MULTICULTURALISM AS A TOOL FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF OLA ROTIMI’S IF…a tragedy of the ruled

Abstract

Nigeria is a conglomeration of multi cultural and multi ethnic groups, made up of people from different cultural and ethnic nationalities. The need to understand and harness the potentials inherent in the different ethnic nationalities for the progress of the nation is the pivot of this study. The study is hinged on the Melting Pot Theory advocated by J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, an immigrant from France who described the demographic homogeneity of the United States as comprising “individuals of all nations….melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world”. According to him, the different ethnic groups can melt together in a pot to produce a desirable result. It is supported by the Salad Bowl Theory propounded by Historian Carl Degler, which sought a better image of cultural change than the older melting pot. It recognizes that there is cultural diversities and that if not properly managed may result in disunity. The study employs the content analysis approach of the qualitative research methodology to critically analyze If… a tragedy of the ruled by Ola Rotimi as to extricate the underlying potentials of multiculturalism as a tool for national unity and progress. The study concludes that positive aspects of multiculturalism should be adopted for the progress of the nation. It recommends that adequate policy should be put in place to properly harness the benefits of a multicultural society and play down on its defects for a better society