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THE DRAMATIST AND SOCIAL
HISTORY IN NIGERIA A CASE STUDY OF OVONRAMWEN NOGBAISI BY OLA ROTIMI
ABSTRACT
This study
aims at the analysis of social history and the dramatist with focus on Ola
Rotim’s Ovonramwen Nogbaisi as a case study. It also aims at examining social
history and its impact in Nigeria. The study locates the problems associated
with ignorance, leadership and cultural ethics, as a framework for analyzing
the nature of human groupings with the belief that it will give the younger
generation enough encouragement to interpret the past. The study employed both
secondary and primary sources in obtaining data for the study. The primary data
involved interviews and oral discussions, while secondary data relied on books,
historical material and other publication. The study reveals that drama is a
content of culture and culture itself is a content of social experience.
Furthermore it also reveals that changes in one aspect of the social system
affect the entire system. The study therefore recommends that socio-historical
change involves rapid alternation in the pattern of relationship within a
society over the years. Social history envisage that a change in any social
organization denotes developing new norms, modification of role expectation, a
shift to new types of laws and the introduction as well as use of new
production technologies in dealing with societal problems.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Title Page
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- i
Certification -
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- - ii
Dedication -
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- - iii
Acknowledgement -
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- iv
Abstract -
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vi
Table of
Contents - -
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vii
CHAPTER
ONE: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Scope and Limitation of the Study
1.4 Justification of Study
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Research Methodology
1.7 Definition of Terms
CHAPTER
TWO: REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURES
2.1 Literature Review
CHAPTER
THREE: THE DRAMATIST AND SOCIAL HISTORY
3.1 Historical Background of the Playwright
3.2 Analysis of the play Text
3.3 Social History in the Play Text
CHAPTER
FOUR: DRAMATIST AND SOCIAL HISTORY IN
NIGERIA
4.1 The Influence of the Dramatist in Shaping
Social History in Nigeria
4.2 The Impact of Policy on Social History and
the Influence of Historical Drama
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND
CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary of Findings
5.2 Recommendation
5.3 Conclusion
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
This study
attempts to highlight and justify that drama is a medium for documenting events
as they occur in history of a particular society or nation. Through this medium
the dramatist addresses the problems that human-beings encountered. For
centuries, the theatre has been recognized as functional not only for
entertainment value but also as a means of education and as a means of
disseminating information. In this regard, Orson Welles have reasoned that
“drama and theatre is functional in that it can make statement. With a view to
forgoing an alternative society, maintaining the status quo, reflecting in the
social history. And exploring man’s relationship with the visible and
incomprehensible forces he is compelled to grapple with” (1984:32).
There are
various functions of Drama in its various ramification be it religious,
entertainment, philosophical, historical, political or satirical dimensions.
Welles also argued that dram is a very strong means of influencing social
change and propagating ideas, whether such ideas are aimed at encouraging
support for the government of the day and its programme or at eliminating
customs and practice deemed atavistic (1984:38). Such authorities as Paulo
Freive, August Boal, Ross Kidd and Jesse Stuart have identified theatre and
drama, as a strong weapon against non-formal actions Stuart in particular
stated that:
“Drama and
theatre can raise consciousness because it is a mode of communication that has
a life of its own.. As a form of skillfully contrived escapism, it allows the
audience to take collective and imaginative refuge on a more pleasurable realm
of existence than their every reality” (1981:216)
Indeed, drama and theatre has come to
function as a variable tool and means of education, in search for a meaningful
human development. In order to enhance the prospects of sustainable development
in human society, drama is the only means through which intellectuals try to
communicate with the people most disadvantaged in their society. This is done
by presenting plays to them in which the problems of the society are
articulated from the people’s point of view or by getting them to present plays
to themselves, which increasingly help them to analyze their society and correct
their own social vices.
Over the past few centuries’ drama have
reshaped cultural orientations, influenced politics and played important role
in disseminating vital information about the social history of a particular
society. In recent times people ask and speculate endlessly about their past
cultural heritage and what the future hold but sometimes their vision is more
idealistic than realistic. Where can we turn for a reliable view of our history
and what lies ahead? The situation is similar or many today who feel anxious as
they think about their future.
