Committed Theatre in Nigeria

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.

Segun Oyeleke Oyewo is head of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State.
Stephen Ogheneruro Okpadah is a PhD candidate in the Department of the Performing Arts, University of Ilorin.
Taiwo Okunola Afolabi is a PhD candidate in the Department of Theatre at the University of Victoria.

Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Function, need and the practical implications of Committed Theatre and Theatre of Commitment in Nigeria: An Introduction.
Chapter 1: Theatre in Development Discourse
The Imperatives of Freire's Poetics of Liberation for Applied Theatre
Adegbamigbe, Abayomi.
The Arts: Artistes and the Theatre in Development Discourse
Jiboku, Joseph Olutoyin
On Being Black: Art and commitment in August Wilson
Prayer P. Elmo Raj
Functional Arts: An Innovative Exploration of Bamboo for Entreprenuerer Possibilities in Nigeria.
Quadri, Oluwasegun Olawale
Chapter 2 :Nigerian theatre in perspective
Patterns and Trends of Committed Theatre in Nigeria
Lawal, Hameed Olutoba
The Revolutionary Ethos in Sam Ukala's Last Heroes
Ogu-Raphael, Ifeanyi and Stephen Ogheneruro Okpadah
Theatrical elements in the Egba Festival of Kokori People in Delta State
Awodiya, Muyiwa P. and Akpore Nicholas Efe
Communalistic/Individualistic Tendencies and the Taboos in Wedlock of the Gods
Adjeketa Blessing
Chapter 3 Social, cultural and historical implications of Nigeria theatre
Politics, Theatre, and Echoes of Separatism in Nigeria
Okpadah, Stephen Ogheneruro and Taiwo Afolabi Okunola
Poverty, Ethics and Theatre Entrepreneurship in Nigeria
Oyewo, Segun Oyeleke
Analysis of Aesthetagement of Calabar Carnival in Nigeria
Oyewo, Segun Oyeleke and Christopher Elochukwu Unegbu
Chapter 4: Committed theatre practices: A critical analysis from a Global Perspective
Committed Theatre Practices: Indigenous Theatre Practice in Indonesia
Silas Emovwodo
Functional Theatre and Theatre of Commitment in Nigeria: An Interview with Akanji Nasiru
Oyewo, Segun Oyeleke
Committed Theatre, Committed People: Interview with Practitioners from Canada, interview with Paulina Grainger - Arts and Outreach Coordinator, (Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) & Lina De Guevara (Founder, Puente Theatre, Canada)
Taiwo Afolabi Okunola
A Committed Artist on the Niger Delta Speaks: An Interview with Ben Binebai, Associate
Professor of Theatre Arts, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Okpadah, Stephen Ogheneruro
The Committed Artiste from Ethiopia: Debebe Eshetu
Menyahel Teshome
Conclusion