Ancient Songs Set Ablaze: The Theatre of Femi Osofisan

Sandra Richard's Ancient Songs Set Ablaze presents the first systematic study of the work of Femi Osofisan, controversial Nigerian playwright and two-time winner of the Association of Nigerian Authors Award. Born in a Yoruba farming village just after World War II, Osofisan came into maturity during the heady days of decolonization and independence, followed by the chaos of civil war, coups and counter coups d'etat in Nigeria and other African nations. This background serves as a backdrop for his plays which portray ordinary men and women buffeted by a world of sociopolitical and economic change. Richards (leading critic of Osofisan's theatre) explores social, literary, and cultural influences on the dramatists. She discusses themes, formal structures, and audience reception, viewed within the parameters of African literature. Her examination of Osofisan's appropriation of the Yoruba "trickster" god Esu provides important theoretical tools for an analysis of African and African American drama. Ancient Songs Set Ablaze is a highly recommended addition to any drama school, African cultural studies, or theatrical criticism collections. -- Midwest Book Review