Nigerian authors consider their roles in society as keepers of

social consciousness at a time that is uncertain and replete

with unknowns. Like Sartre and the activist "engagés" authors
writing on the French left in the aftermath of Europe's
decimination, Nigerian authors feel that it is their duty to
write and produce for their society in order to effectuate
change. With respect to writing, Sartre emphatically claimed
that "It is not true that one writes for oneself". Authors are
expected to act as "guides" for society. According to the
Sartrian model, literary guides must "dévoile" (unveil) their
culture as they explain what they reveal. At no time in
Nigerian history has writing, and creative works in general,
been so crucial to contributing to the contemporary
dialogues and intellectual discussions that are shaping the
political practices, cultural mores, and societal trends of a
country in transition.

Valérie K. Orlando, Francophone Voices of the "New" Nigeria

in Film and Print. (Re)presenting a Society in Transition. (XII)

The passage shows the duty assigned to Nigerian writers and

their roles as contributors to social change in a postcolonial
Nigerian context

Here is a list of some Nigerian writers and poets who have

contributed to the literary and cultural scene in Nigeria. They
belong to different periods and raise different cultural and
ideological issues,

Introduction to African Literature

The beginning of African literature goes back to 1958. Since

then a remarkable flood of literary works has come forth
from all parts of Africa -in many languages, and in many
forms (poetry, cinema, short stories, novels, autobiographies,
etc ...). This literary "renaissance" must be seen as a
counterpart of the tremendous development, political,
economic and cultural which has taken place in the post-
colonial era. This flood has also brought to light a number of
other works by African authors, published earlier, but which
were unnoticed. This literature of modern Africa is running
parallel to the expansion of literacy and education
throughout the continent. It has been written for various
audiences of readers. Indeed, African literature has gained
much respectability thanks to high quality of works produced
by so many talented African poets and writers such as Chinua
Achebe (Nigeria), Gabriel Okara (Nigeria), Abiosch Nicol
(Sierra Leone), Joe Graft (Ghana), A.N.C. Kumalo (South
Africa), Amin Kassam (Kenya) and Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), to
name only a few.