Abstract
If there is any African literary critic who has enjoyed much critical attention and fame, it is Nigeria's Wole Soyinka whose creative versatility is globally recognised. A prominent feature of Soyinka’s writings is his concern with social issues. Indeed, in very subtle but ingenious ways, he punches and pounds at the conscience of society through his various works. In his creativity also, Soyinka shows competence in and command of English - the Second Language of his country Nigeria. He also exhibits familiarity with his culture and attempts with much effort at projecting the folkways and beliefs of his native Yoruba people. As would be expected, this combination of the modern and traditional in his art, has earned Soyinka praise and acknowledgement from many critics, and condemnation from others, those especially who claim to find elements of obscurantism in his writings. To this last groups, Soyinka says, that rather thar being inscrutable, his writings are artistic manifestations with "a lo of experience" and interest in social issues.
Introduction
A notable quality of Soyinka's works is their social relevance. Whether based on the Yoruba world view as A Dance of the Forest is, or on history as his Death and The King's Horseman3 (which is based on events which took place in Oyo, an ancient Yoruba City of Nigeria in 1946), the writings focus on, and relate or humanity
man in society. Elderd Jones observes that most of Soyinka's thematic preoccupation "are concerned with the factors of man in his environment, the struggle for survival; the necessity for sacrificing if man is to make any progress; the role of death even the necessity of death in man's life"4
man in society. Elderd Jones observes that most of Soyinka's thematic preoccupation "are concerned with the factors of man in his environment, the struggle for survival; the necessity for sacrificing if man is to make any progress; the role of death even the necessity of death in man's life"4
Content
Soyinka's commitment to his society stated in his adoption of Ralp Waldo Emerson's words (as a preface to his Nobel Address), is: "I will stand here for humanity"s. This humanity extends beyond Nigeria and Africa. It represents the world of the underprivileged, the oppressed, a society and a world that faces decay in the face of advancing yet corrupting civilization and modernity. Humanity is also Africa, battling to wrest itself from the grip of dictatorship and racial injustices perpetrated by the elites, the military, the rich and the morally depraved. Soyinka's commitment is to restore sanity in society as is evident in his skillfully composed play From Zia with Loves.
Conclusion
Soyinka's success in From Zia... is very evident. His
commitment to art is seen in the careful handling of social issues
and the aesthetic distance he upholds throughout the play. Historical
facts and fiction are interwoven yet separated in context and style of
presentation. The experience of most African states is objectified in
this expert treatment of form so that the theatrical performance is removed from the personal milieu of the playwright. Through this
play, Soyinka has without doubt proven once more his status as a
major, if not the most renowned of West African writers. He has,
through From ia... made himself relevant once more to his society
by exposing social ills while at the same time showing astute commitment to aesthetic perfection. From Zia with Love can therefore
be said to be Soyinka's exhibition of how literary discourse can be a
realization of social commitment.
commitment to art is seen in the careful handling of social issues
and the aesthetic distance he upholds throughout the play. Historical
facts and fiction are interwoven yet separated in context and style of
presentation. The experience of most African states is objectified in
this expert treatment of form so that the theatrical performance is removed from the personal milieu of the playwright. Through this
play, Soyinka has without doubt proven once more his status as a
major, if not the most renowned of West African writers. He has,
through From ia... made himself relevant once more to his society
by exposing social ills while at the same time showing astute commitment to aesthetic perfection. From Zia with Love can therefore
be said to be Soyinka's exhibition of how literary discourse can be a
realization of social commitment.
References
Wole Soyinka in an Interview with Richard Awubi cited in Language
and
Meaning in selected Poems of Wole Soyinka. An unpublished
M.A. Thesis, University of Calabar, 1989, р.8.
2A Dance of the Forest, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979.
3Death and The King's Horseman, (London: Eyre Methwen Ltd,
1982).
Eldred Jones "Wole Soyinka: Critical Approaches' The Critical Evaluation
of African Literature (Ed) E. Wright. (London:
Heinemann, 1973), pp. 64-5).
5From Zia With Love, (Ibadan: Fountain Publication, 1992), other
references to this text are abbreviated as From Zia...
Ngugi Wa Thiong'o Homecoming, (London: Heinemann, 1972),
p.47.
'Ngugi, p.28.
M.А.E. Okolie, "Literature and Social Change: a dilemma of the
African
Writer", Literature and Social Change Ed. A.U. Uheagbu
(Acts of the 7th MLAN conference, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, 1989), р. 182.
