The Virgin (novel)

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The Virgin
Author Bayo Adebowale
LanguageEnglish
SeriesEgret Romance & Thrillers
Genre Literary fiction
PublisherBounty Press and Paperback Publishers, Ibadan
Publication date
1985
Publication place Nigeria
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages116 pp
ISBN 978-33029-1-4
OCLC 633633330

The Virgin is the 1985 debut novel by Nigerian writer Bayo Adebowale. [1] [2] The novel, published in 1985, narrated the dilemma of a young village girl who after being deflowered must choose between three suitors, and agonizes about her secret being discovered on her wedding night. [3] [4] Scholar Wendy Griswold classifies The Virgin as a "village novel", a book that deals with the mores of a traditional Nigerian village, in the same vein as some works by Chinua Achebe. [1]

Contents

Plot

A girl from a Yoruba village is engaged to a hunter from another village. Having been seduced by a man returning to the village from his life in a Nigerian city, she nervously awaits her wedding night.

Background

Adebowale is considered a member of the "third generation" of Nigerian authors, whose works generally deal with more cosmopolitan themes than earlier generations of Nigerian writers. [5] However, unlike other members of the "third generation", Adebowale's work deals with rural life in Nigeria, particularly life in small villages. [1] The Virgin is an example of one such work; Adebowale believes that Nigerian writers and artists have a duty to examine and reflect on traditional Nigerian life. [1]

Film adaptation

Tunde Kelani wrote the screenplay and directed a 95-minute film version, titled The Narrow Path , filmed and released on 12 May 2006. The film starred Sola Asedeko, Ayo Badmus and Khabirat Kafidipe while the sound track was written and produced by Beautiful Nubia. [6] The film was edited by Mumin Wale Kelani and Frank Efe Patrick and the costume was designed by Abiola Atanda [7] Much of the dialogue and narration is taken directly from the novel. The film is considered faithful to the book in spite of the latter's non-traditional narrative. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Griswold, Wendy (19 June 2000). Bearing Witness: Readers, Writers, and the Novel in Nigeria. ISBN   0691058296 . Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. "Pragmatic Features of Nigerian English : A Case Study of Selected Poems of Bayo Adebowale" (PDF). Unilorin.edu.ng. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  3. "When pages flip to inhabit screens - Weekly Trust". Dailytrust.com.ng. 28 June 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  4. Ehling, Holger G.; Mutius, Claus-Peter Holste-von (2001). No Condition Is Permanent: Nigerian Writing and the Struggle for Democracy - Holger Ehling, Claus-Peter Holste-von Mutius - Google Books. ISBN   9042014865 . Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  5. Dalley, Hamish (Winter 2013). "The Idea of "Third Generation Nigerian Literature": Conceptualizing Historical Change and Territorial Affiliation in the Contemporary Nigerian Novel". Research in African Literatures. 44 (4): 15–34. doi:10.2979/reseafrilite.44.4.15. hdl: 1885/75434 . S2CID   143625804.
  6. "Chemistry graduate behind winning sound tracks". Punchng.com. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  7. "The Narrow Path (2006)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  8. Kerr, David; Banham, Martin; Gibbs, James; Plastow, Jane; Osofisan, Femi (2011). Media and Performance - Google Books. ISBN   9781847010384 . Retrieved 4 April 2015.