Ola Rotimi - Plays

Plays

• (1963) To Stir the God of Iron
• (1966) Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again -- depicts the cocoa farmer and businessman Lejoka-Brown as a self-seeking, opportunistic leader who could make better contributions to his country outside of the political arena.
• (1968) The Gods Are Not To Blame -- an adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex; the main character gets trapped by pride, ignorance and the caprices of the divinities.
• (1969) Kurunmi
• (1970) Holding Talks
• (1971) Ovonramven Nogbaisi -- the title character simply luxuriates in the grandeur of his office. Although he is a custodian of culture who inspires people, he does not actively participate in their struggles.
• (1973) Grip Am
• (1973) Invitation Into Madness
• (1977) Akassa Youmi*
• (1979) If: A Tragedy of the Ruled -- in If, the young firebrand Hamidu is nowhere to be found when a real commitment is required.
• (1985) Hopes of The Living Dead -- Rotimi here depicts a different kind of leader: a selfless, result-oriented, committed leadership complemented by a followership that believes in the good of the generality of its members through the application of itself to the cause that is beneficial.
• When the Criminals Become Judges

The Epilogue: Two unpublished plays of Ola Rotimi

• Man Talk, Woman Talk

Man Talk, Woman Talk is humorous, as quintessential comedies from the author can be. He makes use of wry humour to seek a level playing ground for resolution of the biases men and women nurse about one another and which affect mutual co-existence of the two. The scene is a court though devoid of the usual technicalities of court rooms. Instead of legal jargon, there is humuor, arguments and counter arguments. What the author arrives at is not to prove which gender is superior but to show the complementary roles of men and women. There is a great deal of wit in the work and the setting here is the university environment where the youthful contenders are idealistic.

• Tororo, Tororo, Roro

Tororo, Tororo, Roro is a coincidental meeting of two fellows from Man Talk, Woman Talk, Tunji Oginni and Philomena James. Both run Hotel Kilimanjaro with different motives and a chance meeting between them elicits lessons as both share each other’s problems.