EUREKA - Unilag, A Journal of Humanistic Studies

E-U Eureka-Unilag

2026-04-27T12:27:27+00:00

Eureka-Unilag is a refereed Journal published annually by the Department of European Languages and Integration Studies of the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Manuscripts for publication, exchange Journals and books for review should be sent to the Editor ailupeju@unilag.edu.ng or http://eureka.unilag.edu.ng. Manuscripts for articles (but not rewiews) should be submitted in two copies clearly typed on A4 paper on one side only, double spaced, font 12, Times New Roman and not more than 20 pages, with each page not containing more than 25 lines of texts. The manuscripts style is that prescribed by MLA/APA. The publiccation of contributions after favourable assessments and corrections does not imply the Editor’s responsibility for the statement of facts or opinions, or for the errors or omissions made in the original contribution or the version revised by the author. No manuscript will be returned unless appropriate postage is provided by the contributor.

THE ABSURDITY OF VIOLENCE IN ALBERT CAMUS' LES JUSTES AS A LENS FOR DECIPHERING BOKO HARAM'S IDEOLOGICAL PARADOXES

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Abstract

This paper critically investigates the inherent contradictions within the Boko Haram ideologies and practices. It utilised the philosophical framework of Albert Camus's dramatisation of revolutionary violence and moral conflicts experienced by Russian terrorists in the early 20^th century. The study focuses on tyrannicide, and it provides a broad and profound framework for examining the justification, limits and consequences of violence in the pursuit of justice. The article highlighted the inconsistencies between declared beliefs and real actions within extremist movements by contrasting the existential and moral quandaries that Camus' characters face with Boko Haram's radical interpretation of jihad and its violent campaign against Western education and democratic values. The study employs Russian Formalism and Maqasid al-Shariah (the higher objectives of Islamic law) concept to show how terrorist acts, particularly Boko Haram's acts, essentially violate the Islamic teachings and the values of justice they profess to support. The findings of this study reaffirmed the ridiculousness of using violence to achieve justice. The paper argues that just like in Les Justes, the reasoning behind violence destroys itself in its contradictions. The findings of this paper further demonstrate that the logic behind terroristic violence does not result in freedom or righteousness.

TRAVERSING CULTURES THROUGH PROVERBS TRANSLATIONS: RUSSIAN-YORUBA-ENGLISH IN CONTEXT

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Proverbs as a linguistic structure play significant roles in communicating deeper knowledge of speech among a people and one of the concepts that defines such a people as a distinctive and peculiar cultural entity. It is a rare knowledge that it also replicates a valuable source that influences and enhances cultural interactions between societies of cultural diversity, and closes the gaps of cultural bias, misrepresentation and apathy between societies of different origins. In this paper, the author examines proverbs as a medium for cross-cultural communications and an instrument for cultural awareness between societies of different origins. The study employs a Cross-cultural communication theory and to analyse Russian, Yoruba and English proverbs. Translation serves as a means of facilitating the subject of study as regards the understanding of the cultural awareness between the cultural audience. This paper might have some contents that are etymological in nature, but it is primarily not purposed to examine the etymology of proverbs and neither to discuss methods of translation, but to examine proverbs as the embodiment and custodian of cultures, and translation as a means of navigating across them. The Data for this study elicted from interviews with custodians and legends of Yoruba culture, personal and books on proverbs in the three languages.

BRIDGING CULTURES AND BUILDING CAPACITY: A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING RUSSIAN LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN NIGERIAN SCHOOLS

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Abstract

In an era of global realignment and multilingual cooperation, the integration of the Russian language into Nigeria’s education system presents profound academic, diplomatic, and developmental opportunities. While languages such as French, Spanish, Chinese, and Portuguese have long been institutionalised within Nigerian curricula, Russian remains largely absent, despite decades of bilateral ties and educational collaboration. This paper proposes a strategic framework for embedding Russian language instruction within Nigerian primary and secondary education. Using qualitative content analysis, it outlines a phased implementation plan involving pilot programs, teacher training, digital platforms, and cultural outreach. The study defines culture as “the sum of shared beliefs, values, behaviours, and symbols that shape how people interpret and interact with the world around them.” Integrating this concept, the research explores how language learning fosters intercultural competence and mutual understanding. Key findings reveal that Russian language education can enhance cognitive development, promote access to higher education in Russia, strengthen international diplomacy, and expand Nigeria’s professional and scientific landscape. The paper concludes by recommending the establishment of Russian–Nigerian bilingual academies and regional language centres to institutionalise Russian language education and position Nigerian students for global competitiveness in a multipolar world.

