SATIRE IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DRAMA

SATIRE IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DRAMA

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION

The study’s context

People’s literature is that which aims to discuss, expose, and provide answers to society’s daily issues, whether they are social, economic, moral, political, or otherwise. Because literature is thought to reflect life, literature and society are inextricably linked. To some extent, this inspires literary artists who incorporate theories into their work in order to suggest solutions to these challenges and demonstrate the way forward.

Satire is a type of literature, as well as graphic and performing arts, in which vices, follies, abuses, and falsities are mocked, ideally with the goal of shaming individuals and society itself. Although satire is usually humorous, a more important goal is often social corrective or constructive criticism using the mind as a weapon. Satire can now be found in a wide range of cultural forms, including literature, theater, commentary, and media. The word satire is derived from the Latin word Satur and the sentence LanxSatura. Saturation meant “complete,” but the juxtaposition with Lanx changed the meaning to “variety or pastiche,” which suggested a mix of diverse types. To confront crazy, the Satirist employs a variety of stylistic tactics such as irony, mocking, and exaggeration, among others.

According to Charles Sanders, satire dispels the illusions that man requires in order to survive. He risks having a short life since he is always dealing with the present. Satire, it is argued, provides neither the escape of comedy nor the purgation of tragedy. It’s just a jumble of unresolved irritating pleasure (15).

Satire is a creative genre in which a strong use of irony and sarcasm is used to criticize specific cultural or other practices. Although entertainment and humor are not always the primary goals of this type of criticism, humor is frequently used to compensate for the harshness of the criticism itself. Satire works well in a society that is cognizant of appropriate moral and etiquette standards. To accomplish this purpose, the satirist must adopt some values against which a dramatic drop in the norm of behavior or aberration can be depicted.

In general, this form of criticism is used to express offense or offense at the conduct or words of another. However, it can be expressed in a variety of ways, and while direct criticism can feel like a person is simply “preaching” his opinion to others, using more creative methods allows someone to express the idea. In a more disarming approach, the true message of the criticism can be conveyed more clearly, frequently through the use of the mind, sarcasm, and irony.

According to Adeseeke (2008), a large-scale introduction to Wole Soyinka’s theatrical writings and a full and complete analysis of satire in fourteen of the Childe International Soyinka plays to King Baabu and sketches before the Blackout. Ebewo Patrick views satire as a critical tool, a literary genre, and a social institution. He investigates the origins and definitions of sarcasm in diverse cultural contexts, addressing Soyinka as an African satirist inspired by both Western and African satirical forms. He examines the roles of comedic and tragic satire in Soyinka’s displays on the African sociopolitical landscape and politicians, religious hypocrites, mystical opportunists, eager ladies, and prostitutes. The author also offers some thoughts on the effectiveness of Soyinka’s satire and literature as a tool for addressing contemporary issues and promoting social change (Ebewo, 2002).

Frank OgodoOgbeche demonstrated how corruption pervades government institutions and every social fabric, as well as the catastrophic impact corruption has on our daily lives.

1.2 Definition of the problem

Satire as a literary method is a distinct component of literature, one of several devices used to express ideas through words. This is a style used by many writers, and the various styles used by a writer allow him to convey his narrative in a unique way, and the difference between writers’ work is what they are renowned for. Satire has not been abused as a corrective tool or a means of dealing with society issues. Satire, on the other hand, tries to create a shock of recognition and to make vice ugly or nasty in order to redact vice from the individual or culture criticized in order to restore morality. The continent’s huge sociopolitical challenges are rarely disregarded by African writers. Thus, Ogunba (2009: 21) expresses his concern: When the writer in his own society is no longer able to function as a consciousness, he must accept that his only option is to either refuse completely or to retire to the position of postmortem chronicler and surgeon. The artist has always worked in African society as a record of his society’s manners and experiences, as well as a voice of vision in his own time. The above shows how dramatists are a part of their cultures and so have a better understanding of what is going on around them since they serve as the conscience of society. They are dedicated to restoring order in their communities, which have been wracked by a slew of sociopolitical and economic calamities. This patriotic ideal, which is rife with writers,

