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Abuse of Power in Bode Sowande Flamingo

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Abuse of Power in Bode Sowande Flamingo
ABUSE OF POWER IN BODE SOWANDE 'S FLAMINGO
BY
OKEY OKWECHIME
Department of English and Literature
University of Benin,
Benin City
08037217824 oraclechime@yahoo.com
Okey Okwechime is a lecturer in the Dept. of English and Literature, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. He teaches Drama, Poetly and his research interest is in Drama, Oral Literature and Feminist Literature and Criticism
&
KOLA EKE
Department of English and Literature
University of Benin,
Benin City
08023529279
Kola Eke is a lecturer in the Dept. of English and Literature, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. He teaches Poetry? and his research interest is in Poetry, Oral Literature and Literary Criticism. ABUSE OF POWER IN BODE SOWANDE 'S FLAMINGO

ABSTRACT

The abuse of power is a strong feature in Sowande 's dramatic universe. Significant as this feature is, critics have not given it the deserved focus. One issue to which Sowande turns again and again in Flamingo is the misuse of power. This thematic preoccupation has proved less attractive to Sowande 's critics. This paper identifies three types of abuse of power in Flamingo: assault, personal enrichment and assassination.

INTRODUCTION
Sowande is often credited with having given Nigerian drama a revolutionary direction. It has been asserted that his vision has led him to create plays "that project the class struggle in society and he seems to have a strong belief in collectivism as opposed to bourgeois individualism" (Charles Uji 46). Another critic has said that in all his works. Sowande shows concern for the "tyranny of leadership"; the "exploitation and oppression of the many by the few"; and the "enervation of youthful idealism by the killing realities of the adult world" (Tejumola Olaniyan 262). Another critic says "Sowande 's theatre, its form, its aesthetics and subject matter is geared towards creating awareness to the general social depravity with the intention of showing the necessity, and



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