Yusuf Opeyemi FADAIRO

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Long-distance dependencies in linguistics often pose challenges to sentence structure and comprehension. One strategy languages employ to address these challenges is the use of resumptive pronouns (RPs) (following Duan Zhangtao 2021, Ma Zhigang 2019, Xiong Zhongru 2017, among others). This study investigates RPs in two typologically distinct languages—Chinese and Yoruba—to uncover their mechanisms for resolving long-distance dependency issues. We examine the syntactic, semantic, and functional roles of RPs in these languages, with a focus on their presence in relative clauses (RCs), left-dislocation (LD) structures, and other complex sentence constructions. Our analysis highlights how RPs "repair" illicit long-distance dependencies. Through a comparative approach, we identify both shared patterns and language-specific variations in RP usage, illustrating how these languages navigate complexities like cross-referencing and co-reference. The study contributes to a broader understanding of linguistic strategies for handling syntactic challenges and offers a cross-linguistic perspective on the multifunctional role of RPs in facilitating effective communication.

ПРАГМАТИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ КОНЦЕПТА «ДЕНЬГИ» В РУССКИХ ПАРЕМИЯХ И ПАРЕМИЯХ НАРОДА ЙОРУБА :ОТРАЖЕНИЕ В ЯЗЫКОВЫХ МИРАХ РУССКИХ И НАРОДА ЙОРУБА

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Examining Russian proverbs, one can say that this is a single term used to refer to proverbs and sayings. A proverb is a powerful tool for transmitting information, ideas of folk wisdom, indigenous knowledge, mentality and traditions from generation to generation. Proverbs and sayings are part of the folklore of Russians and the Yoruba people and reflect their special view of the world. This article examines the pragmatic analysis of the concept of money, reflected in Russian Yoruba proverbs and sayings, in order to identify the meanings and significance of money in the Russian and Yoruba societies. The article uses the theory of speech to reveal the differences, similarities and features of Russian and Yoruba linguistic culture through the prism of proverbs and sayings. An analysis Forty (40) Russian and Yoruba proverbs and sayings about money were carried out and compared in order to show the linguistic picture of the world and the worldview of Russians and Yoruba about money.

LANGUAGE AS A CARRIER OF CULTURE: PRESERVING NIGERIAN INDIGENOUS HERITAGE THROUGH LINGUISTIC IDENTITY

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Language and culture share a profound and inseparable connection, as explored in this article. Beyond functioning as a mere tool for communication, language serves as a vital carrier of indigenous knowledge systems, ethical frameworks, and worldviews. As the loss of indigenous languages accelerates worldwide, there is increasing concern about the erosion of cultural identity and the power dynamics that give pre-eminence to dominant languages. This article adopts an interdisciplinary approach to investigate how languages preserve cultural content, the consequences of their disappearance, and practical measures (educational, technological, and policy-driven) to revive endangered tongues. Focusing on Nigeria’s linguistic marginalization alongside global case studies, it reveals how languages act as repositories of heritage, embodying centuries of collective memory and sociocultural wisdom. Preserving them is essential not only for maintaining diversity but also for ensuring future generations access the rich cultural tapestry encoded within these linguistic systems. The article underscores proactive revitalization efforts as key to safeguarding humanity’s shared legacy.

