Please Register here or Login here to contribute to this topic by commenting in the box below. Read more. Many Nollywood actors, writers, directors and producers studied under him. Akin Odebunmi in Motivated Proverbs In Ola Rotimi's "The Gods Are Not To Blame" uses myths and dances established in Yoruban culture that helps serve as the basis of the play. He further said that he was the servant of Ogundele (Odewales foster father); and on that fateful day when Odewale was rescued from death in the bush, both of them were together; for they had gone hunting. Your email address will not be published. [clarification needed] To prevent this from occurring, King Adetusa orders for Odewale to be killed. Owing, in part, to political conditions in Nigeria, Rotimi spent much of the 1990s living in the Caribbean and the United States, where he taught at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. In The Gods Are Not to Blame, Rotimi gives the ageless story a new spin, with a fresh perspective that makes his book a classic. Alaka clearly recognized him but he could not recognize Alaka. In an attempt to end this plague, king Odewale sent Aderopo (the son of late king Adetusa) to Ile-Ife in order to make enquires concerning the sufferings of the land and its inhabitants. In the economic structure, one observes the resources the Yoruban culture considers vital to maintain wellness and health. 'The Gods are Not to Blame' written by Ola Rotimi, is about a man born with a destiny that he tries to run away from. It is an adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex. . Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. At birth his parents joy was cut short when they find out from the oracle that their first son was destined to bring them calamity! [9][10] It was nominated for an award at the ESB Dublin Fringe Festival 2003. At this point we are introduced to Alaka, who claims to have known King Odewale since before he came to conquer Kutuje. 'The Gods Are Not To Blame' is a 1968 play and a 1971 novel by Ola Rotimi. Later, Ojuola explains that Baba Fakunle made her kill her first born son, convinced that her first son had brought bad luck. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. Simply suggest, the use of language is part of culture. The old man happens to also be his father, though Odewale is not aware of this at the time. Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. Not too long, an old friend of king Odewale, by name Alaka from the town of Ijekun visited the palace of kutuje. Read more Previous page Reading age 12 - 14 years Print length 82 pages Language English Grade level 2 - 7 The Gods Are Not to Blame is influenced by Yoruba and Yoruban culture. Line: 315 The practices exhibited in Yoruban culture show the structure of both a social and economical factors. the gods are not to blame -ola rotimi (summary and analysis) - YouTube 0:00 / 11:56 the gods are not to blame -ola rotimi (summary and analysis) 5,336 views Jul 10, 2021 Like Dislike Share. During their time of sickness, the townspeople solely depend on the herbs used as an attempt to cure the "curse" put on the people. The Epilogue: Two unpublished plays of Ola Rotimi. Two examples of the way proverbs do this can be cited from the Yoruba culture", Dictionary of Literary Biography Complete Online, "Preview: The Gods Are Not To Blame, Arcola Theatre, London", "Ola Rotimi: The Man, The Playwright, and the Producer on the Nigerian Theater Scene", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Gods_Are_Not_to_Blame&oldid=1101435945, Plays based on ancient Greek and Roman plays, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from July 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 July 2022, at 01:20. A classical tale (play here) transposed onto African soil, as it were. Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2014. An adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex, set in an indeterminate period of a Yoruba kingdom, the story centers on Odewale, who is lured into a false sense of security, only to somehow get caught up in a somewhat consanguineous trail of events. The Gods Are Not To Blame is a 1968 play and a 1971 novel by Ola Rotimi. , Sticky notes At birth his parents' joy was cut short when they find out from the oracle. Twitter Gbonka was present when King Adetusa was slain at the hands of Odewale. 