Department of Theatre Arts and Film Studies

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Ashes and Daydreams
(Kraft Books Limited, 2007-10) Iwuh, John
Beyond Borders: Interrogating Ododo's Multidimensional Creative Enterprise
(Alpha Crownes Publishers, 2012) Iwuh, John
The need to walk the broad spectrum of Nigeria's theatrical space was a clarion call to early theatre academics. The reason was due to the exigencies of local content needs facing the young theatre discipline. These early scholars were compelled to fill the gaps created by the shortage of personnel in certain core areas of the theatre. One of the areas greatly affected was technical theatre. Studies show that following their emergence however, the present crop of theatre technologists are not only technically multi-skilled but are also broadly academic; having conquered the dreaded technical area and faired no less in the other areas of performance studies. Sunday Ododo's quintessential stage designs best summarize the revolutionary pattern of the third generation of Nigerian designers. This chapter examines Ododo's multidimensional response to broad literary calls and performance needs, and which he subsequently approached with peculiar creative passion and insight. Included in this expose are the critical and technical readings of some of his outstanding stage engagements that worthily outline the brightly coloured path of a design academic.
Birthright
(AYF Publishers, 2016-06) Iwuh, John
Celebrating the Incarnates of Ancient Cults: The Structure, Hierarchy and Management of the Egungun and Sangotimi Festivals of Ede Land
(International journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2024-06) Iwuh, John
Modern corporate management styles appear to undermine the traditional but highly organized management system of indigenous African festivals. Despite lacking organized schools or training outfits, or profit oriented drive, traditional institutions such as the Egungun cults present in Yorubaland have survived through convention and long history of an ancient cult management system. However, little is known of its link and attachment to royalty on which the kingship, culture, and tradition of the people revolve. The Yoruba people are a major ethnic tribe domiciled in the western region of Nigeria, West Africa. This paper examines the Egungun and Sangotimi festivals of an ancient Yoruba town, Ede as performances, with an emphasis on the history, structure, hierarchy, and administration of the cyclic ritual, providing an action plan in terms of committee set-up, publicity and media coverage. The study adopted an empirical approach through personal interviews with heads of guilds, community leaders, members of royal descent, and library sources to assert that the modern celebration of Egugun festivals is based on the inherited ancient structure established by the people’s ancestors and whose management approaches are in tandem with basic management principles.
Challenges affecting the World Health Organisation’s Contributions to Sustainable Development in Nigeria
(International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 2023-11) Iwuh, John
This article examines the relationship between health and sustainable development through the lens of cooperation between Nigeria and the World Health Organisation (WHO). While the relationship has yielded some benefits, Nigeria has not fully realized the potential of this cooperation due to various challenges. Drawing on the collective and public good theory, this article investigates the gaps in the WHO's efforts to address policy issues, facilitate collaboration, and manage public health goods. It identifies challenges stemming from three thematic areas: the global health environment, internal issues within the WHO, and the Nigerian context. To fully benefit from the relationship, Nigeria needs to improve coordination within the health sector and ensure the sustainability of WHO programmes. The credibility and technical expertise of the WHO remain valuable for Nigeria’s development.
The Challenges of Interpreting the Poetic and Lyrical Depth of Lighting in J.P. Clark's Plays
(Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), 2011) Iwuh, John
From a humble beginning, lighting has gone beyond illumination. The need has always been there but lack of technology limited its full potential until the twentieth century. Like the Classical Greek plays, African plays appear not to have been written for stage lighting until African elite dramatists began to write in the European tradition. However, in telling African stories, the total theatre approach is hardly ignored. Yet some Nigerian playwrights have brought their deep poetic language to dramatic dialogue which thus challenges the creativity of the lighting designer. J.P. Clark is one of such playwrights. This essay discusses some of these challenging poetic lines and dramatic atmosphere which an ambitious designer can pursue through sound and light in the total theatre and illusionistic styles in Clark's drama
Contextual Explication of Idioms: Igbo Proverbs in African Drama
(Ogun Journal of Arts, 2011-06) Iwuh, John
Modern African writing can be traced to the history of European education in Africa. The modes of literary expression in the works of modern African writers derive from the language of the colonial educators. Learning, speaking and writing in foreign languages are accompanied by hindrances in translation and transliteration. A consequence of this can be the loss of meaning. But what is the need of communication without meaning? This essay considers the renewed call for language and cultural revival in Nigeria and the important role of proverbs as technical device of writing in the folkloric mode. It examines how Nigerian, specifically Igbo writers, utilize the local language idioms and proverbs as technique to convey meaning, and enrich the wisdom contained in the Nigerian languages which capture the folkloric essence of their local milieu. It also looks at the social and aesthetic functions of local proverbs in African literary writing; how they are derived, and how young writers can emulate the derivative techniques. The discussion further shows that the proverb in folklore is a veritable classroom technique (method) and not style (appearance), that not only generates interest from the candidates whenever it is given as illustration, but also excites nostalgic hunger for their traditional roots. It will also draw a parallel between proverbs which elucidate and sometimes prophesy impending course of action in the plot of a story against idioms which are closed, clannish and more dialectic.