These are the few questions about
social history and the attempt at using the study to proffer solutions to
problems the earlier generations are not able to cope with. Furthermore the study
is an attempt to provide the reader with a guide to analyze some social and
historical issues raise in the play text.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The work is
an attempt, at examining the various generational problems. Using social
history to analyze the society and proffer solutions to these societal
problems. The various societal problems are important enough to merit serious
consideration. These societal problems can inspire fire in the writer enough to
comment on them. The dramatist in Ovonramwen Nogbaisi uses historical tools to
address generational problems associated with;
Imperialism:
This is assumed by liberal scholars to be a natural outcome of the collective
social existence. It is a product of the habits and instincts which turn people
into warriors in the struggle for survival and supremacy. To this extent, it is
a universal tendency of people to expand their area of influence due to
national pride and the quest for glory. Imperialism is seen as the product of
the natural desire of man for expansion and domination. This is the major
product that brought about the generational problem in the play, the quest for
economic and political dominion of the Europeans over the Bini people. The
dramatist believes that every imperialistic ideology has a linkage to a
material motive such as economic accumulation. It is the economic, domination,
subordination and exploitation of weak economies by powerful and developed
economies that gave rise to the ultimate crisis in Ovonramwen Nogbaisi.
Colonialism:
Which happens to be a manifestation of imperialism is of utmost importance in
this study because it was colonization that acted as the major vehicle of
European penetration in Africa and Bini in particular. The impact of colonial
imperialism on periphery societies, in Africa was decisive. All over Africa
colonialism created indelible effects in a wide range of social-cultural,
economic and political aspect of Africans social life. As a first step, the
varied but uniquely and independently organized pre-colonial institution,
kingdoms, empires and tribal governments lost their sovereignty to the dominant
colonizing state through gunboat diplomacy, and hinterland expenditures.
Therefore, the breakdown of old patterns of autonomy of the African states and
kingdoms were forcefully and quickly achieved. This development meant that
African chiefs, emirs, and kings lost their autonomy and became subordinate to
European powers. The king of Buganda, Shaka of Zululand, Ashatilune of Ashanti
kingdom, Kosoko of Lagos, Jaja of Opobo, Emirs of Hausa/Fulani states Nana of
Itsekiri and of course Ovonramwen Nogbaisi are good examples of kings and
territories that fell to the colonial imperialist power.
With these
views I will say that colonial rule denigrated the African personality and
cultural values.
Interdependency:
Is a means in which the European invasion of Africans in general and Bini in
particular, politically, socially, and economically subdued the Africans.
Interdependency, which still hunts and disturbs us till date is a system in
which colonized territories were encouraged to specialize in the production of
raw materials needed by industrialized European countries, while the European
states specializes in the manufactured goods. The implication of this
structural dependency is that it rules out the possibility of the emergence of
a developed state in any colonized territory so long the basic character of
this relationship exists. Then the result is that the African economies become
incoherent, incapable of economic growth and self-dependent.
One may say
the inter-tribal wars in the 18 and 19th centuries Nigeria have had the same
ethical characteristics as may be found all over the world. People have
disagreed over food sources and territories, kill one another, these wars
characterized the 19th century African kingdoms, this work strives to proffer
solutions to these warfare that still hunt us till date. In retrospect, it is
easy to see that tribal wars were futile solve, no problem and does not proffer
solutions, which is also true of inter-tribal wars involving lien tribes.
For instance
one of the most memorable skirmishes that also lead to the Ouster of Oba
Ovonramwen was the so called Bini Massacre of 1896 in which warriors who were
among the fiercest in the south, routed a British contingent enrooted to Bini,
nine white men were beheaded and 280 men were ambushed and killed. The party
killed were said to be unarmed. A quick reprisal followed, with few months Bini
was sacked; the Oba was deported to Calabar, and the British took over the
administration of Bini. Relentlessly, British expeditionary forces continued
the war of subjugation. They sacked Ilorin in 1897, the Arochukwu’s in 1901
Borno in 1902, Kano in 1903, and TIV in 1906, as pointed out earlier these were
really inter-tribal wars. The acquisition of territories and economic advantage
lust for power and of course, the desire for plunder, the only difference being
that the aggressive tribe was from outside Nigeria. When Benin was sacked the
result of the war was that they lost their arts treasury which symbolizes their
cultural heritage. It was not only the British that invaded other tribes with a
view to occupation and plunder. Indigenous tribes did the same in other to
acquire land and properties. The great armies of Bini during the reign of Oba
Esigie waged such war of aggression against the Alafin of Oyo Empire.
