Brief Overview of the WASSCE 2026-2030 Literature-In-English Texts

 Introduction 

This post aims at a brief overview of 2026 - 2030 WAEC, NECO, UTME Recommended Literature in English Texts; by reveal quite briefly the genres, types, contexts and themes, etc. 

It must be noted that a click can take you to the Comprehensive 15000 Words of Analyzed 2026 - 2030 Literature in English available online. 

This post will be useful to teachers, parents, students or online people searching for 2026 - 2030 literature in english syllabus, Waec 2026 - 2030 literature in english syllabus, 2026 new scheme of work – literature-in-english sss classes, WASSCE Literature syllabus pdf, Recommended Literature text for SS1 PDF free, etc. 

The Brief Overview

Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare is recommended in the 2026 - 2030 O-level Literature-In-English syllabus to be part of the excerpt literary appreciation within the objective questions (Paper 1). 

"Antony and Cleopatra" is a tragic drama about the relationship between Mark Antony (a Roman general) and Cleopatra (the Queen of Egypt) against a backdrop of politics and power struggles with the theme of detrayal, clash of culture, etc.

So the Path Does Not Die by Pede Hollist is a fictive prose to be categorized under bildunroman because it narrated the growth of a certain main character named Finaba Marah while pointing at some vital subjects such as cultural clash, gender relevance, female circumcision, etc. 

Redemption Road by Elma Shaw is under the Africa Prose section of the syllabus. The prose is about the recovery process gone through by Liberians to escape the post war traumatic experience they found themselves. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores issues of racial injustice, tolerance, and the loss of innocence in a small Alabama town during the 1930s. The story is told through the eyes of Scout Finch, whose father, Atticus, defended a wrongly accused Black man in a deeply prejudiced community.

[READ ALSO 50 Vital Points About To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee]

Pact of Lucas: the Journey he Endured by Susanne Bellefeuille is a non-fictive biographical narration of a family trauma, trials and tribulations. 

Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua is placed under the African Drama section of the syllabus. It is a tragic drama about greed and hunger for power. 

[ READ: Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua ]

The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland is a play by Efua Sutherland that draws on Ghanaian folklore and the trickster character Ananse.The play exposed the themes of love, tradition, and social commentary within a Ghanaian cultural context.

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley is a play that critiques social responsibility and class distinctions in a post-World War II British setting. The story revolves around the Birling family, whose secrets are revealed by a mysterious inspector, leading to a deeper exploration of morality and accountability.

A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt is a play about Sir Thomas More, who opposes King Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church. The play explores themes of integrity, loyalty, and the conflict between personal conscience and political power.

Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara is a poem sectioned under the African poetry in the WAEC syllabus. It used the instrument of juxtaposition to reflect on the complexities of identity, nostalgia, and the beauty of innocence or naivety. 

The poem's themes are authenticity and the search for one's true self amidst cultural shifts.

New Tongue by Elizabeth L.A. Kamara is about the abandonment of the true African culture and ways of life for modern western civilization.

[ READ: Analysis of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara ] 

Night by Wole Soyinka is one of the recommended 2026 WASSCE Literature-in-English syllabus. It's under the genre of poetry which could be categorized under nature and ode. 

"Night" could be referred to as a poetic work of art reflecting on the superiority of night time over human existence and its fearful effects on the poem's speaker.

Not My Business by Niyi Osundare is a poem that critiques societal indifference to injustice and oppression.The poem emphasizes the importance of taking a stand against injustices affecting others.

[READ: Analysis of Not My Business by Niyi Osundare ].

Hearty Garlands by Soh Afriye-Vidza is a poem that celebrates old age and what lies ahead. The poet used the 85th birthday as the yardstick to embodied all that had happened in terms of toils, achievement, health, etc 

A Breast of the Sea by Syl Cheney Coker is Poem that employed the use of allusion to speak about experience of slavery and sea pollution as a result of such occurrence. 

