DRAMATIC REPRESENTATIONS OF ANIMISM, CULTURE INDIGENEITY, ANDGLOBALIZATION IN SELECTED AHMED YERIMA’S RECENT PLAYS
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Date
2024
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Akwa Ibom State University Journal of Arts
Abstract
Animism is a cultural practice in the Nigerian society and it is a common motif in the AhmedYerima’strilogy, Abobaku. Iyase and The Last Grain of Wheat. It is curious that the playwright is givingsignificantattention to a traditional African practice such as animism in the age of European consciousnessandglobalization. The study is anchored on the George Herbert Meads Interactionist Theory whichadvocatesinclusivity in both concepts and social behaviour. In the trilogy, Yerima maintains that theinfluenceofdeities on mortals in the African hermeneutical system needs to be modified. That the plays exhibit tragicincidents emanating from dogmatic faith in African gods and matrixes of Africa’s backwardnessechothemodernization intent of the African playwright. Literary writers on the African continent oftendisagreeonthe state of African culture in the contemporary world, the age of globalization which aspires toattaincultureunification and makes all cultures accessible to different peoples across the world. Some Africanliterarywriters on culture are of the view that the status quo of cultural practices such as promotionof theinfluenceof divinities on mortals should be maintained. However, others are of the viewthat manyof theAfricancultural practices are too archaic for the fast-moving, rational, and globalising world. AhmedYerimainthesethree plays is of the latter view as the animist consciousness and adherence in the plays results indestructiveand fatal consequences. This negative consequence of African animist cultural practice tends tomakeAfricanculture unattractive for global presence, accessibility and global acculturation. Key words: Animism, African Culture, Ahmed Yerima, African Literature, Globalisation