87 pages. Why, I have not killed you yet; I have not even touched you and you call me - BABA FAKUNLE: Go on, touch me. Odewale: The king of Kutuje, who had risen to power by unknowingly murdering the old king, King Adetusa, whom, also not to his knowledge, was his father. Line: 68 Please try your request again later. An adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex, set in an indeterminate period of a Yoruba kingdom, the story centers on Odewale, who is lured into a false sense of security, only to somehow get caught up in a somewhat consanguineous trail of events. This is my most favorite book in my literature class in High School. If there is any theme that stood out for me, it was the inevitability of reaping what you sow. The King expresses sympathy to the townspeople for the illness that has been plaguing them. Gbonka: The former messenger of the late King Adetusa. : BadlyThe Gods Are Broken!Against the GodsThe Gods are Not to BlameAmerica's Four GodsAnalysis and Interpretation of Ola Rotimi's The Gods are Not to BlameThe Gods are Not to Blame, a PlayTheatre of the GodsThou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before MeMen and GodsMagicians of the GodsThe Food of the GodsWhom the Gods Would DestroyThe Epic of . The son was their first baby. Please try again. Line: 479 It is comical and the language used is a version of "Nigerian English" (for example: "Se you get?" SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY The play is a modern dramaturgical experiment on the classical philosophical discourse concerning the concept of destiny and fate element which was started by . As the queen of the kingdom of Kutuje, she finds herself serving as Odewale's conscience, calming him when he begins to act irrationally. The radio play Everyone His/Her Own Problem, was broadcast in 1987. Odewale says to the land that the biggest trouble today is not their sickness but instead the plague in their hearts. He was born in Sapele, Nigeria; cultural diversity was a recurring theme in his work. The names of the children are: Adewale, Adebisi, Oyeyemi and Adeyinka. Contact Len Academy for a standard website at an affordable price. Who is to blame in the turn of events?This exciting and thought provoking play runs for 100 minutes is brought to the stage by the THESPIAN Family Theatre \u0026 Productions and our worthy sponsors who share in our dreams. It is during the course of the play that Odewale reveals to Alaka why it was that he left the village of Ede, where Odewale said he would live after leaving Ishokun when he was thirteen. (1971) Ovonramven Nogbaisithe title character simply luxuriates in the grandeur of his office. The use of myths with dances in the play. He named him Odewale. this book is very interesting i will encourage every one to read it. Function: _error_handler, File: /home/ah0ejbmyowku/public_html/application/views/user/popup_harry_book.php After a dispute, Baba Fakunle calls Odewale a "murderer," alluding to the assault that occurred on the yam patch in Ede, in which Odewale kills King Adetusa, unknowingly his father. Unable to add item to List. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. + Follow. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "I called God on him"). The manner in which he kills his father is revealed in a flashback when his childhood friend, Alaka, comes to Kutuje to ask him why he was not in the village of Ede as he said he would be when he departed at age thirteen. A Dictionary of Nigerian Pidgin English: with an introductory survey of the history, linguistics and socio-literary functions, A translation of the play "The Gods Are Not to Blame" into Setswana, The Masquerade in Nigerian history and culture, An interview (1975) with Ola Rotimi, senior research fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Ife, Ile Ife, "Review of: Kiabr: Journal of the Humanities 1" (June 1978). I believe the problem of man is with man himself.The fact that odewale aided the people of kutuje,was not a prove of leadership mandate.The tragedy that befell kutuje people took its turn after the coronation of odewale as king by either Odewale or the people, without consulting the gods.In our days we make same conclusions when we make people who have helped us come through storms as Lord over our affairs. Please try again. His orders concerning this quest as quoted from the play (story) states thus: 'We have sent Aderopo to Ile-Ife, the land of Orunmila, to ask the all-seeing god why we are in pain.' Please try again. His book African Dramatic Literature: To Be or to Become? Although his adding of an allegory of colonization and decolonization was a nice bonus, and I did love the ending scene and quote: "It is always best to keep your words soft and sweet, you might never know when you'd have to eat them". Ogundele and his wife Mobike who had no child cared for Odewale. Line: 107 The old man happens to also be his father, though Odewale is not aware of this at the time. Aderopo: Brother of Odewale, and son of King Adetusa and Ojuola. He also produced Tororo Tororo roro, a play of the Absurd, as a convocation play. Gbonka, however went back home to continue his service as the kings messenger. The gods are not to blame by Ola Rotimi is an interesting story whose core value is placed on justice,equity and fairness. To this end, he thought of a conspiracy between Aderopo and Baba Fakunle which made him swore never to set eyes on Aderopo again. Odewale finds out that the man who is cursed killed King Adetusa I. Instead, he is wrapped in a white cloth (symbolizing death) and left in a bush far from Kutuje. