Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango occupies a significant place in the Nigerian literary canon, and continues to attract critical attention for the richness of its language and thematic concerns.

Existing criticism of Sango tends to focus on its broader thematic concerns, with use of colour as a stylistic device in service of spirituality and ritual receiving comparatively less sustained attention.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its use of colour 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 use of colour in Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango.
2. To analyze how use of colour contributes to the portrayal of spirituality and ritual.
3. To assess the effectiveness of use of colour 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 use of colour used in Bruce Onobrakpeya's Sango?
2. In what ways does use of colour contribute to the portrayal of spirituality and ritual?
3. How effective is use of colour 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 use of colour within Sango, reflecting a clearly defined scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.