A Multimodal Discourse Study of some Online Campaign Cartoons of Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Election

Author: C. F. Akpati, Samuel Adegboyega University, Nigeria
Email: akpatichibuzor@yahoo.com
Published: November 20, 2019
https://doi.org/10.22492/ijah.6.2.07

Citation: Akpati, C. F. (2019). A Multimodal Discourse Study of some Online Campaign Cartoons of Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Election. IAFOR Journal of Arts & Humanities, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.22492/ijah.6.2.07


Abstract

This paper analyses different patterns of verbal and nonverbal meaning-making strategies in a variety of political campaign cartoons produced during the March 2015 general elections in Nigeria. The data for the study comprises six campaign cartoons selected from the Nairaland online community, an Internet forum created by Nigerian Internet entrepreneur Oluwaseun Temitope Osewa in 2005. Furthermore, it takes into account the cartoons’ linguistic and extra-linguistic components while developing a context within which to define their pragmatic potential. The data largely concern the two major political parties in Nigeria (All Progressives Congress and People’s Democratic Party). Data were analysed using Machin and Mayr’s (2012) multimodal critical discourse analysis; this careful scrutiny revealed the manifold levels of exaggeration, satire and mockery that parties employ in their quest for visibility, acceptance and success.

Keywords: Nigeria, elections, political cartoons, political parties, multimodal, critical discourse