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HE 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 - - - - - - - - - - i
Certification - - - - - - - - - ii
Dedication - - - - - - - - - iii
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - iv
Abstract - - - - - - - - - - vi
Table
of Contents - - - - - - - - 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
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
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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