According to Awodiya (2010: 33), the weapon we have is to use our pen, zeal, and eloquence to awaken in us the song of freedom through our words. We remove the stigma of inferiority, reawaken buried powers, expose pests and traitors among us, and preach constructive sermons. Writers have been at the forefront of social change since the days of the Greek philosopher Socrates, opposing oppressive society’s mores. Satire is a kind of writing that mocks the terrible or foolish behavior of people, institutions, and society in general. It is used by artists to assess the socio-political structure of a society.

1.3 Goals and objectives.

This research will look into Frank OgodoOgbeche’s “Harvest of Corruption” and Wole Soyinka. Beyond “Death and the King’s Horseman,” how they use satire to bring to the knowledge of individuals that the correction or reconstruction of society begins with oneself became of paramount importance because this is another way of sensitizing people about social ills.

The study specifically sought to

Examine the harvest of corruption in modern African play.

determine all characters’ roles in Harvest of Corruption

In contemporary African play, consider the death and the king’s horseman through the lens of satire.

evaluate satire as a dramatic weapon for societal improvement

1.4 Justification for Study

The texts “Harvest of Corruption” and “Death and the Kings Horseman” are examples of how contemporary drama enhances sarcastic beauty, although little or no attention has been devoted to this aspect of the text. The purpose of this research is to investigate the significance of satire as a literary genre used to cure society abnormalities and personal aberrations. The goal of this research is to look into the impact of satire on society and how it might help to solve problems that impede national progress.

Criticism has always required a rigorous assessment of what is excellent and bad. Satire as a literary device is utilized by writers for more than just pleasure and derision; it is used to tell more about the faults or wrongs occurring in society. Thus, the research aims to discuss Satire as a literary phenomenon in society in general, as well as to encourage humanity to mobilize in society for development purposes.

On the other hand, the need to study works of art is critical because it is an abstract exhibition intended to appeal to the interests and emotions of people whom aesthetic disciplines would call or designate as “Arts for the good of the arts,” Our contemporary society with the goal of effecting total change because society also needs to know better the contribution of its various citizens.

1.5 The Methodology

The library technique is used in this study since it is appropriate and convenient. This methodological methodology comprises gathering data from secondary sources such as serious works, treatises, and documented materials, which are typically obtained from libraries, the internet, and book stores in order to analyze primary texts. This relates to the qualitative research methodology used primarily in the Humanities disciplines to collect a wide range of empirical data on case studies, individual encounters or contemplation, life story, interviews, observation, historical narratives, and visual texts that describe routine and problematic moments and meaning in an individual’s life.

1.6 The Study’s Purpose

The scope of this study is limited to the selected texts “Harvest of Corruption” and “Death and the Kings Horseman.” It should be noticed that the book contains numerous other literary devices such as comparison, humor, humor, satire, irony, and so on. However, we will focus on the satire that the text itself is satirical in nature by emphasizing the characteristics that distinguish it as satire.

1.7 Definitions of Terms

Satire is a phrase used to describe any piece of literature or art whose goal is to be absurd. It is easier to recognize than define. Satire is a literary form that blends a critical mindset with humor and spirit in order to better humanity. Since antiquity, the Satirists have shared a common goal: to expose stupidity in all its forms, including vanity, hypocrisy, pedantry, idolatry, bigotry, semi-mentality, and so on.

Writings that are sardonic and reflect a society’s political, social, and personal outlooks are considered contemporary.

Drama:Is a work of verse or prose written to reflect life or a character or to tell a tale, usually incorporating conflicts and emotions expressed via action and dialogue and meant for theatrical performance.

Satire in Contemporary African Drama: A Case Study of Frank Ogodo Ogbeche’s Harvest of Corruption and Death and the Kings Horseman Wole Soyinka’s