RUMOUR AND PROPAGANDA AS INSTRUMENTS OF WARFARE IN CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE HALF OF A YELLOW SUN AND ISIDORE OKPEWHO’S THE LAST DUTY

Abstract

World history is replete with war of different kinds. These wars play important roles in defining or shaping future socio-political realities. The wars are so significant that they occupy an important portion of literary production known as War Literature. Many scholars believe that War Literature has shaped the consciousness of historical evolution and political realities across the world. However, War Literature is full of rumour and propaganda. This study argues that Rumour and propaganda helps to determine the nature, dimension, and effects of war on the people. The war of interest in the study is the Nigerian Biafran War that lasted from 1967 to 1970. Using two Nigerian novel, Chimanda Ngozi Adichie‟s Half of a Yellow Sun and Isidore Okpewho‟s The Last Duty the study demonstrates that rumour and propaganda play significant roles such as elongating the period of the war, creating hate and tension among Nigerians and still plays some roles in today‟s Nigerian politics. It is also discovered that some literary writers that concern themselves with war in their works actually use such works to advance rumour and propaganda. It is hope that going forward, people will be able to recognize rumour and propaganda and disregard them especially in this era of new media.