Agony, Antigone and the Dialectics of Resistance in African Performance

Abstract

This paper focuses on the political dynamics that informs the dialectics of resistance in African performance in the works of Nigerian playwright, Fémi Òsófisan. Generally, African writers, since the era of independence from Britain, France, Portugal and other colonialists, have consistently pleaded against the subjugation of human freedom and justice, and the imposition of a Creonic code of administrative conduct, by the ruling elite with their imperial, and sometimes feudalistic, privileges. The struggle between traditional values and identities and the hegemonic Western construction of African values form the basis of most of African performances since the nationalistic era, through the periods of independence to the present day. This struggle is sometimes referred to as the ‘clash of cultures’ or ‘clash of sexes’. However, the muse of Fémi Òsófisan identifies and theatrically deploys a synthesis of post-colonial discourse that systematically constructs and authors a differing idealistic path, especially regarding the position of women in African society. In "Tegonni: An African Antigone", a play set against the backdrop of colonial dependency in Africa, Fémi Osofisan explores the angst felt by the women against the modern day Creons while "Women of Owu" questions the motives of male conquerors and heroes. This paper thus explores the discourse of the dialectics that inform these echoes.