Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Scholarly interest in Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango has remained strong, reflecting its continued relevance to discussions of Nigerian and African literary identity.

Despite the volume of criticism devoted to Sango, its use of relief carving technique in relation to spirituality and ritual has not been exhaustively examined, leaving room for closer textual analysis.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its relief carving technique functions specifically in relation to spirituality and ritual. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of relief carving technique in Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango.
2. To analyze how relief carving technique contributes to the portrayal of spirituality and ritual.
3. To assess the effectiveness of relief carving technique as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text.
4. To situate the findings within the broader context of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How is relief carving technique used in Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango?
2. In what ways does relief carving technique contribute to the portrayal of spirituality and ritual?
3. How effective is relief carving technique as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text?
4. How does this reading relate to the broader body of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to students and teachers of fine and applied arts, offering a close reading of Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango that can support classroom discussion and further critical work. It also contributes to the broader body of scholarship on Nigerian literary and linguistic studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to a close textual analysis of relief carving technique within Sango, reflecting a clearly defined scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.