Introduction to "Ambush" by Gbemisola Adeoti - SS2 Literature Lesson Note

Introduction to "Ambush" by Gbemisola Adeoti

"Ambush" is a powerful poem by Nigerian poet Gbemisola Adeoti. The poem is a scathing critique of the corrupt and oppressive political system in Nigeria. Adeoti uses vivid imagery and symbolism to depict the way in which the Nigerian government preys on its citizens and crushes their dreams.

Background and setting of the poet/poem

Gbemisola Adeoti is a Nigerian poet, playwright, and academic. He was born in 1957 in Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria. Adeoti is a professor of English at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including "The Deluge" (1989), "Songs of Enchantment" (1997), and "The Burden of Memory" (2005).

"Ambush" was first published in Adeoti's collection "The Burden of Memory" in 2005. The poem is set in Nigeria, but its themes of corruption, oppression, and resilience are relevant to people all over the world.

Background of the poem-subject-matter/summary

 

The poem "Ambush" is a scathing indictment of the Nigerian government and its failure to deliver for its people. The poem begins with a powerful image of the land as a "giant whale" that swallows the hopes and dreams of the people. Adeoti goes on to describe the hardships that Nigerians face on a daily basis, such as poverty, unemployment, and violence.

Despite the bleakness of the poem, Adeoti also offers a glimmer of hope. He suggests that the people can overcome the challenges they face through unity and collective action. The poem ends with a call for revolution, as Adeoti declares that "the land is waiting in ambush" for those who seek to change it.