ABSTRACT
The use of African languages in creative writing and performance remains a subject of significant scholarly debate, positioned at the intersection of cultural preservation, linguistic identity, and artistic expression. This study examined the use of African languages in creative writing and performance, using the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos as the case study. The research was guided by three objectives: to analyze the impact of African languages on the thematic and stylistic elements of creative writing and performance; to examine the role of African languages in preserving and promoting indigenous cultural identities through literature and performance arts; and to assess the challenges and opportunities associated with using African languages in creative writing and performance in contemporary literary and artistic spaces. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and was anchored on four theoretical frameworks: the Language Decolonization Theory, the Functionalist Theory of Language and Communication, the Audience Accessibility and Marketability Theory, and the Cultural Identity and Performance Theory. The population of the study comprised 250 registered members of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos branch. Using the Taro Yamane formula with a 5% margin of error, a sample size of 154 respondents was determined, from which 140 valid responses were retrieved, representing a response rate of 90.9%. Stratified random sampling was employed to select respondents from different categories of writers, poets, playwrights, spoken word artists, theater practitioners, and literary scholars. The primary data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire, which was supplemented by semi-structured interviews with key informants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, while the research hypothesis was tested using the chi-square test at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that a significant majority of respondents acknowledged that African languages enhance cultural authenticity in creative writing, allow for the incorporation of indigenous proverbs and idioms, and create stronger emotional connections with audiences in performance. The study also found that African languages play a crucial role in preserving indigenous cultural heritage, passing oral traditions to future generations, promoting cultural awareness among youth, and expressing cultural nuances in literature and performance arts. Major challenges identified included limited publishing opportunities, restricted readership, inadequate government support, and financial constraints, while digital platforms and multilingual performances were recognized as significant opportunities for promoting African-language creative content. The chi-square test of the hypothesis revealed that the use of African languages in creative writing and performance has a statistically significant impact on cultural preservation, audience engagement, and artistic expression, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concluded that African languages are indispensable for authentic and culturally relevant creative expressions and that despite existing challenges, emerging opportunities, particularly through digital technologies, present viable pathways for the growth and sustainability of African-language creative industries. The study recommended that literary organizations should establish dedicated programs to promote writing and performance in African languages, governments should develop and implement policies that support publishing in indigenous languages, educational institutions should incorporate African languages into their curricula, and writers and performers should leverage digital platforms to distribute their works and reach wider audiences. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence from the Nigerian literary context and validating the applicability of multiple theoretical frameworks in understanding language choices in African creative industries.
