Social Commitment in Ola Rotimi's Plays: Understanding an African Playwright's Passion for Societal Transformation

Argument on the functionality of literature has continued to resonate. African writers have dismissed the concept of art for art?s sake as ?deodorized dog shit?,insisting that art must address socio-political realities. African writers are seen as ?the voice of vision?,of their people. What ?voice? or language,then, should the African writer use;impeccable foreign language,and fail to reach the majority of Africans who lack western education? Or ethnic language in a multiracial continent like Africa and still fail,incidentally,toreach yet a majority of the peoples of Africa? Ola Rotimi successfully addressed the socio-political and economic realities of Nigeria cum Africa,and toned down the English language,in order to make it accessible. This book has analysed Rotimi?s IF... A TRAGEDY OF THE RULED, HOPES OF THE LIVING DEAD, OUR HUSBAND HAS GONE MAD AGAIN,and MAN TALK, WOMAN TALK because the texts exude remarkable commitment,on the writer?s part,to issues of societal relevance and significance. Scholars and students of African literature and indeed anybody interested in the socio-political realities of post-colonial Africa should find this book very helpful.