Petrofiction: Oil and Literature in Oil on Water by Helon Habila and 419 by Will Ferguson.

Abstract

Amitav Ghosh’s coined word “Petrofiction” denotes the interplay between oil and literature, not only in terms of content but also in terms of the economic, social, and cultural systems to which this interaction refers. With regard to this literary genre, this work analyses the environmental and social consequences that the oil business is having on the Niger Delta, and investigates how this situation is covered within two novels. Firstly, it takes into consideration Oil on Water by Helon Habila and considers the two main aspects that surface in this work, namely the human aspect of native communities endangered by this situation, and the environmental aspect of the Niger Delta degradation. Secondly, it proceeds with the analysis of 419 by Will Ferguson which, while presenting the devastation of the Niger Delta (like Habila), adds a far-reaching plot which uses oil as a link between the Delta, Nigeria at large, and Alberta (Canada), indirectly referring to the entire world. As a result, this Master’s thesis underlines the fact that even though oil becomes overtly visible in some extraction sites, it tends to hide its negative impact on the physical world as a whole, thus contributing to the perpetuation of a system of injustice, which forms an integral part of neo-colonial discourses and is linked to issues surrounding climate change, human and non-human rights, and corporate responsibilities. Consequently, this work considers the examined novels as important evidence, which supports the case against fossil fuels and the need for a transition towards renewable and less damaging forms of energy, a transition that seems impossible yet necessary.