Design Aspects of Carnival Arts and Performance in Nigeria
(Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), 2016) Iwuh, John
Dying Traditions in Igboland: Iku Ofo and the Modern Justice System
(Nigerian Journal of Oral Literatures, 2016-08) Iwuh, John
This paper examines the neglect of some traditional methods of punishment that prevented crimes and sustained the ethics and moral codes of the Igbo people before the modern institutional legal process. The dying practices of ikwa ala, ipa mkpo, and iku ofo are three obvious methods that guarded against incest, crimes like stealing and other forms of wrongdoing. Also threatened are eshe and ituaka that honour the dead at burials in order to maintain or restore the dignity of a family as well as prevent envy and attack of ancestral spirits. However, Christianity is opposed to these practices. This paper interrogates the dilemma of the Igbo society caught between these practices and the constitutional legal practice in the 21st century, which has greatly reduced the practice of these effective traditional methods of punishment in most communities. It thus questions the hope of a crime-free society in the foreseeable future given the allowances of modern justice system and the conflicts posed by questionable moral culture of modern Nigerian society. With illustrations, the paper examines some of these punishments in (ancient) Igbo land, how they kept crimes in check, some reasons for their decline, and the attractions of the modern justice system in the Nigerian society
Dying Traditions in Igboland: Iku Ofo and the Modern Justice System
(Nigerian Journal of Oral Literatures, 2016-08) Iwuh, John
Abstract This paper examines the neglect of some traditional methods of punishment that prevented crimes and sustained the ethics and moral codes of the Igbo people before the modern institutional legal process. The dying practices of ikwa ala, ipa n:kpo, and iku ofo are three obvious methods that guarded against incest, crimes like stealing and other forms of wrongdoing. Also threatened are eshe and ituaka that honour the dead at burials in order to maintain or restore the dignity of a family as well as prevent envy and attack of ancestral spirits. However, Christianity is opposed to these practices. This paper interrogates the dilemma of the Igbo society caught between these practices and the,constitutional legal practice in the 21' century, which has greatly reduced the practice of these effective traditional methods of punishment in most communities. It thus questions the hope of a crime-free society in the foreseeable future given the allowances of modern justice system and the conflicts posed by questionable moral culture of modern Nigerian society. With illustrations, the paper examines some of these punishments in (ancient) Igbo land, how they kept crimes in check, some reasons for their decline, and the attractions of the modern justice system in the Nigerian society.
Film As Therapy for Defied Children
(International Journal of Religion, 2024) Iwuh, John
Child abuse is a threat that impedes the mental health of victims. In Nigeria, rape and other sexual violence are prevalent. It has become a silent killer due to stigma and emotional torture, attracting Nigerian filmmakers’ attention. This article focused on the ordeal associated with sexual abuse of the girl-child given her vulnerability. However, the cure and management of the repercussions of abuse have been more medical than visual therapies such as film. However, art-based research has shown that visual therapies are also incontrovertible alternatives to pharmaceutically based treatments. The study selected and analysed, Nollywood’s Dry and Hollywood’s The Colour Purple as therapy for victims who were sexually abused as children. The films’ representations of inhuman experiences collectively summarize our imagination of hell. We conclude that its cathartic and prescriptive messages provide adequate lessons to resist negative perception, reduce trauma and encourage healing.
