Multimodal analysis of Yoruba language and culture portrayal in contemporary Nigerian superhero comics: Case study of Ireti-Bidemi and Visionary

Abstract

After several decades of mixed fortunes and languishing in obscurity, the Nigerian comic industry has been experiencing a phase of silent revitalisation courtesy of the remarkable inroads of indigenous digital publishers such as Comic Republic - reputed as Africa's largest publisher of superhero comics - are making locally and internationally. Comic Republic's main objective is to portray and promote African heritage through superhero stories. This study investigated the multimodal portrayal of Yoruba language and culture in text and pictures in Ireti-Bidemi and Visionary superhero comics published by Comic Republic. Designed as a qualitative enquiry, the study's objectives were achieved using relational content analysis of both comics, interviews with the two creators of both comics, and focus group discussion with six audience drawn from a Facebook Comic Republic fan page. Findings revealed that the creators' motivated sign user agency, determined by their different personal experiences and interests in relation to the Yoruba culture, influenced their respective portrayals. Consequently, Visionary exemplified traditional Yoruba identity using Yoruba language for conversations as well as pronounced presence of Yoruba religious, cosmological, and mythological beliefs while Ireti-Bidemi mirrored contemporary realities in which Yoruba language and culture conforms to urban trends and external influences. Whereas the discussants' views align with this finding, majority of them preferred the conversational style in Ireti-Bidemi in which English language with urban Yoruba language dominated, because they lacked the proficiency to read and/or write their indigenous Yoruba mother tongue. Institutional intentionality failure (government, Yoruba sociocultural institutions, and the comic industry itself) is the major obstacle constraining culture portrayal through superhero comics. The institutional intentionality factor manifests through disregard for cultural values, culture promotion and protection, and lack of support for and investment in the comic industry as well as the absence of ecosystem mindset and quality control standards in the comic industry. These emerged as the major factors that must be remedied to enhance Yoruba culture and language portrayal through superhero comics.