Dialogism in Damilare Kuku’s Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad and Ugochukwu Ugonna’s Who Drove Nearly all Lagos Men Mad?

Abstract

The interaction of voices in textual interpretations extends beyond a single text and can be explored across multiple literary works. Within this context, this study examines dialogism in Damilare Kuku's Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad and Ugochukwu Ugonna's Who Drove Nearly all Lagos Men Mad? While previous research has explored dialogism, this study critiques these novels not as isolated voices but as texts whose narratives intersect to construct meaning. Grounded in Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of internally persuasive discourse and dialogism, this study reveals that, although Kuku’s text is a collection of short stories, a unifying theme connects them: the experiences of women in Lagos navigating love and relationships with often inconsiderate or manipulative men. Conversely, Ugonna’s collection of short stories does not center on the supposed madness of Lagos men but rather seeks to understand its origins, offering justification for their behavior. The study concludes that Ugonna’s work is not a counter-narrative to Kuku’s but an attempt to rationalize the portrayal of Lagos men in Kuku’s collection. As a result, rather than existing in opposition, the two texts complement each other, contributing to a broader dialogue on gender dynamics and relationships in Lagos.

Keywords: Bakhtin, dialogism, Lagos men, women experiences, narratives.