Abstract: This study examined the Politics and Nigerian Drama in Femi Osofisan’s Once upon Four Robbers. Drama and society have a symbolic relationship in which each contributes to the sustenance’s and relevance of the other while drama draws its data from the generosity of society’s enormous resources. Society is projected through drama for correction of its ills for sustainable development. Politics as an aspect of society has found a every enormous space in the works of drama. This research work seeks to find the connecting line between politics and Nigerian drama using Femi Osofisan monumental work Once upon Four Robbers. The essence is to see how each earns contributes to the development of the other.
Politics and Nigerian Drama in Femi Osofisan’s Once upon Four Robbers
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Drama and politics are products of the society. Drama cannot do without politics some humanity itself is political just like politics itself is dramatic. Dramatists over the years therefore have had politics as a Core aspect of their dramatic work. Right from the earliest civilization, this symbiosis of drama and polities Femi Osofisan was identified and perceived as necessarily imperative. This is why Aristophanes asserts that “the dramatist should not only be after entertainment but should beside that he a teacher of morality” (P.13)
In Nigeria, drama was employed to fight against colonialism in the 1940s by the links of Hubert Ogunde such work gave their contribution to the fight of independence which was eventually actualized in 1960s. But even afterward, political issues never fizzled away from the Nigerian terrain, and dramatist never shaded away from their responsibilities of commenting on them. Polities remains green in the work of the early Nigerian dramatist like Wole Soyinka, Ola Rotimi, James enehenshaw etc. The second generation of Nigerian dramatist followed closely on the heels of their predecessors by commenting on political issues in a bid to navigate its course to a destination of sustainable growth and development of the country. These dramatist included the likes of julie Okoh, Tessy Onwneme, Ahmed Yerrima, Femi Osofisian. This research work intends to use the case study method to examine the symbiosis of drama and politics using Femi Osofisan once upon four robbers
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Politics transcends mere electioneering and gaining positions and goes beyond that to include the out of assembling and organizing people to words purposeful goals, it is going into a concernment with a people and sustaining the relationship that defines politics.
This is the bases upon which Nigerian politics could be confidently referred to as failed. All the military government and Republics that have existed in Nigerian faced a lot of challenges concerning politics. Politics in Nigerian in whatever form and at whatever level has suffered a serious setbacks especially in providing the results expectant of them by the electorate. Nigerian political leaders have scarified their responsibilities to their people at the altar of self fulfillment. This ideal philosophy of leadership which is chiefly servant ship has eluded our leader and they are, don’t seem to be in a hurry to capture it. This result to why the Nigerian political sphere is characterized by gross electoral misconducts, shameless acts of corruption, ethnicism, favoritism, godfatherism, negligence of the poor anti democratic policies and so on.
There is a saying that goes “The child who says his mother will not sleep shall also not sleep” clearly fortunes and dramatist. They have employed judiciously, reprimanding politicians in a bid to change the course of things. The research focuses on one of such work in bringing this fact the shores Femi Osofisons Once upon four Robbers.
Politics and Nigerian Drama in Femi Osofisan’s Once upon Four Robbers
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study exerts significance based on the following reasons:
- It shall add new knowledge on the Nigerian drama.
- It shall expose the relevance of drama addressing the Nigerian political quagmire.
- It shall serve as a reference to others researching in the field.
- The research also hopes to mobilize the masses for more sensitive political participation through drama.
- On a general note, the project shall hopefully purge the factors bedevilling the Nigerian political terrain through drama.
1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The aims of the study are:
- To portray theatre as a potent tool for political check making.
- To develop materials which will add new knowledge to the field of drama and Nigerian Politics?
The objectives of the study are:
- Doing an analysis of the play text, Once up on four Robbers. In respect to politics.
- Consult other materials and cite their appropriately while developing new insights on drama and Nigerian politics.
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY
The research Shall be limited to Femi Osofisan‘s Once upon four Robber. References shall also be made to other relevant materials.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
This research shall be an analytical one with a case study of the Once upon Four Robber. Other relevant materials on the subject shall also be consulted and cited where appropriate.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Politics
This is process by which a group of people make collective decisions on behalf of majority of the people.
Drama
Derived from the Greek word, “dran” meaning “to do”, drama can simply be referred to as an imitation of an action.
Originally posted on August 15, 2021 @ 1:05 am