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MHRD UGC Epg Pathshala Subject: English Principal Investigator: Prof MHRD UGC ePG Pathshala Subject: English Principal Investigator: Prof. Tutun Mukherjee, University of Hyderabad Paper 06: African and Caribbean Writing in English Paper Coordinator: Prof. T. Vijay Kumar, Osmania University Module No. 30: Wole Soyinka, Kongi’s Harvest Content Writer: Dr. Mrudula Lakkaraju, Osmania University Content Reviewer: Prof. Ipshita Chanda, Jadavpur University Language Editor: Prof. T. Vijay Kumar, Osmania University Module 30 Wole Soyinka, Kongi’s Harvest Contents 1. African Theatre 2. Brief History of Nigeria 3. Introduction of the Playwright 3.1 Short Bio 3.2 List of Plays and Themes 4. Overview 5. Characters in the play 5.1 Oba Danlola 5.2 Daodu 5.3 Secretary 5.4 Kongi 5.5 Segi 5.6 Others 6. About the play Structure of the play 6.1 Hemlock 6.2 First Part 6.3 Second Part 6.4 Hangover 7. Interpretation of the Play 7.1 Comic Tragedy 7.2 Political Satire 7.3 Myth Orientation 8. Film Adaptation 1. African theatre & Drama Besides providing entertainment, drama in Africa serves many purposes socially, politically and aesthetically. Africa has many indigenous performance traditions which have become an integrated component of their drama. Modern African drama seeks to combine indigenous elements such as oral narration, mime, music, and dance with the western form and content. This combination gives rise to a new kind of drama which is unique in its composition. 2. Brief History of Nigeria British influence in Nigeria began in early nineteenth century and the period 1800-1960 is regarded as the British or colonial period in Nigerian history. Nigeria became an independent country on October 1, 1960 and a Republic on October 1, 1963. After 1965, the country went through a period of political turmoil with several coups, counter-coups, and failed coups. From 1967-70, the country was ravaged by a civil war, known as the Biafra War, which resulted in nearly three million civilian casualties. INTERESTING FACT -Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups Map of Africa and Nigeria http://carolineinnigeria.blogspot.in/ INTERESTING FACT –Nigeria is the twelfth largest producer of crude oil. INTERESTING FACT –Christianity and Islam are the two major religions 3. Introduction of the playwright Wole Soyinka http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/nigeria/soyinka.html 3.1 Bio Note Akinwande Olu Wole Soyinka was born on July 13, 1934, in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is popularly called Wole Soyinka. He belonged to the Yoruba tribe. After graduating in 1958 he founded an acting company. Soyinka directs his own plays in performance. His decades of political activism included periods of imprisonment and exile. Soyinka was the first African writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. In all he has published 27 plays, 2 novels, 3 short story collections, 5 memoirs, 12 anthologies of essays, 3 screen plays, and 2 translations. His plays are called ‘protest plays’ since they oppose autocratic power of all kinds. 3.2 List of Plays and Themes Theme: Nigerian Independence A Dance of the Forests (produced 1960; published 1963) Theme: Making fun of pompous, westernized Intellectuals The Lion and the Jewel (first performed in 1959; published 1963) Theme: Mocking the preachers The Trials of Brother Jero (performed in 1960; published 1963) Jero’s Metamorphosis (1973) Theme: Opposition to African Authoritarian Leadership and Disillusionment with Nigerian Society The Strong Breed (1963) Kongi’s Harvest (opened the first Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar, 1966; published 1967) The Road (1965) From Zia, with Love (1992) King Baabu (performed 2001; published 2002) Other plays Madmen and Specialists (performed 1970; published 1971) Death and the King’s Horseman (1975) The Beatification of Area Boy (1995) INTERESTING FACT - The designer of the national flag was Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a twenty three-year-old student. The two unique sea-green bands represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of Nigeria while the white band represents peace. Book Cover http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongi's_Harvest Overview In 1986, Wole Soyinka became the first African writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Although Soyinka has written poetry, fiction, non-fictional prose, he is best known for his plays. His plays can be seen as ‘protest plays’. Taking a critical look at Nigerian independence; exposing the pompous, westernized intellectuals; mocking the religious impostors; opposing authoritarian leadership; and expressing disillusionment with post- independence developments in Nigeria are some of the major themes of Wole Soyinka’s plays. His play Kongi’s Harvest (1965) is set in post-independent Nigeria. It revolves around the character of Kongi a modern dictator of an imaginary African country called Isma. Kongi has usurped the power of the traditional ruler, Oba Danlola, who along with his wives and advisors is imprisoned. Kongi tries to use the traditional harvest festival to establish the legitimacy of his rule. However, his attempt ends in chaos and the play ends with everyone fleeing the country fearing the reprisal of the dictator. Although Kongi’s character is said to have been inspired by two African politicians of the time, Soyinka’s satire on modern dictators has a much wider relevance. 