Stakeholders in the arts and literary industry have commended African blend in the play, ‘What The Hunter’ saw’ written and directed by Makinde Adeniran.
They say the use of Yoruba language, music and dancing gives it a unique African flavour especially at a time when cultural identity of the Nigerian people are seriously fading away on the account of Western influence.
The play seeks to portray Wole Soyinka’s literary worldview by Adeniran, the Nobel Laureate’s close associate.
It x-rays social issues Prof. Soyinka has been concerned about in his literary works.
Speaking on Saturday shortly after the second edition of the Independence performance of the play organized by Arojah Royal Theatre at the Cyprian Ekwensi Arts and Culture Centre in Abuja, the National President of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA Barr. Ahmed Maiwada observed that the combination of indigenous Nigerian culture and Western culture is a step in the right direction in saving the indigenous culture from extinction into civilization.
“I think the use of Yoruba language, music and dancing is very relevant in today’s society especially at a period when cultural events and practices are fading away very fast against the very high and swift tide of modernization and Western culture.
“I do admire the blend of foreign culture with the indigenous Nigerian culture.
“Secondly, the question of cultural flash in the play itself where the critics of the writer (main character) Hunter Show were angry that he does not write in his local dialect, rather he writes in high sounding language that readers cannot understand.
“Even if he eventually writes in his own Yoruba dialect, it has to be translated into English language. Again, it tells you that no culture is superior to each other. As much as the writer wishes to communicate, he should not abandon his background.
“In my thinking as a writer, you can still incorporate your cultural things even while speaking in a language that is not yours, that other people may understand” he said.
The lead character, Israel Isaac Udochukwu who played the role of Hunter Show said the use of ogun as an intermediary between the world of the living and the dead sigidi represents Soyinka’s advocacy for an improved living standard for the people through friendly government policies.
He noted that the sigidi as contained in the play symbolises the people and the voice of critics of Soyinka which he responds to through his works.
One of the responses he noted was when Prof. Soyinka remarked that he cannot be held responsible for inability of readers of his work to understand it.
According to Udochukwu, the play is largely meant for academic, literary and theatre society and not for commercial audience.
The writer and director of ‘What The Hunter Saw’ Makinde Adeniran said the play highlights the everyday challenges the society faces using the eye of a character, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Describing Soyinka as an icon of his environment who feels the same situation the masses feel, Adeniran who is the National Secretary of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP emphasised that the play uses the life of the character to explore certain issues in the society.
The producer and founder, Arojah Royal Theatre, Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo who corroborated the views of the others, added that, this production tagged ‘the independence play’ is Arojah Royal Theatre’s flag off for the On Nigeria Project funded by the MacArthur Foundation through the Kano based Centre for Information and Technology Development. “Election is in the air as it were 2023 is around the corner. This is our little way of engaging the general public, as well as the political elites, to ensure that transparency is institutionalise in governance. Elected officials must respect their social contracts with the people. And take responsibilities where necessary, rather than playing dirty politics with the lives of the people.” he submitted.