The Growth of Event Venues: Challenges for Events and Facility Management in Nigeria
(The Redemeer's University Journal of Theatre and Cultural Studies, 2012) Iwuh, John
The desire to celebrate functions in covered elite spaces became a vogue in the early '90s while the ability to pay for such venues became a status symbol. Event venues sprang up in all areas of Lagos state as they became major revenue earners. People with landed properties took to building event centres while old properties were converted to accommodate event halls. The demand for these venues in their different capacities in choice locations determined their status and categories. Old club houses renovated to meet the new taste of their members while generating extra revenues for the clubs. The desire to take advantage of this relatively 'easy money' led to a supplier's market economically and the market is still growing. The result is the emergence of "Event Managers" covering a broad range of event needs. This paper traces the fast growth of event venues since 1990 to date, the qualities of premier elite venues which led to the current event venue explosion, and the challenges for events and facility managers in Nigeria. The paper is a modification of an internal assessment study as a management staff of the MUSON Centrel (1994-2002) in the face of growing competition.
How African Churches Africanise Modernity and Modernise Africanity on their Websites
(HUMANUS DISCOURSE, 2023) Iwuh, John
Christian churches in Africa are increasingly launching websites to take advantage of the ubiquity associated with the Internet. Striving to reach a global audience, they modernise African practices and Africanise modernity for African participants. However, the extent to which this practice constructs Africanity or Africanises modernity is yet to be understood. This study, therefore, examines African church websites with a view to explaining how they walk the tight rope of modernising Africanity and Africanising modernity. An available sample of websites belonging to churches based in Africa was taken. Using content analysis method, 271 church websites were observed and analysed. Findings indicate that271 churches have website presence portraying African models, motifs, flags and sundry images. On the one hand, with African worship styles and cultural adornments, they Africanise modernity; on the other hand, they modernise Africanity with massive use of foreign languages, musical instruments and orchestra.
In Search of Statistics for the Monster
(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FILM AND MEDIA ARTS, 2023) Iwuh, John
The study investigates piracy from three categories of stakeholders outside the 3% elite population that patronizes the mega stores. The youth represent a high population of movie viewers found in the suburban areas of selected cities. It also took account of those in the universities that constitute major patronage but do not actually pay the right price for the films. There was the need to study the unique and peculiarity of Nigerian piracy, the level of awareness of consumers of pirated products, the level of involvement of the youths, and if operates uniquely, and exhibits different dynamics from foreign examples, as well as the effectiveness of the antipiracy bodies. This study selected 16 low-budget filmmakers and sampled the opinions of 500 online-dependent university students including TV/DVD-playback suburban youth population. Findings reveal that those who advertently or inadvertently patronize pirated movies account for 88%, with 93% proliferation of low-quality pic tures. 100% of university students sampled depend wholly on online downloads, except if compelled to stream online. Mu tual suspicion characterizes Nigeria’s film industry, and the study identified six categories that unfortunately make the list of collaborators of Nigerian pirates with unregistered marketers accounting for 93.8%, unscrupulous practitioners outside the registered unions (75%), while 53.3% implicated the regulators. Nigerian film piracy exhibits a special peculiarity of illegally copying, printing, and publicly selling these counterfeits with impunity. And sadly, to the chagrin of creative artists. The study concludes that Nigerian pirates and their patrons enjoy the unhindered liberty of operating publicly, and the law enforcement agents do not yet have the magic wand to end it. Getting listed by Netflix has become a major breakthrough, while the re-turn of cinema viewing centres presently serves as another avenue of direct negotiation and control for Nollywood filmmakers
Interrogating Socio-Political Vices in the Southeast Through Drama: The Image of Ndi-Igbo, Development and Relevance
(Goldline and Jacobs Publishing, 2015) Iwuh, John
Kinetic Scenery and Experimentation in Nigerian Theatre
(Journal of Humanities and Peace Studies, 2024) Iwuh, John
Scenographers in Nigeria rarely delve into experimental design but embrace the easy option of crossing pedestal boundaries due to technical challenges. A common example is J.P. Clark’s The Raft 1, which requires building a live raft, although Clark also suggests an improvised option of using a mat. How can these two provide the same experience for the paying audience? Molinta Enendu dared to surmount this drab option when 1987 he built a befitting raft for Clark’s The Raft on the University of Calabar stage to sail convincingly, rotating in several directions under the star-spangled night sky. A second and yet more inspiring and challenging was Noah Built the Ark2 (1995), a dramatic adaptation of James Weldon Johnson’s poem of the same title. It was a realistic construction of a sea liner that rocked and rose with the flood of lights, thus breaking the barrier of being the first convincing cruising set on a Nigerian theatre stage. The production photographs were lost due to poor storage, dampness, and humidity. 43 years on, and in all ramifications, no other theatre designer in Nigeria has attempted to match that achievement. This study goes beyond narratives to retrace the production process and carefully reconstruct the lost designs due to their immense value to scene design practice and as posterity for theatre studies in Nigeria