A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PECULIAR CONCEPT OF COMMUNAL-CARING-AND- INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN LAGOS IN YORÙBÁ WRITTEN POETRY

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One of the privileges that Lagos, either as a metropolitan city or State, has that others in Nigeria do not have is socio-economic opportunity as the commercial hub of the Nigerian economy with its proximity to the Sea and the Ocean. However, the Yoruba communal values system, which encompasses greetings and an attitude of caring that are integral to interpersonal relationships and deeply entrenched in Yoruba cultural heritage, is fractured by many peculiar challenges. The focus of this is a critical examination of city life in Lagos, specifically the interpersonal relationships of Lagosians.¹ The paper addresses the perennial problem, such as the essence of having cordial interpersonal relationships, for individual and societal development. The poem of Olúgbóyèga Àlàbá, titled: “Ìlú Ọ̀dájú,” (a town of the hard-hearted people), serves as our data. The twenty-two-line poem with four stanzas is subjected to a critical literary analysis, using the Culturalist theory. Findings show that the intra/iter-personal relationship that could still be found in the hinterland, “ìlú-òkè”, is elusive to many residents in Lagos. But more importantly, virtually everyone is living or relating with others with mutual suspicion; perhaps with unpalatable personal experience or misinformation about Lagos as a violent place. Hence, the city is referred to as a town of wisdom, “ìlú ọgbọ́n,” where everybody is expected to be too conscious of his or her environment and the trending phenomenon to fend, protect, and “fight” for survival of the fittest or his or her “rights.”

A SEMANTIC FRAME ANALYSIS OF CHINESE CHARACTER: RELEVANCE AND LIMITATIONS

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Chinese characters are one of the earliest forms of writing known to man. They represent one of the four independent inventions of writing in human history to be universally accepted by scholars (Jianyu Li 2012). Chinese characters are carriers of Chinese history, culture and visualisation of Chinese perception. The Chinese language, from the discovery of oracle bone inscription to the contemporary form, has gone through several stages of development that emanates features generally studied by scholars. Using the frame semantic framework, this work looks at the principles of character formation in the Chinese language. The phono-semantic principle is one of the most prominent features of the characters. In the collation of 7,697 characters in 100 CE, 82.3% of the characters are phono-semantic characters--Xu Shen’s <Shuo Wen Jiezi >, which account for character pronunciation and/or relevant semantics for the character formed, while also on several occasions give pointers to the historical etymology of the characters. This research analyses the semantic and phonetic frames present in phono-semantic characters, their relevance, and limitations.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ПРОГРАММЫ КУЛЬТУРНОГО ОБМЕНА НА КУЛЬТУРУ И ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ МЕЖДУ НИГЕРИЕЙ И РОССИЕЙ

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Программы культурного обмена на культуру и образование между Нигерией и Россией является одним из самых важных аспектов деятельности в сфере отношений в 21-м веке. Хотя Россия, страна которая находится в Европе, а Нигерия находится в Африке, но есть несколько сходств между ними. На примере, они обе больше чем другие страны в регионе где находятся. Кроме того, и Россия и Нигерия многоязычные страны. То есть, в них, существуют много этнических групп, которые говорят по разным языкам. Данная статья проводится с целью изучения программы культурного обмена на культуру и образование между Нигерией и Россией. В статье употребляется историческая методика и теория культурной дипломатии анализировать программы обмена культуры и образования в России и в Нигерии. Данные были собраны из первичных и вторичных источников. Исследование показало различные уровни культурного обмена между Россией и Нигерией. В статье выявил важность использования культурного обмена как средство прославления разнообразия, развития эмпатии и создания более инклюзивного мира, в котором люди из всех слоев общества могут собираться вместе, чтобы учиться, расти и процветать.

ÓSÓSỌ̀ PERSONAL NAMES: STRUCTURE AND MEANING

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Our African forebearers treated names not just as a nomenclature but as statements deeply embedded into our cultural expressions of identity, belief, and social philosophy. However, globalisation, socio-cultural pressures, and migration to parts far from home are reducing the practice of naming of children with indigenous names among many Ósósọ̀ indigenes. This shift is assumed to be influenced by factors such as religion, modern trends, or a lack of knowledge of the structure and semantics of Ósósọ̀ names. This study addresses the second gap by examining the ethnolinguistic structure of personal names and naming practices among the Ósósọ̀ people of Edo State, Nigeria, with particular emphasis on their phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic properties. Grounded in Cognitive theory and Speech Act theory, the research explores how language reflects and shapes worldview through the act of naming. Using a qualitative ethnographic methodology, data were collected through interviews with 8 fathers and 8 mothers who have given names to children and grandchildren, and additional data were sourced from online and archival records. The study focuses on the sociocultural factors influencing name selection and analyzed 56 names across seven syntactic categories and seven semantic themes. The findings reveal that Ósósọ̀ names are grammatically complete, semantically rich, and culturally resonant. They are encoded with ethical values, spiritual beliefs, and communal memory. The study recommends that Ósósọ̀ indigenes establish forums and educational initiatives focused on anthroponymy, ensuring that naming remains a conscious, culturally grounded practice since revitalizing indigenous naming traditions is essential to sustaining linguistic heritage and reinforcing communal identity in this rapidly changing world.