9"The Writer and the question of commitments" ANA REVIEW 1,1,
Lagos, 1985, p.9.
Wole Soyinka, "The Writer in the African State", Transition 31,
1967, р.3.
"Femi Osofisan in conversation with Olu Obafemi in Execursion in
Drama and Literature: Interview with Femi Osofisan, Ed.
Muyiwa B. Awodiya (Ibadan: Kraft Books Ltd. 1993, p.23-4
Soyinka, interview with Lewis Nkosi, African Writers Talking Ed.
Dennis Duerden and Cosmos Pieterse (London: Heinemann
1975), p. 174.
J. L. Austin, How to Do Things with Words, (London: Oxford Univ. Press, 1962).
"Roger Fowler, Literature As Social Discourse: The practice of Linguistic Criticism (London: Batsford Academic and Educational Ltd., 1981),
p.18.
IFemi Osofisan in Conversation with Olu Obafemi in Excursions in Drama and Literature Ed. Muyiwa P. Awodiya (Ibadan, Kraft Books Ltd., 1993).
16Biodun Jeyifo, THE TRUTHFUL LIFE: Essays in a Sociology of African Drama, Villers Publications Ltd.,
17Spencer David and Stanley Clages, "A talk about the theatre" Contemporary Drama 13 plays. Ed. Federics Lorca (New York Charles Scribner's Sons Ltd., 1970), p. 112.
1Lawrence Amadi, "Drama as an instructional strategy in schools" Nigerian Theatre Journal 2, No. 1 & 2, 1985, р. 219
"Soyinka with Lewis Nkosi, p.17.
2 Robert Escarpit, Sociology of Literature Trans. Ernest Pick, (London: Frank Cass Co. Ltd., 1971), pp. 75-6.
Femı Osofisan in conversation with Olu Obafemi, p. 24.
and
Meaning in selected Poems of Wole Soyinka. An unpublished
M.A. Thesis, University of Calabar, 1989, р.8.
2A Dance of the Forest, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979.
3Death and The King's Horseman, (London: Eyre Methwen Ltd,
1982).
Eldred Jones "Wole Soyinka: Critical Approaches' The Critical Evaluation
of African Literature (Ed) E. Wright. (London:
Heinemann, 1973), pp. 64-5).
5From Zia With Love, (Ibadan: Fountain Publication, 1992), other
references to this text are abbreviated as From Zia...
Ngugi Wa Thiong'o Homecoming, (London: Heinemann, 1972),
p.47.
'Ngugi, p.28.
M.А.E. Okolie, "Literature and Social Change: a dilemma of the
African
Writer", Literature and Social Change Ed. A.U. Uheagbu
(Acts of the 7th MLAN conference, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, 1989), р. 182.
9"The Writer and the question of commitments" ANA REVIEW 1,1,
Lagos, 1985, p.9.
Wole Soyinka, "The Writer in the African State", Transition 31,
1967, р.3.
"Femi Osofisan in conversation with Olu Obafemi in Execursion in
Drama and Literature: Interview with Femi Osofisan, Ed.
Muyiwa B. Awodiya (Ibadan: Kraft Books Ltd. 1993, p.23-4
Soyinka, interview with Lewis Nkosi, African Writers Talking Ed.
Dennis Duerden and Cosmos Pieterse (London: Heinemann
1975), p. 174.
J. L. Austin, How to Do Things with Words, (London: Oxford Univ. Press, 1962).
"Roger Fowler, Literature As Social Discourse: The practice of Linguistic Criticism (London: Batsford Academic and Educational Ltd., 1981),
p.18.
IFemi Osofisan in Conversation with Olu Obafemi in Excursions in Drama and Literature Ed. Muyiwa P. Awodiya (Ibadan, Kraft Books Ltd., 1993).
16Biodun Jeyifo, THE TRUTHFUL LIFE: Essays in a Sociology of African Drama, Villers Publications Ltd.,
17Spencer David and Stanley Clages, "A talk about the theatre" Contemporary Drama 13 plays. Ed. Federics Lorca (New York Charles Scribner's Sons Ltd., 1970), p. 112.
1Lawrence Amadi, "Drama as an instructional strategy in schools" Nigerian Theatre Journal 2, No. 1 & 2, 1985, р. 219
"Soyinka with Lewis Nkosi, p.17.
2 Robert Escarpit, Sociology of Literature Trans. Ernest Pick, (London: Frank Cass Co. Ltd., 1971), pp. 75-6.
Femı Osofisan in conversation with Olu Obafemi, p. 24.