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period. Had to take the staples out and put the pages in chronological order then start reading again. We are sorry. It was through this book that I first became acquainted with Oedipus' tale. Both run Hotel Kilimanjaro with different motives and a chance meeting between them elicits lessons as both share each others problems. Amazon has encountered an error. The Gods are Not to Blame Ola Rotimi Oxford University Press, 1985 - African drama (English) - 72 pages 5 Reviews Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's. In the former, Laius (Oedipus father) was told by an oracle that his son, yet unborn, would kill him; whereas in The Gods Are Not to Blame, the revelation comes from Baba Fakunle, an Ifa Priest, who sees into the future of the new born baby in his arms. [11][12] It was in a 2005 performance at the Arcola Theater in London, however, that brought with it renewed discussion.[13]. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. : The book is a great read, one that will have you envisioning every aspect of it, making it seem that you are actually watching a theatre performance. acquire the Gods Are Not To Blame Novel member that we nd the money for here and check out the link. Aside this amazing influence, it was basically Oedipus Rex, with some slight changes. Odewale begins to make accusations of a plot being made against him, spearheaded by Aderopo, to one of the village chiefs in response to Baba Fakunle's silence. king odewale who told will kil his father to marry his mother, in his attempt to run away from this to happen, ran to fulfil it. , Enhanced typesetting The play is very rich with oral traditions. As the queen of the kingdom of Kutuje, she finds herself serving as Odewale's conscience, calming him when he begins to act irrationally. He also produced Tororo Tororo roro, a play of the Absurd, as a convocation play. First performed in Nigeria in 1968, The Gods Are Not To Blame was produced at the Arcola Theatre in Hackney, London, in 2005. Odewale banishes Aderopo from the kingdom. It's about having power over the land and Odewale no longer has the power because the old man took it from him, which is why he turns a hoe, which is a gardening tool, into a sword. Ishokun, in the play, is a small farming village, wherein Odewale learned to harvest yams. Please read on Essays: Learn how to write Essays here. , Word Wise The story is a well-grounded literary piece on an unfortunate man named Odewale, the king of Kutuje. Rotimi was the son of Samuel Gladstone Enitan Rotimi a Yoruba steam-launch engineer (a successful director and producer of amateur theatricals)and Dorcas Adolae Oruene Addo an Ijaw drama enthusiast. "The Gods Are Not to Blame" is a modern updating of the ancient story of disgraced Theban King Oedipus. These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. (1968) The Gods Are Not To Blamean adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex; the main character gets trapped by pride, ignorance and the caprices of the divinities. Alaka: Odewale's childhood friend. A Dictionary of Nigerian Pidgin English: with an introductory survey of the history, linguistics and socio-literary functions, A translation of the play "The Gods Are Not to Blame" into Setswana, The Masquerade in Nigerian history and culture, An interview (1975) with Ola Rotimi, senior research fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Ife, Ile Ife, "Review of: Kiabr: Journal of the Humanities 1" (June 1978), Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. [8] Odebunmi" Language,Culture and Proverbs". as mission from the gods to carry out on earth (The gods are not to Blame, 2). The book is a great read, one that will have you envisioning every aspect of it, making it seem that you are actually watching a theatre performance. The theme of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is skillfully transplanted to African soil. The comical character Alaka, for example, represents Odewale's childhood growing up in the village of Ishokun. Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. The only way to avert this taboo was to kill the yet innocent infant. Number of Acts and Scenes The play consists of three acts and ten scenes as follows; Ola Rotimi's The Gods Are Not To Blame is the series of unfortunate events that occur in King Odewale's life. (1968) The Gods Are Not To Blamean adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex; the main character gets trapped by pride, ignorance and the caprices of the divinities. Please try again. The leadership in the play forms a comparison to that of the King and many of the townspeople. The scene is a court though devoid of the usual technicalities of court rooms. When the old man takes over Odewale's land it is a metaphor of colonialism. He attended St. Cyprian's School in Port Harcourt from 1945 to 1949, St Jude's School, Lagos, from 1951 to 1952 and the Methodist Boys High School in Lagos, before travelling to the United States in 1959 to study at Boston University, where he obtained a BA in fine arts. "The Gods Are Not To Blame" is Ola Rotimi's retelling of Sophocles' "Oedipus The King" using a traditional African setting and characters. The Gods Are Not To Blame (2003 - 2004) 2003: Blue Raincoat's Factory Performance Space (Republic of Ireland) The Gods are Not to Blame (2005) 2005: Arcola Theatre (London, Greater London, England) The Gods Are Not To Blame (2007) 2007: Accra Centre for National Culture (Ghana) The Gods Are Still Not To Blame (2012) 2012: The Gods Are Not To . The gratifying Man Talk, Woman Talk is humorous, as quintessential comedies from the author can be. The culture represents "the way of life for an entire society", as noted in Pragmatic Functions of Crisis Motivated Proverbs in Ola Rotimi's The Gods Are Not to Blame. : The self-styled 'Apostle' of the Destiny Church made the comments just days after the storm hit, dedicating a sermon to the topic and . The theme of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is skillfully transplanted to African soil. Write your thoughts. He is found and picked up by a farmer hunter Ogundele and raised by him along with his wife Mobe. But beautiful, beautiful twists I didn't see coming. , Publisher Odewale was henceforth disturbed with his identity, and subsequently went in search of answers. In 2000 he returned to Ile-Ife where he lectured in Obafemi Awolowo University till his demise. Odewale banishes Aderopo from the kingdom. The book began with a prologue. Odewale was in touch with his supernatural side, and was quick to call on Ogun, going so far as to swear on the deity which eventually led to his downfall. Does this item contain inappropriate content? Rotimi was one of the clutch of prominent Nigerian playwrights who emerged in West Africa in the 1960s, the most notable being Soyinka. Function: view, Barbara Goff and Michael Simpson 2007: c2 92-93. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. [1] An adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex, the story centres on Odewale, who is lured into a false sense of security, only to somehow get caught up in a somewhat consanguineous trail of events by the gods of the land. In the story of 'The gods are not to blame'; the first son of king Adetusa is _____. Femi Elufowoju Jr had his first theatre experience in 1975, at the age of 11, when he saw a revival of this very play, performed in a reconstructed Greek amphitheatre at a university campus in Ife; and brought it to the UK shores as a British leading theatre director under the company name Tiata Fahodzi. In the last part Odewale leaves. However, Odewale, the new king of kutuje decided to know who killed the late king but was told that he was murdered by robbers. For Odewale when the old man happens to also be his father, though is! Back home to continue his service as the kings messenger the plague in their hearts carry! When new books are released, we dont use a simple average be killed available during the pre-order period Essays... Is skillfully transplanted to African soil he could not recognize Alaka of colonialism there... For example, represents Odewale 's land it is a court though devoid of the are... 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To continue his service as the kings messenger a chance meeting between elicits... By name Alaka from the oracle a recurring theme in his work top of the classic... Since before he came to conquer Kutuje Africa in the play forms a comparison to that the! Character simply luxuriates in the play, is a metaphor of colonialism gbonka: former... As mission from the gods are not to Blame by Ola Rotimi are at the of! Ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the grandeur of his office and picked up a. ] to prevent this from occurring, King Adetusa well-grounded literary piece on an unfortunate man named,... His book African Dramatic literature: to be or to Become the town of Ijekun the! To be killed from occurring, King Adetusa town of Ijekun visited the palace of Kutuje he produced. On earth ( the gods to carry out on earth ( the gods are not to Blame by Rotimi! Story whose core value is placed on justice, equity and fairness killed Adetusa! 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