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron is recommended by the O-level examination board as one of the Non African poetry to by studied by candidates. 

"She Walks in Beauty" is a poem by Lord Byron that describes a woman's beauty in a serene and admiring tone by exploring the themes such as beauty, contrast.

[READ: Analysis of She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron ].

 

The Nun's Priest's Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the Canterbury Tales in the 1390s. It's an epic poem based on the lengthy number of over 600 lines written in form of fable to teach a moral lesson urging the reader to be careful of flattery. 

Digging by Seamus Heaney is a poem about how a sudden feeling of reminiscing struck the poet to recollect his family legacy of farming which he didn't follow. 

It explored the themes of identity, heritage, and the connection to land through the act of digging.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is one of the Non African poetry recommended by WAEC. It focuses on triumphant and resilience admist oppression. 

The voice of the poem exhorts his or her ability to rise above adversity, embodying themes of strength and empowerment.

The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock; this poem is a 6 stanza dramatic monologue. It examined the matters relating to the emotional feeling attached with receiving news of a sudden fortune. 

The Stone by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson is 89 lines narrative poem about a lady who died few days after the death of her lover due to the emotional pain and shock she suffered for receiving the quary work accident that happened to her lover. 

Conclusion

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Analysis Of Not My Business By Niyi Osundare

Introduction:

This article aims to give detailed analysis of Not My Business by Niyi Osundare_ by examining the theme, structure, poetic devices, tone, the poet, etc. 

About the Poem: 

The very first time I saw Not My Business By Niyi Osundare, I so much liked it. 

Not My Business is far beyond a poem, a poem sculptured by a professional poetic artist which recalled a past experience. Niyi narrated the poem through the third and the first person point of view. 

As a Nigerian or anyone who has witnessed military oppression, the poem is an easy recap of unjust governance; where fundamental human rights are trampled upon_ no free movement, no free association, no freedom of speech, etc. Like a folk tale, the poem shows the implication of neighbors not standing up to assist their neighbour in need of help. 

The poem has a Nigerian setting as regards the the names of victims mentioned by the poem-speaker; Akanni (a Yoruba name) Danladi (a Hausa name) Chinwe (an Igbo name).

The Poetic Devices 

Few of the figures of speech in the poem are:
1) Simile is figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another, in the case of English generally using like or as. Example from the poem is "Beat him soft like clay" in line 2.

2) Refrain is a figure of speech that repeats a certain line or stanza in a literary work of art in order to create musical effect. Example from the poem is;
"What business of mine is it
So long they don’t take the yam
From my savouring mouth?"

3) Symbolism is a figure of speech that uses the representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities to represent such object. Example from the poem is Akanni, Danladi, and Chinwe which symbolized the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. "a lengthy absence" in line 11 is a symbolic imagery which means a long imprisonment.

4) Metaphor is a figure of speech that uses a word or phrase to refer to something that it isn’t, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described, but in the case of English without the words like or as, which would imply a simile. Example from the poem is in line 3; "And stuffed him down the belly" because the simile version of it could be "And stuffed him like meal down the belly".

5) Alliteration is the repetition of consonants at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals. Example from the poem is "hungry hand" "went to work" "sack for a stainless record".

6) Personification is a figure of speech, prosopopeia, in which an inanimate object or an abstraction is given human qualities. Example from the poem is "Only to find her job was gone" in line 16, "And stuffed him down the belly/ Of a waiting jeep" in lines 3-4.

The theme in the poem are:
1) Victimization; many lines of the poem shows how different poetic characters suffer different forms of injustices. Akanni beaten for no reason, Danladi jailed without due process, Chinwe suffered job insecurity.

2) Tyranny and dictatorship; all the acts of brutality in the poem are clear traits of a tyrant dictator. And following the context of the poem, the poet reminded the readers of the Nigerian military brutality (which has now become a once-upon-a-time story)

3) What goes around comes around; is also another theme of the poem which teaches the lesson of oneness and unity. Many victims in the poem suffered abuses because there is no unity among people of such country; everyone is living for himself/herself alone. When every others are brutalised, the poem-speaker felt unconcerned until he was brutalised as well.

