corrosion. The elements ability to display labyrinth of feeder
of nature weaken and break down roads and lanes from its junction.
this unnatural union with resultant The Road boasts that the River, by its
dare consequences like flooding, nature, cannot break into tributaries
destruction of human culture and the from its confluence. In stanza two,
entire ecosystem. This retributive the Road also boasts of the stuff it is
justice of cause and effect is what is made of, which is incomparable to
encapsulated in eco-conflict. the River‟s fluid nature. He observes
Through the use of literary devices, the effort it takes the “raging” natural
the conflict between the road and the element “fire” to break the teeth of
river: two environmental elements iron in the attempt of melting iron
that symbolize built and natural into steel. The third stanza alludes to
elements of the environment the ingenuity of the creator and
respectfully are juxtaposed for eco- builder who builds the loom that
poetic discourse: converts strands of cotton into cloth
The Road crosses the River by the weaver‟s rapid motion in
The River crosses the Road (25). artistry that surpasses the rapid flow
The road built across a river in the of the rivers‟ early stage in creating
lines above symbolizes eco-conflict: waterfalls. Images of the “loom” and
built environment against the natural “rapid” as represented in this stanza
environment. The road and the river helps in conjuring a vivid picture of
crossing one another is the reason for early industrialization and the natural
the eco-conflict management, environment. The third stanza also
resolution and prevention in eco- makes allusion to the loom - an early
critical dialectics. In this poem in form of weaving industry, which is a
question, it is the road that calls the relatively healthy occupation and an
river to a duel or combat of words. environment friendly endeavor. The
The Road speaks first: road did not only invite the river to a
Meet me at the crossroads duel, it employs the use of
where the road wears trousers provocative and offensive
of uncountable legs statements:
Meet me at the crossroads bristling with lengthy rage,
where raging fire breaks the teeth the road said to the river:

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“see, you boneless serpent, landscape on which the River flows.
see what you have done This analysis is based on Plato‟s
to my supple frame” (25). postulation in his The Republic book
Provoked by this accusation, the III&X (Dorseh, 1982:10-11) on the
River replies in rapid retort: God‟s creation which is “absolute”
You saddle without a hill against man‟s creation which is the
You hoofmat for pissing brats imitation of the absolute. In the light
Never deem me the pain of Plato‟s position, the Road or built
In your broken joint environment, which is a creation of
I am the sea which predates the hill, human beings, is three removes from
The slender honey in the eye of the River or natural environment,
the gods (25). which is a creation of the absolute.
The language of the river is dictated Consequently, the River is naturally
by words imbedded in its nature and older than the Road and the latter
cosmology. It observes the being a creation of man is a symbol
unnaturalness of the road. To ride a of imitation of the river, an intruder
horse without a saddle is not a royal in the harmonious flow and balance
etiquette. The combined use of the of the eco-system.
words “hoof” and “mat” helps us to In order to resolve this conflict
appreciate the poverty of the Road, between the River and the Road, both
as it was a symbol of servitude: parties agree to call mediators to
“hoof” as vehicle for conveying the intervene in this war of words. They
horse and its master and “mat” for invited the Earth and the Sky, two
the floor, the feet and even “pissing elements that represent the natural
brats,” In contrast, the River not only environment on one hand and human
claims to “predate the hills”, it Sages to represent humanity and built
eschews the values and virtues of its environment on the other: “They call
constituent innate makeup, the Rivers the Earth, they call the Sky/They ask
kingship with the “sea”, its ancient each sage their season of birth” (26):
place of esteem before the creation of “To speak first is Earth,/ Her fingers
man as a deity of worship and an still quick with clay; She who is
object as sweet as “honey in the eyes earth, earth her memory.” As far as
of the gods.” the memory of the earth can go, the
The landscape bearing the “river” road and the river are part of her
was created before “vegetation,” being; thus, the earth‟s speech
followed by “moving creatures” and directed to the Road was paradoxical:
then Adam or “man” (Gen.1:27, You Road are older than the River
KJV) who domesticates the You Road are younger than the River
environment by building roads etc. In You are as old as the dust in the wind
the light of this, the “Road,” which is You were born after the River
human built is five removes from the You were born before the River (26).
“River” and six removes from the