L’IMPACT DE LA TOLERANCE RELIGIEUSE DANS LE DEVELOPPEMENT DU TOURISME A DUBAI : UNE ANALYSE INSPIREE DE MONTESQUIEU

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De nos jours, la ville de Dubaï devient un phénomène global dans l’industrie touristique. Cette étude explore le rôle de la tolérance religieuse sur le développement du tourisme à Dubaï, en s’inspirant sur deux personnages des Lettres persanes de Montesquieu Usbek et Rica deux voyageurs qui servent de cadre d’analyse pour les politiques multiculturelles et religieuses de Dubaï. A l’égard de l’admiration de Rica pour le pluralisme, l’engagement de Dubaï en faveur de la tolérance religieuse a fait d’elle une cité attrayante aux voyageurs du monde entier. Les politiques interconfessionnelles, de la liberté du culte et du développement des institutions religieuses, ont considérablement contribue à la prépondérance de Dubaï. A l’inverse, le conflit intérieur d’Usbek entre traditions et modernités reflète les problèmes auxquels sont confrontés les sociétés qui résistent au pluralisme. Cette étude adopte la méthode qualitative de recherche avec une approche d’analyse textuelle basée sur un examen critique des Lettres persanes de Montesquieu tout en utilisant Usbek et Rica comme représentations symboliques de différentes attitudes sociétales envers la tolérance religieuse. Par ailleurs, cette recherche s’appuie sur la perspective fonctionnaliste de Talcott Parsons qui considère la tolérance religieuse comme une institution essentielle à l’intégration sociale, a la stabilité et au développement économique. Du point de vue fonctionnaliste, la tolérance religieuse de Dubaï est un mécanisme de maintien de l’équilibre social, réduisant les conflits et renforçant ainsi les valeurs d’acceptation et de coopération qui contribuent au développement du secteur touristique. Cette étude établit un lien entre l’analyse littéraire et la théorie sociologique, démontrant comment les Lettres persanes de Montesquieu peut servir de cadre pour analyser les politiques modernes de tolérance religieuse et leurs effets socio-économiques.

RÉFLEXIONS SUR L’AUTOFICTION ET LA NOUVELLE AUTOBIOGRAPHIE À TRAVERS LE PRISME DE L’ANALYSE GÉNÉRIQUE

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L’autofiction et la nouvelle autobiographie sont des formes de l’écriture de soi qui jouent sur les frontières de la fiction et de la vérité. Par conséquent, leur appartenance générique est un débat persistant dans le domaine des études des genres. Cependant, la connaissance du genre d’un texte littéraire est une condition pour une critique efficace. Cette étude interroge la nature et les enjeux des formes nouvelles d’autoreprésentation à travers le prisme de l’analyse générique. Elle s’appuie sur une approche textuelle et comparative d’Inceste (1999) de Christine Angot, Le Miroir qui revient (1984) d’Alain Robbe- Grillet, et Fils (1977) de Serge Doubrovsky. Par conséquent, il s’agit d’analyser les structures internes des textes pour éclairer les dynamiques d’instabilité générique. Suivant notre analyse, nous avons découvert que l’autofiction et la nouvelle autobiographie ne peuvent être rigoureusement intégrées aux catégories traditionnelles ni classifiées comme de nouveaux genres. L’étude a également découvert que la nouvelle autobiographie est un renouvellement du genre autobiographique qui instaure un nouveau rapport au référent, remettant en cause le pacte de vérité sans pour autant renoncer entièrement à l'inscription dans le réel. De plus, l’étude a prouvé que l’autofiction, qui est rattachée au genre fictionnel constitue une tendance contemporaine de l’écriture romanesque. Par cette réflexion, l’étude contribue à enrichir les débats critiques sur les nouvelles formes de représentation du sujet dans la littérature moderne.