Trends in the Development of the Radical Theatre Tradition in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46881/ajh.v1i1.34Keywords:
Radical Theatre, ideological commitment, oppressors. oppressed, the upper and lower classes, socio-economic emancipationAbstract
The Nigerian society today is overwhelmed by a culture of impunity by the upper ruling class, over the will and liberty of the oppressed lower classes of working and workless masses. The ills of socio-political and economic
Inequities, injustices, inhumanity-of-man-to-man; a regime of settlement and corruption in high public offices without checks; abuse of offices; growing unemployment and underemployment: huge level of distrust and confidence-loss between the rulers and the ruled; general insecurity due to an estranged regime of criminalities, insurgency and terror against innocent and unarmed citizens; and of course, a now very subtle approach to the persecution of dissent voices to authorities ... are now a general way of life for the average Nigerian. The arts,
especially the theatre, the world over, has always been a virile weapon for demanding for social change, and equally a suitable aid for the awakening of the consciousness of the mass of the people, sensitizing them in their struggle for emancipation from the grips of the oppressive and suppressive whims of the ruling upper class. But, whether the Nigerian theatre has over the years, been sufficiently consistent and effective in its contributions to the radical theatre tradition both in style and in content. is another issue all together. This paper is therefore an investigation of the trends in the ideological commitment of the Nigerian theatre to the dire need for social change, and for the socio-economic emancipation of the oppressed and suppressed classes in Nigeria.
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