Modern Nigerian Drama: Socio-Cultural and Western Influences
U N I V E R S I T Y O F L A G O S
D E P A R T M E N T O F E N G L I S H
M . A . L I T E R A T U R E
C O U R S E W O R K:
M O D E R N N I G E R I A N D R A M A : S O C I O - C U L T U R A L A N D W E S T E R N I N F L U E N C E S
N A M E : A G B A M U A G H O G H O
M A T R I C U L A T I ON N U M B E R : 1 0 9 0 1 3 0 4 6
C O U R S E : M O D E R N
N I G E R I A N D R A M A
E N G 8 5 6
QUESTION: HOW HAS MODERN NIGERIAN DRAMA BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE SOCIO-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT AND HOW FAR HAS IT BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE WESTERN TRADITION OF DRAMA?
More often than not, the shape of a phenomenon is always the aftermath of a series of prequel activity, spanning over spatiotemporal dimensions for certain reasons and towards certain ends. But since the desired target is not always exactly arrived at without traces of the followed process, it is imperative to prod why there is always a conspicuous trace at the seam of the finale. This is the case with Modern Nigerian Drama. It navigated a spate of whatnots before taking the posture we associate with it today. And we can clearly observe that while in its evolution, there were influences that came its way, and decades after, they are still as pungent. These influences: what are they; why are they conspicuous; why are still influencing? These are the issues that one must treat to evaluate the configuration of contemporary Nigerian dramaturgy; and this more than anything else is what forms the basis for this discourse. Modern Nigerian Drama: A straight typical pedantic encapsulation of the term is always not really feasible, because it tends to throw up more inquisition than elucidation. Queries like these arise: Modern Nigerian Drama: How modern is Modern? What really is the measure of Nigerianness about it? As ‘drama as drama is’ does that term, embody all the features of ensample drama? A deconstructionist posse need be adopted here to answer the
D E P A R T M E N T O F E N G L I S H
M . A . L I T E R A T U R E
C O U R S E W O R K:
M O D E R N N I G E R I A N D R A M A : S O C I O - C U L T U R A L A N D W E S T E R N I N F L U E N C E S
N A M E : A G B A M U A G H O G H O
M A T R I C U L A T I ON N U M B E R : 1 0 9 0 1 3 0 4 6
C O U R S E : M O D E R N
N I G E R I A N D R A M A
E N G 8 5 6
QUESTION: HOW HAS MODERN NIGERIAN DRAMA BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE SOCIO-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT AND HOW FAR HAS IT BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE WESTERN TRADITION OF DRAMA?
More often than not, the shape of a phenomenon is always the aftermath of a series of prequel activity, spanning over spatiotemporal dimensions for certain reasons and towards certain ends. But since the desired target is not always exactly arrived at without traces of the followed process, it is imperative to prod why there is always a conspicuous trace at the seam of the finale. This is the case with Modern Nigerian Drama. It navigated a spate of whatnots before taking the posture we associate with it today. And we can clearly observe that while in its evolution, there were influences that came its way, and decades after, they are still as pungent. These influences: what are they; why are they conspicuous; why are still influencing? These are the issues that one must treat to evaluate the configuration of contemporary Nigerian dramaturgy; and this more than anything else is what forms the basis for this discourse. Modern Nigerian Drama: A straight typical pedantic encapsulation of the term is always not really feasible, because it tends to throw up more inquisition than elucidation. Queries like these arise: Modern Nigerian Drama: How modern is Modern? What really is the measure of Nigerianness about it? As ‘drama as drama is’ does that term, embody all the features of ensample drama? A deconstructionist posse need be adopted here to answer the