CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
A literary writer as a member of a society is expected to
be sensitive to the social and political happenings
around him, and not just that but beyond the portrayal of
negative social image and happenings, his obligation is
to shape and direct the affairs of the society. A literary
work is more relevant if it dwells on the consciousness
and experience of the populace, reflecting their
dispositions such as sadness, anger, condemnation,
bitterness, crave for change and so on.
The literary writer must not overlook contemporary social
and political problems ravaging his society, “all art is
propaganda, though not all propaganda is art” (Achebe,
1964). It is expedient for the literary artist to expose and
attack the ills and injustice in his society without fear or
favour. For instance, it will be insensitive for any literary
writer in Nigeria now to write anything outside the
prevailing daily experienced dilapidation in the social,
political and economic issues in the country ranging from
corruption, election manipulation, poor infrastructures,
lack of basic amenities, unemployment, dwindling
economy, rampant fuel scarcity, Boko Haram insurgency
associated with incessant bombings to insecurity,
religious bigotry, kidnapping and so on. Akano (2013).
Satire has always been used to point out societal ills. It
is, therefore, not surprising that great satirists wrote
indicting pieces in which aberrations were ridiculed and
societal foibles were highlighted. Such works include
Pope’s The Rape of the Lock; Fielding’s The Adventures
of Joseph Andrews; Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels: etc. For
any literary work to be meaningful, it has to be
established in the cultural and linguistic premise of such
people.
Most of our proverbs, myths, riddles, songs, etc that are
common during communal activities such as
coronations, naming ceremonies, festivals, etc clearly
depict that satire is by no means a new weapon in
Nigeria, although it is a style newly polished for use in
newspaper columns and one to which public attention
has been drawn largely because of widespread
misinterpretation by popular readership (Abioye, 1991 for
instance). According to Brown and Kimmey (1977).
It is imperative for a literary writer to choose and better
still adhere to a particular literary genre through which he
will disseminate his ideas. Every writer is at liberty to
choose any convenient genre out of the three main
literature genres of drama, prose or poetry.
By using a qualitative research methodology, this study
evaluates the African oral aesthetics deployed in
Osofisan’s Many Colours Make the Thunder-King with
the aim of satirizing the unpleasant social and political
situation in Nigeria and also proffering possible solutions
to her leaders.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Most at times, writers criticize the social and political
situations in the country. The government, in the areas of
their weakness in terms of unpleasant and oppressive
practices has been ignored; this is because they are up
there and not knowing what exactly is bothering the masses. The socio-political well being of the country is
not the government’s priority, important issues as to keep
the country going has been ignored, about the hydraheaded challenges confronting the nation the
government has developed a laissez faire attitude,
thereby making people to struggle for survival on their
own without any iota of help from the government.
Finally, several researches has been carried out on
theatre and democracy in Nigeria but not even a single
research has been carried out on the imperative of
socio-political satire in Femi Osofisan’s “making colours
makes thunder king”
1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The main aim of the study is to determine the
imperative of socio-political satire in Femi Osofisan’s many colours makes thunder king. Other specific
objectives of the study include;
to determine the factors affecting the socio political satire as
seen in Femi Osofisan’s many colours makes thunder king.
to determine the effect of socio political satire in Nigeria today as
in Femi Osofisan’s many colours make thunder king.
to determine the extent to which the political satire of Femi
Osofisan affects the political settings of Nigeria today
to proffer possible solutions to the problem.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What are the factors affecting the socio political satire as seen in
Femi Osofisan’s many colours makes thunder king?
Femi Osofisan’s many colours make thunder king?
What is the extent to which the political satire of Femi Osofisan
affects the political settings of Nigeria today?
What are the possible solutions to the problems?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The study on the imperative of socio-political satire
in Femi Osofisans’ many colours makes thunder king will
be of immense benefit in the sense that will brings into
focus the identifiable traditional aesthetics deployed in
Many Colours Make the Thunder King as a means of
satirizing Nigerian leaders and also for possible reconstruction of their characters towards enhancement of
a better society. It would also enable Nigerian leaders to
go back to their traditional roots to seek the basis for
economic, political and social innovation and progress if
they are to succeed in developing the country or
otherwise. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of
existing literature and knowledge to this field of study
and basis for further research.
1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY
The study on the imperative of socio-political satire
is limited to Femi Osofisan’s many colours makes
thunder king.
1.7 LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede
the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the
relevant materials, literature or information and in the
process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and
interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously
engage in this study with other academic work. This
consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the
research work.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Imperative Of vital importance; crucial.
Socio Political Combining social and political
factors.
Satire The use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or
ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices,
particularly in the context of contemporary politics and
other topical issues
