Archetypal Representation of Factors against the Spirit of "Omoluabi" in selected Contemporary Yoruba Written Plays
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Date
2014
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Department of the Performing Arts, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
The spirit of good character (Omoluabi), despite being a panacea for societal development, is fast eluding the Nigerian society in general and the Yoruba society in particular. The major objective of this paper is to analyse the major factors responsible for the society’s moral decadence level as portrayed by selected Yoruba playwrights. Three Yoruba written plays were examined. They are: Omotayo and Ogunniran’s Abinueni (1997), Sangotoye’s Adakédajé (2007) and Ajiboye’s Eéfin Niwa (2008). The methodology is descriptive and the principle of archetypal theory which links human behaviours with society’s myths was adopted. The theory believes that whatever behaviour one puts up, it is an archetype of somebody or something. Our findings reveal that demonic archetypes, the lion archetypes and the ‘id’ and ego personality are among the factors against the spirit of ‘Omoluabi’ in contemporary Yoruba society. The paper is significant in the sense that it further exposes the weaknesses of our society especially in the area of their attitude to moral degeneration and moral decadence. The paper concludes that the selected authors have demonstrated that the society sets and controls the peoples’ moral and unless this is strictly observed, the society cannot move forward.
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Omoluabi, Yoruba, Archetypal Represeantation, Written Plays