DIGITAL HUMANITIES

NEW DIRECTIONS IN NIGERIAN LITERARY SCHOLARSHIP

Abstract

The central topic of this paper is the transformative role that Digital Humanities can play in Nigerian literary studies by bringing together “close reading” analysis with modern digital analysis practices. The paper considers how postcolonial writers within Nigeria have fused indigenous cultural traditions with European literary structures (particularly narratives) in order to form complex and nuanced ethnic identities. Through a few methods, including text mining, sentiment analysis, network mapping, and stylometric methods, the paper finds patterns of hybridity in the literary works of Nigeria. Textual analysis reveals how some classic texts, such as Things Fall Apart, employ Igbo proverbs and cultural expressions. This dialogue reflects the space in which indigenous and colonial discourses interweave. Recent texts, such as The Thing Around Your Neck and Zikora, reflect shifting national and international issues such as migration, gender issues, and digital-age influence. These non-linear texts offer a new way of examining the dynamics and transitions occurring on a global scale. Using digital tools, this paper allows literary scholars to probe these works closely and offers them empirical evidence, showing the sinuous and contested nature of postcolonial identities. The ability to bring digital and traditional literary analysis under one umbrella provides a new perspective on what happens when different forms of literary expression mix. In this regard, the study explores the emerging relationship between digital technologies and literary studies in Nigeria. Future work should also investigate multimodal analyses of literary texts, the digitisation of oral literature, and social media's role in shaping contemporary narratives.