ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S THE BEATIFICATION OF AREA BOY AS A MEDIUM OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR SOCIETY

Authors

  • Benson Kayode Okundare Department of Languages, The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
  • Tony Aduma Ogbudu Department of Languages, The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejlll.v8i2.546

Keywords:

analysis, Wole Soyinka, beatification, Area Boys

Abstract

This paper is a critical analysis of Soyinka’s The Beatification of the Area Boy, which centers on the different displays of power at different historical periods in Nigeria. It is a reaction of Wole Soyinka to changes within Nigerian society, that is, his reaction to sociopolitical events in Nigeria during the military regime in Nigeria. The play is set in the city of Lagos during the military government which was in power then, and it revolves around Sanda (the king of the Area Boys), a university dropout who is very smart and intelligent. In other words, the play is a satire that traces the life of a group of “Area Boys”, which ends in the marriage between Sanda and Miseyi. In Nigerian society, the “Area Boys” are generally viewed as thugs, thieves, miscreants and pranksters. However, Soyinka portrays them as a group of people who are responsible, intelligent and dutiful and who are only going on their business so as to survive the hardships brought about by the prevailing situation in the country because of bad governance. This paper examines the shifting structures of power from the oppressive and dictatorial hands of the military to the area boys who represent the oppressed citizens of the country, hence, a positive political change. The Beatification of the Area Boy, therefore, is a satirical play that exposes the ills in our society embodied in our leaders.

 

Author Biographies

  • Benson Kayode Okundare, Department of Languages, The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

    Benson Kayode Okuridare holds B.A. (Ed.) English from Lagos State University, 0jo, Lagos, and M.A. in English Language from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria. He has taught English Language in Secondary Schools in Nigeria for over six years and has published many articles in Local and International journals. He is currently a Principal Lecturer in the Department of Languages, The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, where he has been teaching Use of English and Communication in English for eighteen years. His research interests are Phonology and Grammar of English Language.

  • Tony Aduma Ogbudu, Department of Languages, The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

    Ogbudu, Tony Aduma holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) English from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State and M.A. in Literature from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria. He has taught English Language in Secondary Schools in Nigeria for over three years and has published many articles in journals. He is currently a Principal Lecturer in the Department of Languages, The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, where he has been teaching Use of English and Communication in English for over fifteen years. He is current studying for a PhD (Literature) in Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. His research interest is mainly African Literature.

References

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Published

2024-08-08

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Articles