Migration and Literature: A Comparative Study of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ben Okri in Digital Humanities
Keywords:
Miigration, Nigerian Diaspora, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ben Okri, Digital Humanities, Comparative literature, Data visualisationAbstract
This study examines the impact of migration on the publishing timelines, thematic focus, awards, and translations of Nigerian diaspora writers Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ben Okri. Employing a mixed-method approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative analyses, the research explores how migration influences their literary journeys and expands the global reach of Nigerian literature. Utilizing digital humanities tools such as KnightLab’s TimelineJS, Flourish, and Google Sheets, the study visualizes data from reputable sources like Amazon and Goodreads to analyze each author’s international achievements. Findings indicate that migration significantly shapes Adichie’s and Okri’s thematic explorations, addressing complex issues of identity, race, and cultural belonging. This research demonstrates how digital visualization offers insights into the intersection of migration and literary success, illustrating how these authors navigate and portray diasporic identities. Ultimately, the study contributes to African literary studies by highlighting the role of migration in enhancing the global influence and thematic depth of Nigerian literature.
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DIGITAL TOOLS USED FOR DATA VISUALIZATION
1. Northwestern University Knight Lab- https://knightlab.northwestern.edu/
2. Daria Tunca’s Digital Corpus - Center for Teaching and Research in Post-colonial Studies (CEREP) University of Liège- http://www.cerep.ulg.ac.be/bibliographies/
John Henry’s Nig-ewriters Coprus https://nig-ewriters.rarebook-ubfc.fr/writers-journey/
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