Finally this
work will look at the various impact of Europeans infiltration on African
traditions and cultural values. First of all, we look at leadership in African
before the coming of the Europeans. In pre-colonial Nigeria there were two main
types of government. According to Elechi Amadi “Monarchy and a democratic form
of gerontocracy. The former featured in kingdoms ruled by Oba, Emirs Obongs,
Obis and powerful tribal chieftains, who wielded power in styles ranging from
absolute dictatorship to near democracy” (1982:94). These types of government
existed and gives room to a total rule of law and harmonious co-existence
between the various, groups, persons and clans that made up the society. Also
cultural heritage like masquerading, ritualistic ceremonies and festivities
that form part of the people’s way of life was affected by the invasion.
Religion, ties the pre-colonial Africans. Throughout history they have felt the
need to worship, and they have turned to God to fill their need. They believed
so much that they can always get answers to their prayer to God through minor
deities like Osun, Amadioha, Ogun, Ebini Ukpabi and so on, but the Europeans
brought an alien religion that shattered their existing mutual relationship
with their goods.
The essence
of the work is to address the problems associated with the above problems, to
sensitized the readers on the advantages and significance of learning about our
history, how our past heroes lives their mistakes can be avoided. Education
they say is the key through education Africans can adopt the concept of social
cultural and behavioral change for the betterment of the race.
I intend
using this research to educate the reader on several other agent of social
change and history, but social history as a branch of sociology of drama have
not be given the desired documentation and research due to the fact that there
is few or virtually no literature on the subject, which made it difficult for
proper documentation.
1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF STUDY
The play
Ovonramwen Nogbaisi a historical play, about the Bini’s of the Southern part of
Nigeria. For the inadequacy of research materials, this work will be restricted
the socio-political and economic life of the Bini people, using the play text
as a model of data to investigate the Bini social structure and how these
structure influences their action and behavior. The study will also be
restricted to Bini and the play text Ovonramwen Nogbaisi.
The Bini
social and political organization started with the family and rose in ascending
order of magnitude to the imperial organization. Each family was headed by the
eldest male member who becomes regarded by other family members as the
intermediary between them and their dead ancestor. Thus the family head had the
right to apply sanctions to those under him without questions. According to
Talbot ‘although political organization started in the family, the village was
generally recognized as the basic unit of Bini political organization. Each
Bini village is made up of village head whose headship was not hereditary’
(168:47) Bini tradition also recognizes hereditary village headship. The
hereditary village heads were either the sons of the past Oba or descendants of
loyal followers of previous Oba’s who were appointed in recognition of their
services to the palace. For instance, Oba Ovonramwen actually inherited the
kingship from his father Adolo who also inherited from his own father. Oba
Osemwede, then at the central government level, the Oba was at the head of
administration he lived in Benin City. The Oba and his chiefs constituted the
council of states which took all major decisions for the good administration of
the Empire. To make administration easy the kingdom was divided into village
various people closer to the Oba were kept in charge of these tribute paying
villages. Tributes were paid to the Obas’s household in form of foodstuffs and
live stocks by these communities. Refusal by any vassal territory to pay
tribute was regarded as a rebellion and this was therefore put down by force.
The economic
organization of the Bini kingdom comes through various sources of income
because they engaged themselves in various economic activities. This revenue
came chiefly from Agriculture, trade, hunting, tributes from vassal states as
well as income from arts and crafts for which Benin was famed. With revenues
coming from these sources and coming to the central government the Oba was able
to expand, equip the army, and finance the civil administration of his empire.
Part of the revenue was also used in adorning the palace with magnificent works
of art and other treasures.
Therefore
with the above organizational structures the content of the social actions
contained in Ovonramwen Nogbaisi consists of the social processes that form the
Benin society. The intention of Ovonramwen Nogbaisi as a historical play is to
influence the socio-dynamic growth of the society.
1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
This work is
aimed at analyzing the content of African culture in Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. The play contains the social history and
culture of the Binis in its struggle against European invasion.
In
traditional religion like every powerful weapon has played a particularly
important role in ethical philosophy all through the ages because it has been a
useful instrument for enforcing moral codes. In the Bini traditional religion
the priest of Ifa and Osanobua as seen in Ovonramwen Nogbaisi acted as
intermediary between men and gods and interpret their commands, which often
contain patterns of behavior. In Bini, religion and tradition guide their
actions and way of life. Culture, tradition and religion has answers to
virtually all questions.
Festivities
and cultural practices has been of tremendous influence on the Bini people.
Like the Ague festival Bini people like every other African empire are very
religious and culturally inclined. Burials for instance form part of the
terminal religious ritual for the dead. And in highly emotional matters such as
religion, it is futile to think in terms of material values, in such
religious/cultural rituals, man becomes blind, deaf and dumb, consciousness
dissolves and the other insubstantial, illogical and elusive part of him takes
over. The Ague festival for example, functions and guides the social, religious
and political life of the Bini people. It is seen as a sacred festival, during
the period it last, visitor are not allowed to step into Bini, if it happens
the consequences will be enormous.
