International Journal of Humanities & Social Science: Insights & Transformations- Vol. 10, Issue 1 – 2025 © Eureka Journals 2025. All Rights Reserved. International Peer Reviewed Referred Journal Page 86 The Novelist as Realist and Societal Watchdog: Sociopolitical Realities of Nigeria in Adebayo Lamikanre’s Novel Adekunle, Idowu James 1 1 English Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Abstract A novel is a prosaic narrative encompassing different sociological issues from various cultural backgrounds.Its thematic preoccupations and linguistic resourcefulness are a portrayal of collective societal and individual experiences.The novelist's ability to fashion compelling characters, construct immersive settings, and interweave intricate plots showcases their unique blend of creativity, storytelling prowess, and profound comprehension of human nature. Previous studies revealed novels as a form of entertainment and art-for-art-sake without considering deeper underlying factors that produced such a novel. Therefore, this article examines the novelist as realist and societal watchdog through a Nigerian novel written by Adebayo Lamikanra. The novel reveals the socio-political realities of Nigeria in a bid to lampoon, expose, and, at the same time, create healthy thinking behaviours that sustain the society for good communal living. Postcolonial theories were used to reveal societal realities in Nigeria in the novel. Data were subjected to content analysis. Keywords: Novelist, Realist, Societal Watchdog, Socio-political Realisties, Novel. Introduction A novelist, as a realist and watchdog, is an author of imaginative tales and skillfully crafts fictional narratives using their creativity and ability to animate characters, settings, and plots. Novels, being substantial works of fiction, delve into profound themes and the human experience, necessitating novelists' adeptness in constructing engaging stories and a mastery of language to enthrall readers (Adekunle, 2024; Adekunle, 2025). A fundamental task for a novelist involves the creation of authentic and fully-fleshed characters pivotal to the storyline, driving the narrative and evoking emotional responses in readers. Expert novelists adeptly infuse vitality into their characters, rendering them relatable and multidimensional by deeply comprehending their thoughts, behaviors, and motivations-a International Journal of Humanities & Social Science: Insights & Transformations https://www.eurekajournals.com/humanities.html ISSN: 2581-3587