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The Sky spoke next, his speech The Road and the River realized that
directed to the river. He dramatically the bridge is distinct in built from its
laces every statement with the parent-road. While the bed-spread of
experience of ancient wisdom, the Road is of pure earth – tar and
paradox and irony: clay, the length-frame of the bridge is
You River, you are older than the Road built of iron and concrete: its
You River, you are younger than the foundation of layers of pillars of steel
Road rests beneath the river bed:
You were born after the Road The Bridge, ah the bridge
You were born before the Road (26). The Road takes off his cloths
In the above lines, the earth and the Upon your iron bed (27).
sky do not want to offend either The conflict is thus resolved by
party. All efforts made by the mutual understanding of the
mediators to manage and diffuse the individual differences, in character
tension brewing between the two and natural composition and
contending parties meet further with cosmology; their distinct nature in
confusion and dissatisfaction; so, the scheme of things, especially as
“the Road and River rage on in a far as the built environment impacts
cloud of doubt”(27). They turned to the natural environment and vice
fauna: the eagle, the hawk and the vasa. Though the natural
vulture with the same question but no environment and built environment
satisfactory answers from these birds. impacts one another, there is need for
But because of their searching a mutual co-existence that will not
question and the desire for destroy the other because of gains to
reconciliation their experience in the detriment of the survival and
prevention of discord was sharpened: sustainability of living things in our
The more they ask, the older they grow eco-system. Reconciliation demands
They ask till their questions ripen into respect of opinion and culture
answers
difference; thus, “When the road
They ask till their answers re-form into
looks down upon the River/Once
questions (27).
upon a lofty platform,/Let it not
As the road and the river mature with forget the stream waiting
age and experience, they grew wiser noiselessly/behind the hills/Far, far
and together they consult a child of below the belt of the forest”(II.149-
the „Road‟: the „bridge‟ - built of 153) recognizing the natural
steel and concrete, an improvement environment as a subject preserver
in road construction across the river. and an object to be preserved for the
They ask common good. The natural
And the Bridge answers environment must not only
In strategems of steel appreciate the aesthetic qualities of
Tongues of steaming mortar
the built environment in arts and craft
Incantations of fire stone
but its added value stance in

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 Covenant Journal of Language Studies (CJLS) Vol. 4, No. 1. June, 2016

improving the quality of life that Since the natural environment is a

comes through positive advancement disinterested aspect of nature and
in science, technology and in man is a conscious and active part of
knowledge that is all embracing. The nature, the onus is on man to form a
natural environment should see the new standard of living and this
road/the bridge as a symbol of “the challenge of our time rest squarely on
god who looks back by looking the shoulders of three groups of
forward” (II.155-156). people: the scientist/technologists, to
4. Conclusion experiment and build through their
This paper is a comment on the ingenuity, preventive-eco-
interplay between the natural transformatives that could mop up
environment symbolized by the River pollutions and carbon emissions from
and the built environment the atmosphere at a rate faster than
symbolized by the Bridge. We the overall global emission, and to
deduced from our imaginary focus on a universal use of
characters and mediators like the alternative energy or what Ted
earth, the sky, the eagle, the hawk Turner referred to as “pure energy.”
and the vulture, whose memories are Secondly, the psychologists to look
limited by their nature that man‟s into the root cause of human
handling of his environment is tendency that promotes greed
determined and limited by his induced suicide in human nature; and
knowledge of nature and by his thirdly, philosophers and policy
worldview. He thus, takes for granted makers to provide mental and
the significance of the natural leadership enablement for corporate
environment to the wellbeing and global survival models that will help
survival of all living things. There build a new definition of value and
are also those who are conscious of beauty based on collaboration over
the danger inherent in environmental competition.
degradation, but whose will and In this eco-conflict dialectics, it is
conscience have been compromised imperative that human kind, the
by economic, political and social major active stakeholder must
considerations. Albeit, human culture proactively, turn again and like the
remains an integral part of nature and bridge (his creation) harness the
human society cannot be separated dynamics of human intelligence
from nature. While nature can do coupled with disinterested nature of
without human culture and structural the river: a synergy of “The bridge
beauty, man cannot do without nature who looks back by looking forward”
because man depends solely on the (II.155-156) and the river who looks
delicate balance of the eco-system forward in its flow and never looks
for his survival. back for the common good.

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About the Authors
Isaiah Fortress teaches Poetry in the Department of Languages and General Studies,
Covenant University. He obtained a PhD in English (Literature) in 2013. His research
interests include creative writing, verbo-visual poetry, comparative literature, eco-critical
studies, literary criticism and metaphorisation. His publications include: “A Spacio-Temporal
Investigation of the Natural Environment, Eco-Poetry and Painting. African Journal of
Humanities. 2015., “Yoruba Eco-Proverb in English: An Eco-Critical Study of Niyi
Osundare‟s Midlife and Horses of Memory.” Journal of Literary Society of Nigeria (JLSN),
2014.,
Email: [email protected].
Tel: +2348033759546.
Segun Omidiora obtained B.A. English from Obafemi Awolowo University and M.A.
English (Literature) Covenant University. He is currently on the doctoral programme in
English (Literature) at Covenant University. His research interests include African Folklore,
African-American Literature, New Nigerian Writings, Popular Culture, Bible and Literature,
Christian Narrative Literature and Eschatological Literature.
E. Mail: [email protected]; [email protected].
Tel: +2348035868951
Oluwole A. Alagbe is a senior lecturer in the Department of architecture, Covenant
University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. He is an experienced researcher and scholar with
interest in housing and building materials study, sustainable development and architectural
education.
Email: [email protected].
Tel: +234-8054577730

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