ANALYSIS AND METAPHORICAL INTERPRETATION OF TRADERS FUND DISTRIBUTION AND APPROPRIATION OF RELIEF MATERIALS IN DIPO KALEJAIYE'S ESSENTIAL COMMOTION.

Abstract

From the early days of colonialism to contemporary times, Nigerian theatre practitioners use their art to comment on and critique corruption, gender inequality, and human rights violations. This paper examines and metaphorically interprets Dipo Kalejaiye's Essential Commotion intellectualising the myth behind the misappropriation of traders' funds and the distribution of relief materials in its representative facts. Due to its sociocultural interactions and interpretations, the paper adopts Michel Foucault and Louis Althusser's Cultural Materialist theories as the framework to examine the themes of bad leadership cum bad followership; poverty, squalor, disease and underdevelopment. The discourse revealed that if Nigeria would get her elections right and put true leaders in place, there would be a multiplier effect on other sectors of the polity and the wellbeing of the citizenry would improve. The paper opines that the failure of Nigerian leaders to manage their affairs should not be blamed only on colonialism, both the leadership and followership have a duty not to fail. The paper concludes that Nigerian theatre is more than just entertainment; it reflects a unique style deeply rooted in Nigerian culture and modern-day concerns relevant to global audiences.