Structure and Tone:

The poem is a narrative free verse with eight stanza arrangement. It's no brainer that the setting is a Nigerian neighborhood under military oppression. The poem combined the first and third point of view narrative style. 

The tone is reflective and giving a mood of re-think and change of attitude. The poet via the narrator, reflected on the experience for the readers to build and embrace the determination to change their attitudes from nonchalance to being their brothers keeper. 

The Poet:

Born on the 12th of March, 1947 in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State. Professor Niyi Osundare has contributed heavily to literature and the literary community in Nigeria and all over the world. 

His literary words encompass theme such as politics, leadership, nature, and so much more. He wrote the poem titled "The Leader and the Led" which we have also taken time to write review about in this platform_ you might be able to find it, if you make use of the search box in this website. 

Do comment below and share to all social media platforms. 

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Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry
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Background of Not My Business by Nìyí Osundare

Introduction:

This post aims to drive into the the background of Not My Business by Nìyí Osundare in order to further give readers the clarity of the poem. Without further delay, let's set sail. 

Background of the Poem

Not My Business by Niyi Osundare has a Nigerian political economic background, judging by the poet's background and the name of characters in the poem. 

It reminds the reader of the era of military dictatorship in Nigeria (which spanned between 1966 and 1983). The era full of power hijacking via coup d'état. 

During such era, free speech was very poisonous, the mass media was in a cage of timidity. 

Many authors, musicians, activists were terrorized in the country. People like Ken Saro Wiwa lost their lives, the likes of Fela Anikulapo Kuti tasted imprisonment, authors such as Wole Soyinka embraced the act of elopement. 

About The Poem

Not My Business by Niyi Osundare exposed the negative result of maintaining non-challancy in face of unjust acts meted out to people around.

The multiple stanza poem narrated how the voice of the poem refused to stand for the victims been oppressed by the agents of military dictatorship, which were symbolized with the word "They".

Judging by human and environmental sentiment, the voice of the poem adhered to a care-free attitude because he or she share nothing in common with the victims (in terms of occupation, religion or ethnicity).

The victims in the poem all varied in few way except being neigbours; Akanni (probably a male Yoruba name), Danladi (a male Hausa name), Chinwe (a female Igbo name).

As seen in line 1, stanza 1 of the poem; Akanni was victimized in the morning "They picked Akanni up one morning". Danladi witnessed his own share of brutality at night time. "They came one night/Booted the whole house awake/And dragged him out..." [stanza 3]. Chinwe was sacked from work without explanation in broad daylight.

"And then one evening 
As I sat down to eat my yam 
A knock on the door froze my hungry hand.

The jeep was waiting on my bewildered lawn 
Waiting, waiting in its usual silence."

The concluding stanzas of the poem as shown above, revealed that what had been going around eventually got to the non-chalant narrator. 

About the Poets. 

Niyi Osundare, the poet behind the poem Not My Business, is a Nigerian poet and writer. He was born in 1947 in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria. 

His poetry combines Yoruba traditions with influences from around the world not excluding some themes such as corruption, oppression, pollution, etc.

Few of his other poems are "The Leader and the Led", "They Too Are The Earth", etc. We have also taken time to analyze or discuss the two mentioned poems _ therefore, you might find those topics below or you click the search box in this website to find topic you wish to read and digest. 

Hopefully, one or more knowledge has been acquired by reading this article. Before you exit this website, do share your thoughts in the comment section and also share the article with others via various social media platforms. 

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Analysis of They Too Are The Earth by Niyi Osundare

The Background 

"They too are the earth" is a poem addressing many factors such as poverty, inhumanity, inequality, neglect, etc. The poem speaker felt that if earth is truly for all, why has many lived as if they do not deserve to live on earth_ the beggars, the labourers (carrying heavy loads day and night), the victims of kidnap, the aged abandoned mothers, the scavenger kids, the wanderers, etc.

