This work is a study of Nigerian drama from the eve of independence to the 1980s with supportive materials from Nigeria's socio-political history. It examines the appropriateness and usage of the term Nigerian Drama and sets limits on its meaning. It also looks at what influences the Negritude movement and independence had on Nigerian drama, and why it is important to study Nigerian drama of socio-political concern. It examines pre-Colonial Nigeria, the style of politics and electioneering that marked the first Republic, the Marxist phenomenon in drama, the effects of the civil war, and the drama that resulted. It includes play synopses, and biographies of playwrights.

This second annual volume in the African Theatre series focuses on the intersection of politics and theatre in Africa today. Topics include the remarkable collaboration between Horse and Bamboo, a puppet theatre company based in the United Kingdom, and Nigerian playwright Sam Ukala that was inspired by the infamous execution of Nigerian playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists; the plays of Femi Osofisan; and plays by Ghanaian playwrights Joe de Graft and Mohammed Ben-Abdallah. African Theatre features the work of Mauritian playwright Dev Virahsawmy and includes an interview with him, reviews of an English production of his play, Toufann, as well as the translated playscript. Reports of workshops and conferences, reviews, and news of the year in African theatre make this volume a valuable resource for anyone interested in current issues in African drama and performance.

This book provides an overview of the full range of the teaching and practice of Committed Theatre and theatre of commitment in Nigeria for scholars in the arts and cultural studies. It is divided into four sections; Chapter 1: Theatre in Development Discourse, which is comprised of four papers that explore the theories of practice of theatre of commitment. Chapter 2 : Nigerian Theatre in Perspective discusses the trends, ethos of revolution, theatrical elements and communalistic/individualistic tendencies and the taboos theatre, drama and traditional theatre in Nigeria. In Chapter 3, the social, cultural and historical implications of Nigeria theatre, is examined in papers that focus on politics, theatre, and echoes of separatism in Nigeria and including an analysis of Aesthetagement of the Calabar Carnival in Nigeria. Chapter 4 performs a critical analysis of committed theatre practices from a global perspective. Interviews were conducted with committed artistes from Nigeria, Canada, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. Committed Theatre Perspectives in Teaching and Practice in Nigeria has the potential to impact the philosophy, teaching, and practice of theatre. The ideas contained in the book provide an excellent framework for understanding the importance and more importantly, the impact of theatre on society.