A study of Linda Hutcheon’s theory of adaptation in ‘Ààre Ajagungbadé’: An adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Abstract

This paper delved into the process of adapting the play, 'Ààre Ajagungbadé,' from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. By employing Linda Hutcheon’s ‘Theory of Adaptation’ in which she posits that “an adaptation is a derivation that is not derivative, a work that is second without being secondary. It is its own palimpsetics” (72),” we engaged in an in-depth analysis of ‘Ààre Ajagungbadé’. We also explore the Yorùbá cultural elements embedded in the play. The paper takes the adapted text as a basis for assessing the success of the adaptation while also highlights its limitations. A comparative analysis was also conducted, contrasting William Shakespeare’s Macbeth with ‘Ààre Ajagungbadé’. The examination revealed both differences and similarities between the two plays, owing to the cultural variables. It became evident that ‘Ààre Ajagungbadé’ significantly contributed to the comprehension of Macbeth among the students and actors at Performing Arts departments of KWASU and AAUA. In conclusion, this paper recommended the consideration of adapting Western plays into different traditional and cultural settings, be it Greek, Shakespearean, or any other Western work, as a means to enhance the understanding of the texts. Furthermore, the paper recommended to drama students interested in understanding similar adaptations, utilizing the strengths and addressing weakness of the endeavour.