Making Space for Stage Lighting: Four Decades of Indigenous Theatre Consulting in Nigeria: Interview with Duro Oni
(Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), 2012) Iwuh, John
Markers of Structuralism in Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman and Ahmed Yerima’s The Trials of Ovonramwen
(University of Uyo Journal of Cultural Research, 2024) Iwuh, John
This research delves into African drama, deploying structuralism as a lens to examine the intricacies of storytelling within the plays of two prominent playwrights, Wole Soyinka and Ahmed Yerima. Through an exploration of textual analysis, the research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the structural elements within the chosen plays. The research is founded upon a firm theoretical and methodological framework to identify markers of structural elements and the subsequent interpretation of these elements within the broader context of culture in African drama. This study also examines the historical and cultural contexts in which the selected plays are set, thereby enriching our understanding of how structuralism aligns with the social, political, and cultural dimensions within African drama. Ultimately, this work is contributing to a deeper understanding of the diverse and intricate narrative approaches that characterize African drama as exemplified by Wole Soyinka and Ahmed Yerima in Death and the Kings Horseman, and The Trials of Ovoramwen respectively. By examining these plays through a structuralist perspective, we endeavored to illuminate the profound intricacies of storytelling and to discern the broader significance of structuralism in the context of African theatrical works.
Modeling the Total Man in Traditional Farming Practice: A Spartial-Dramatic Analysis of Folkloric Farming Songs
(Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2016) Iwuh, John
There are numerous forms of education in Africa societies with many deeply rooted in traditional vocations. A reassessment of the dramatic elements of some inspirational music in traditional farming practice reveals a continuous and emphatic value added technique in occupational farming. One of the least documented to date is nofiofio; employed as a stress free, work-play group farming technique known for speed and efficiency. This rejuvenated ancient guide employs dramatic techniques driven by instructive moral folk music. Findings reveal that nofiofio encourages occupational discipline, family cohesion and social bond toward occupational engagements. Although such folk music is no longer used in cotemporary farming practice but newer forms of youth music have. A reflection on their uses in the past has risen in recent times. Nofiofio in particular encouraged moral and strong character building among the youth population involved in traditional farming. This paper analyses the dramatic content of this popular farming music in Edo State of Nigeria for planting and harvesting. The study shows a structured and efficient matrix for time management, motivation and increased output.
Motif and Colour Signification among the Yoruba
(Icheke Journal of the Faculty of Humanities, 2020-08) Iwuh, John
Colour is a dominant medium of visual aesthetics, described in terms of Chroma known in Yoruba as "Aro." However, colour in most Nigerian dramatic performances has aimed mostly to beautify than interrogate its experiential outcome. This research sought to know the effectiveness of indigenous motifs on the audience (with emphasis on colour) based on Yoruba ritual, cultural and religious worldview. Using "aro" as a vehicle for design intentions, decoration and communication, the study draws from tables of the applicable meaning of colour to foreground the research. The paper then looks at colour applications in some Yoruba ritual and contemporary dramatic plays with a focus on indigenous ritual and religious objects. It textually analysed the colour significance of ritualistic aspects of three plays and a performance of one contemporary Yoruba play with European celebrative flavor. Post-performance interviews and Focused Group Discussions were conducted with the audience, and observations were qualitatively analysed using comparative tables. Opinion reveals two significant findings. Colour in modern English plays shows Vitality, energy and beauty, while colour in ritual plays portends gods, spirituality and groves. They perceive colour in modern Nigerian plays as aesthetic, exciting but without spiritual significance. Their audience appreciates colour from a spiritual perspective with deities and related objects or motifs thereof. Yoruba audience also exhibits fears toward ritual objects in performances as they would in real life. The mix of ritual and modern domestic play was able to draw an effective relationship between ancient Yoruba culture and the present and further illustrates the Yoruba audience penchant for figurative communication.

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