Rethinking love, reexamining society: Femi Osofisan’s Love’s Unlike Lading and its implications for social discourse

Abstract

Nigeria is grappling with pervasive social issues, including corruption, lovelessness, political apathy, and exploitation. Despite government efforts to address these problems, they persist. This study examines Femi Osofisan's drama, Love's Unlike Lading as a catalyst for personal and societal transformation. The qualitative research design was adopted in the work as data was collected using the content analysis method. The study adopted Bertolt Brecht’s Epic Theatre as the theoretical framework. This is because the thrust of Epic Theatre is to re-awaken the consciousness of the audience. This research explores how the play's narrative arcs and character actions promote self-awareness and challenge societal norms. The objectives of this study are to analyse the drama as a social discourse, highlighting its potential to inspire change, and to demonstrate how theatre can be a powerful tool for restoring love and promoting social transformation. The study's findings underscore the capacity of drama to confront and address pressing societal issues, sparking necessary awareness. To amplify the play's impact, this research recommends staging performances in various settings to raise awareness about the destructive consequences of lovelessness and wickedness in society.