5. Characters in the play 5.1 Oba Danlola: The traditional ruler of the Republic of Isma. He is a man who is imprisoned by the dictator Kongi in an attempt to overthrow him. 5.2 Daodu: Son to Sarumi, and heir to Danlola’s throne. He is sought by the secretary to mediate with Kongi, on behalf of Oba Danlola. 5.3 Secretary: Kongi’s man, who organises the Harvest Festival. He represents Kongi. 5.4 Kongi: The dictator of the Republic of Isma, who is very obsessed with his image. He wants the traditional ruler to peacefully pass on the baton of the Republic of Isma into his hands. 5.5 Segi: She owns a club, a strong woman, is the daughter of Oba Danlola’s loyalist. 5.6 Others Sarumi – A younger Oba – Father of Daodu, a loyal friend to the traditional ruler. Wuraola – Oba Danlola’s favourite wife. Ogbo Aweri – Head of a conclave of elders. Dende – Oba Danlola’s servant. Superintendent – The jail superintendent, where the traditional ruler is imprisoned. Members of the Old Aweri – Six members who form the conclave of elders Members of Kongi’s Aweri – Six members who form Reformed Aweri Fraternity. 6. About the play The new dictator of the Republic of Isma Kongi has taken over power by force from the traditional ruler and has imprisoned him. The traditional rulers though critical of Kongi’s rule are not in a position to retaliate. The people of Isma have a tradition of celebrating a harvest festival at which the best yam produced by the farmers is awarded a prize. The prize yam is then offered to the king in a show of acceptance of his rule. Kongi now plans to use this traditional festival to establish his rule. He wants the traditional ruler, Oba, to hand over the prize yam to him to symbolize as a peaceful transition from a traditional ruler to a modern one. What happens to this plan forms the plot of the play. Structure of the play The play has four sections, Hemlock, the First Part, the Second Part, and Hangover. 6.1 Hemlock This is the opening scene of this play. It starts with the rolling of drums and the playing of national anthem, prompting the audience to stand up. When the curtain goes up the audience sees the traditional ruler Oba Danlola and his people with a retinue of musicians in a jail. They now sing the parody of the national anthem. The juxtaposition of the national anthem of a new nation and the traditional ruler in jail sets the tone of the play. Hemlock is a poisonous conifer. The scene in front of the audience is far from poisonous. It is of a group of people who are singing and dancing to the music. They are showing their dissent to the governance of the present dictator through a song. The group is reprimanded by the jail superintendent. Oba Danlola continues singing supported by Sarumi, the younger Oba. The songs are a satire on the political situation of Nigeria. For example: The ill effects of amassing wealth of the dictators The pot that will eat fat Its bottom must be scorched Exploitation of natural resources by force The sweetest wine has flowed down The tapper’s shattered shins One-way discourse of the government which is insensitive to people’s response With government rediffusion sets Which talk and talk and never Take a lone word in reply The superintendent finds the Nigerian national flag wrapped around Oba Danlola and quickly pulls it away in horror. Oba Danlola being the traditional elder of the clan and the superintendent being a younger man makes fun of him in a genial way. The jail superintendent respects the Oba but has to obey the dictator Kongi. The elders through their dialogue with the superintendent inform the audience about the harmony their order has with nature. The true essence of a symbiosis between the traditional rule and nature, as opposed to the exploitative policies of the colonial power, is reminded to the viewers. Sarumi says We lift the King’s umbrella Higher than men But it never pushes The sun in the face This part of the play ends with a clear depiction of the colonial power and the host country as a child and a mother respectively. Soon the head swelled Too big for pillow And it swelled too big For the mothers back And soon the mothers head Was nowhere to be seen And the child’s slight belly Was strangely distended 6.2 First Part The first part opens in Kongi’s palace, a ‘retreat in the mountains’ with his own Aweri, who unlike the traditional king’s advisors are now fashionably called Reformed Aweri Fraternity.
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