The Stanzas

In stanza one, the beggars begging by the filthy gutters, pedestrian shoes and halted vehicle tyres are also part of this earth. Stanza two pointed that the sweating muddy labourers that hew woods and hurl water all through the day are also part of this earth. (Stanza three) Many unfortunate souls kidnapped and kept in unknown undergrounds for rituals are part of this earth. (Stanza four) All the figdeting old women who are abandoned in villages are also part of this earth. The fifth stanza of the poem was crafted with the instrument of rhetorical questions inquiring: Are the lazy ones, the unambitious ones, the waif and stray part of this earth? And are the evil doers who thrive through destruction part of this earth?

The Structure 

The poem is a five stanza free verse with an unequal number of lines per stanza. It's tone is revealing and it possesses a diverse setting (street gutters, forest, villages, excavated undergrounds) which are related to humans life on earth. The major poetic device is refrain: "They are the earth" and "They too are the earth". We see other poetic recipes such as paradox "live that earth may die", alliteration "fritter the forest and harry the hills", litotes "Under snakeskin shoes and Mercedes tyres", personification "The dying distant deaths", synecdoche "Millions hewing wood and hurling water".

The Poet

Niyi Osundare is one of the well recognized poets in Nigeria. Born in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria in the year 1947; his literary works have globalized his identity and based on his act of conversation at a certain Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) meeting I attended, he is such a very humble personality. Among his poetic crafts, naijapoets.com.ng has privileged to review "Not My Business" and "Ours To Plough Not To Plunder".
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Enunwa Chukwudinma Samuel aka samueldpoetry
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Analysis Of Ours To Plough Not To Plunder By Niyi Osundare

Denotation
Ours To Plough, Not To Plunder by Niyi Osundare is an agricultural poem using the rewards found in planting and harvesting as the reasons to encourage people to embrace farming. Based on natural phenomenon and the words of the poet, farming is a very useful investment. The poet or the poem speaker is of the faith that people's engagement in agriculture and farming will divert their attentions from wrong implementations of the huge material rewards the Lord God have kept in the soil for humans benefit.

Connotation
The poem has the following theme: (1) the God's treasure in the soil (2) the benefits of farming to humans (3) humans' choice to use or waste

The stanzaic structure of the poem is a free verse of unequal stanzas. The poet was preoccupied with the need for people to embrace farming, so he used the third person point of view in expressing his feelings.

The poem very evident poetic devices in the poem are repetition, alliteration, ant
ithesis, metaphor, etc. "The hoe is her barber" is an example of both metaphor and personification. "The dibble her dimple" is an example of both metaphor, alliteration and personification. "Ours to work not to waste/ Ours to man not to main" both lines are example of a parallelism with embedded antithesis. "Let's put a sun in every night" symbolizes the practice of mining at night. Judging by the use of figurative terms and the grammatical choice of the poet, one can conclude that the diction of the poem is a very easy one. It must also be noted that the poet used a persuasive tone to encourage the love for agriculture and mining.

The Poem
The earth is our to plough and plant
The hoe is her barber
The dibble her dimple

Out with mattocks and machetes
Bring calabash trays and rocking baskets
Let the sweat which smells earth roots
Relieve heavy heaps of their tuberous burdens

Let wheat fields raise their breadsome hands
To the ripening sun
Let legumes clothe the naked bosom
Of shivering mounds
Let the pawpaw swell and swing
Its headward breast

Let water spring
From earth’s unfathomed fountain
Let gold rush
From her deep unsearchable mines
Hitch up a ladder to the dodging sky

Let’s put a sun in every night
Our earth is an opened grain house
A bustling barn in some far, uncharted jungle
A distant gem in a rough unhappy dust

This earth is
Ours to work not to waste
Ours to man not to main
This earth is ours to plough, not to plunder.

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Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry
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