ABSTRACT
This paper explores the concept of independence as depicted in selected post-colonial Nigerian
novels, focusing on the ironic portrayals of independence and their actual reality in Nigerian
society. Closely examining Chinua Achebe's A Man of the People and Ken Saro-Wiwa's Sozaboy,
the study revealed how independence was portrayed within the setting after the nation gained
independence from colonial rule, offering new insights into the challenges and realities of
independence in post-colonial nation.
The research was confined to Achebe's A Man of the People and Saro-Wiwa's Sozaboy,
exploring the portrayal of independence in Nigerian postcolonial literature. Employing a
qualitative approach, the study involved textual analysis supplemented by secondary sources.
These novels were selected for their relevance to the research topic and their unique perspectives
on independence in post-colonial Nigeria.
Drawing on post-colonial theory, this paper analysed the ironic representations of
independence by critically examining the irony of neocolonial dependence, democratic and
military disillusionment, and the pervasive influence of corruption.
