Drama As Social Context And Political Process In Wole Soyinka‘S <i>Opera Wonyosi</i>

Abstract

Theatre is one of the most effective tools in bringing changes to the society through its communicative and effective channels since the  pre-colonial, colonial and post –colonial eras. Theatre has been one of the instruments used to declare war against unwanted regime and  unpopular policies. Drama or plays were staged in various places in Nigeria to fight against policies and correct the various  shortcomings of governments. Dramatists like Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, Wole Soyinka, J.P Clark etc. used theatre  several times to preach good governance, freedom and the rights of the people as a result of which people become more conscious. This  paper therefore examines the effect of drama as a social context and political process especially as being used by Wole Soyinka‘s Opera  Wonyosi. Consequently, through library/archival method, the various ways in which drama (or theatre) affects politics in Nigeria with  special emphasis on the case study will be analyzed. The scope of study touches on the multidimensional interpretations of Opera  Wonyosi in defining Wole Soyinka as a dramatist whose work reflects politics or the political nature of his society. The shove of the paper  is therefore to see how Soyinka has used the work Opera Wonyosi which is an adaptation of John Gays Beggar‘s Opera which itself is adapted from Bertolt Brecht‘s Three penny Opera. Soyinka‘s unique adaptation epitomizes the anatomy of greed and corruption in their  varied ramifications.