The Artistic Depiction of Gulf War in al-Riyadh Anthology by Isa Alabi Abubakar

Abstract

The Gulf War stands as one of the most painful events in modern Arab and Islamic history, producing deep political, military, economic, social, and cultural consequences. Its impact transcended the battlefield, influencing literary and artistic production across the Muslim world. Among Nigerian Arabist poets, Isa Alabi Abubakar occupies a significant place for his engagement with contemporary issues, notably the Second Gulf War (Kuwait War). His poem The Gulf War: In Whose Interest? included in the collection al-Riyāḍ and published in the Libyan journal al-Jihād, represents an important literary response to a global crisis from the perspective of a Nigerian poet. This study investigates the rhetorical and artistic techniques through which Alabi depicted the war. The analysis reveals that his poetry demonstrates a strong commitment to historical accuracy, combined with originality of expression and political awareness. His poetic vision reflects the humanitarian, social, and political dimensions of the conflict, while offering insights relevant to both literature and society. Methodologically, the research employs a historical approach to outline the poet’s intellectual background and a descriptive-analytical approach to examine the poem’s artistic imagery. The study further draws on the theoretical framework of Abdul Azeez which refers to the Modern rhetorical Studies, to highlight the aesthetic and intellectual value of Alabi poetic contribution.