Female dramatists, distinction and the Nigerian society: an examination of Zulu Sofola and Tess Onwueme’s select plays

Abstract

In times past, the realm of playwriting in Nigerian theatre was seriously and meritoriously ruled and wholly influenced by male writers. In recent times, there are several female writers and dramatists who have risen to the level of prominence which their male counterparts had exclusively enjoyed in the past. Some of these writers include Julie Okoh, Chimamanda Adichie, Irene Salami, Buchi Emechata, Chimah Utoh, Stella Oyedepo, amongst others. This papert focuses on two female dramatists in Nigeria: Zulu Sofola, and Tess Onwueme who have outstanding works that can be certified evergreen. The paper examines their influences to the wake of female dramatists in the Nigerian playwriting realm. It portrays female dramatists in Nigeria as “writers of distinction.” It discusses the thematic preoccupation in relation to their works, especially how their works exult the strength, intelligence and creative mind of the Nigerian woman. Knowledge acquired is no waste to the human faculty; rather, it is a plus to the co-existence of the human race. The entire body of this paper thrives on exposure, opportunity, creativity, and the acknowledgement of remarkable craft by women whose epochal efforts in the theater genre were once disregarded due to their sex, often as a result of social construction of gender. This research stands to remind the masses, especially the male folk, of the outstanding works of the female dramatists in Nigeria. None can dispute the fact that these female dramatists have made outstanding contribution to the growth of the Nigeria theatre. The paper is intrinsically relevant to scholarly research and study standing out as one academic research work beneficial to students of literary research and the humanities in general.