Before the
advent of the British and colonial government in Nigeria the political
authority of the cultural groups like the Ague was supreme, it acted as and was
virtually the government of the day. Its rules and regulations were laid which
could not be flagrantly floated without serious repercussions. The penalty of
death was imposed on anyone who resisted an envoy of the society or on a
non-member who witnessed any of its secret rites. The British men who were
attacked refused to head and respect the ritual festival being performed, at
the time of their arrival to Bini. This action by the British men brought out
the anger and vengeance from the Bini chiefs who felt that their land had been
desecrated and this custom trampled upon.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study
justifies the need to compliment historical writings in a way to give the
readers enough encouragement to interpret the past from the present system of
values. This is done through looking at how our ancestors lived, low peace,
stability and goodliness are maintained during their period.
Like
virtually all African tribe, the Binis made laws and instituted abominations to
control unacceptable behavior in Bini, it was quite possible to abstain from
crime like murder, theft and arson and still be looked upon as an
unsatisfactory member of the society. The mere accordance of bad behavior is a
negative virtue. To be regarded as positively virtuous, one is expected to be
helpful and useful to ones neighbors because African ethical philosophy
emphasizes positive virtue. For instance in Ovonramwen Nogbaisi we see the
punishment melted out to the two chiefs that committed murder.
J. A. Sofola
lists the following cardinal virtues as typically African: “an emphasis on
wholesome human relations among people’s respect for elders; community
fellow-felling, as reflected in communal land tenure and ownership” (1973:4).
Sofola’s book is concerned with the totality of African culture is general and
the Nigeria ethics in particular which can also applies to the Bini’s.
Secondly,
Rotimi in background Ovonramwen Nogbaisi state that: The head that came to wear
the Benin crown in that uneasy age was Ovonramwen Nogbaisi a man long portrayed
by the biases of colonial history in the mien of the most abominable sadist,
but in actuality, a man more looks surreal and emotional. It portrays Ovonramwen
as a lenient and disciplined leader who tried to protect the kingdom from
external attack, but met opposition. From the British invaders, again the
dramatist introduces us to Idugbowa the son of Oba Adolo, who later on 1888
took over the mantle of leadership after the death of his father. Taking the
title of Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, Idugbowa became powerful, prosperous,a nd popular
during his time. It was not until aboput five years after being conferred the
Obaship title that the Europeans, British in particular who had been in contact
with Bini since the 15th century began to paint ugly pictures of their once
admired friendly country. Benin was variously described as uncivilized,
barbaric and a city of blood. Incidentally, this was the period when the rulers
of many African States, including Benin were protecting their domain against
indiscriminate rush by numerous European merchants into African hinterland for
trader.
The lesson
to be derived from this various steps taken by Ovonramwen is that of exemplary
leadership, he choose to die for his people, even when he did not give the
order for the killing of the white men he still defended his people who carried
out the actions.
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This study
is mainly based on the analytical mode of methodology it focuses mainly on
written or printed library and archival sources, such as books, journals,
theses, reports, literary work such as plays. Data are collected from these and
analyzed in relation to the research objective.
These can
also be referred to the secondary sources of data collection, which has to do
with the earlier studies or critical works on the subject matter which I find
relevant to my own research because they focus to some extent on my subject or
other subjects comparable to it.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
DRAMA: The
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of current English defines Drama as “a
play for the Theatre, Radio or Television or series of exciting events (352)”.
Drama could be seen as a play put
together by one person or group of persons aimed at creating audience awareness
or an imitation of action with a view to avert or warn the society of certain
activities.
F. R. Leavies defines drama “as an art
most capable of recreating men typical experiences, though speech and action”
(1945:216).
DRAMATIST:
According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English is
defined as a person who writes plays for the theatre television or radio,
(352).
Bamidele define a dramatist as an
artiste who presents to us in a dialogue or dramatic form his own precise
political or moral latitude (2000:29). A dramatist in the general imagination
is the dramatic writers who make statements that are very succinct, or
implicit, about their desire to reach towards a metaphor of desirable wholeness
through drama.
HISTORY:
According to Hornby is all the events that happened in the past (567).
While social history according to
Leavies is “concerned with the daily life of the inhabitants of a land in past
ages, which includes the human, economic relation of classes to one another the
attitude of man to nature and culture in its changing form” (1945:9).
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