The theatre of Ovonramwen: A reflection on the dramaturgy and politics of historical reconstruction in the Nigerian theatre

Abstract

Oba Ovonramwen was tried and he is unarguably still on trial because of the numerous theatrical performances and written literary classics that awaken our social consciousness about the heroic deeds of this most celebrated tragic Afri-can hero; Oba Ovonramwen of Benin Kingdom, Nigeria. Using the descriptive method, this research work is not an attempt to pass aesthetic judgment about the textual, dramaturgical or historical excellence on the three creative works that will be used in this work but rather, to critically reflect on these works in relation to the politics of writing in the Nigerian theatre. Our reference points are going to be the following creative works: Oba Ovonramwen (1966) by Emwinma Ogieriaikhi, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1974) by Ola Rotimi and The Trials of Oba Ovonramwen (1997) by Ahmed Yerima. We will also consider the myth and reality between his-tory and fact, poetic license and creative ingenuity and historical reconstruction most especially in the Nigerian theatre and how it affects the former lion of the Benin Kingdom, Oba Ovonramwen in the Ovonramwen theatre.