Download The Gods are Not to Blame Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. The book began with a prologue. This handsome little of joy kill his father and marry his mother. 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. Sadly, I prefer Sophocles' writing much more than Ola Rotimi's. Published Feb 4, 2018. He felt that the future of Nigerian culture cannot continue to be blamed forces from the past, much like Odewale would blame the suffering of his people, in his kingdom, on the sins of the old king, Adetusa. 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. : Page Flip is a new way to explore your books without losing your place. Book reviews, interviews, editors' picks, and more. 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". Learn more. I love Ola Rotimi's classic; the gods are not to blame. The Gods Are Not to Blame is a 1968 play and a 1971 novel by Ola Rotimi. if Gbonka had killed him in the bush as an infant, the curse would have been averted. I am so glad this story was set in a period during the Yoruba Kingdom, because this is the sort of thing that I grew up with, as a Cuban, it is a part of every ethnic group's culture, one of the many things that threads us together. 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. 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. She was given a prophecy, along with King Adetusa, that their child, Odewale, would one day grow up to usurp the thrown, killing his father and marry his mother. Odewale's horrible fate, whether it had been the Seer being silent, or even his parents not ordering his death. 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. Similar in nature to the Greek play, Oedipus Tyrannus his royal parents receive a prophecy from Baba Fakunle that Odewale would grow up to kill his parents. Your email address will not be published. Previous page. Barbara Goff and Michael Simpson 2007: c2 92-93. He comes to Kutuje to tell Odewale that the man he called father had passed two years prior and that his mother, though old, was still in good health. I had an indepth analysis of the topics and themes of this book and it is worth every bit of the paper it's printed on. The village elders gather round to discuss the allegations that have been made against Odewale. To nullify his cursed destiny, he ran away to Ede, a distant land where he bought a farmland at Orita-meta (meaning the place where the three foot paths meet). But it is set at an undetermined time in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria. Alaka: Odewale's childhood friend. : 1220 KB. He is consistently accused by Odewale of having ulterior motives to take the throne from him, going as far as to say that Aderopo had bribed the soothsayer, Baba Fakunle, of giving a false account of what is to come. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Please try again. On Kindle Scribe. The contents of the paragraphs are not complete and not legible, Two-Hour Literature & Fiction Short Reads, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Both run Hotel Kilimanjaro with different motives and a chance meeting between them elicits lessons as both share each others problems. When it is revealed by the Ogun Priest that Ojuola is, in fact, Odewale's mother, she goes to her bedroom and kills herself. To this Rotimi argues that while some of the suffering may have been the result of attempted colonial conquests, the lingering animosity that is felt and dispersed among fellow Nigerians, by fellow Nigerians, cannot be blamed solely on an outside party. It began with the prologue: In the land of Kutuje, a son was born to King Adetusa and his wife, Queen Ojuola, for they were the king and queen of the land of kutuje. In a last attempt to save his life, Odewale killed the old man by striking him with a hoe. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Rotimi's "The gods are not to Blame". Gbonka: The former messenger of the late King Adetusa. The son was their first baby. The two plays were probably meant as an epilogue to both Rotimi's theatrical and comic careers, which span the entire spectrum of his career. Please Register here or Login here to contribute to this topic by commenting in the box below. You have remained in right site to begin getting this info. I believe this scholar is claiming to the idea that proverbs deal with issues in the Yoruban culture. According to Barbara Goff and Michael Simpson, "the play as an allegory of colonization and, indeed decolonization"[6] The events concerning colonization in The Gods Are Not To Blame represent politics in African history. [nb 1]. This is a play of three acts and ten (10) scenes (act 1: 2 scenes, act 2: 4 scenes, act 3: 4 scenes). Only few people knew that the child wasnt theirs, but little did they know concerning whom his true parents were. Would have been a five if not that the ending wrenched my heart. The play is very rich with oral traditions. Alaka: Odewale's childhood friend. 8 years ago June 26, 2013. For those who are unfamiliar with Oedipus story, it is a myth about a mortal who was cursed from birth to kill is father, marry his mother, and bear four children with her. His book African Dramatic Literature: To Be or to Become? Odewale says to the land that the biggest trouble today is not their sickness but instead the plague in their hearts. He has been called "a complete man of the theatre an actor, director, choreographer and designer who created performance spaces, influenced by traditional architectural forms.". [11][12] It was in a 2005 performance at the Arcola Theater in London, however, that brought with it renewed discussion. Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. The gods are not to blame. This is my most favorite book in my literature class in High School. As the play comes to a close, King Odewale and the townspeople are still trying to figure out the curse on the village. [4] In his work, Rotimi took traditional Yoruban myths, songs, and other traditional African elements, and applied it to the Greek tragedy structure. Indeed, culture is the way of life. The Sabbath Recorder - 1916 The Whole Book of Psalmes: Collected Into English Meeter, by Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and Others, Etc - 1635 God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater - Kurt Vonnegut 1998-09-08 Odewale learns that there is a curse on the land, and in order for the sickness to stop going around the curse has to be purged. Current wife of King Odewale. This reworking of Oedipus Rex was part of the African Arts (Arts d'Afrique) playwriting contest in 1969. Later, Ojuola explains that Baba Fakunle made her kill her first born son, convinced that her first son had brought bad luck. He could not, of course, assume prior knowledge of the story on the part of the 'The Gods Are Not To Blame' is a 1968 play and a 1971 novel by Ola Rotimi. When it is revealed by the Ogun Priest that Ojuola is, in fact, Odewale's mother, she goes to her bedroom and kills herself. Current wife of King Odewale. Instead, he is wrapped in a white cloth (symbolizing death) and left in a bush far from Kutuje. 87 pages. At this, Odewale did not show any sign of sorrow because at one time, he was told of his cursed destiny through a proverb by an uncle of his who failed to reveal whom his true parents were. 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. 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). Odewale brings real facts to the people of the land. Aside this amazing influence, it was basically Oedipus Rex, with some slight changes. Try again. "Proverbs deal with issues that border on the values, norms, institutions and artifacts of a society across the whole gamut of the people's experiences. Odewale is confronted by Gbonka, a messenger, who tells of the event that lead to King Adetusa's end. The leadership in the play forms a comparison to that of the King and many of the townspeople. (1979) If: A Tragedy of the Ruledin If, the young firebrand Hamidu is nowhere to be found when a real commitment is required. If there is any theme that stood out for me, it was the inevitability of reaping what you sow. "Proverbs deal with issues that border on the values, norms, institutions and artifacts of a society across the whole gamut of the people's experiences. Anyone seeking to familiarize themselves with african folklore or get a gist of the community setting must definately read this book. Designed by Learn more. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Rotimi, a patriot who shunned the attraction of the West and Europe and returned home to contribute his own quota to nation building, was a rare breed. (1966) Our Husband Has Gone Mad Againdepicts 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. Instead of legal jargon, there is humour, arguments and counter arguments. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. To this end, he thought of a conspiracy between Aderopo and Baba Fakunle which made him swore never to set eyes on Aderopo again. [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.[2]. Instead, he is wrapped in a white cloth (symbolizing death) and left in a bush far from Kutuje. I LEARN ONE BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFRICAN TRADITIONAL NORMS AND THAT OF THE WESTERN WORLD WHICH IS AFRICANS BELIEVE THAT ONES DESTINY IS DECIDED BY THE GODS BUT THE WESTERNERS BELIEVE YOU MAKE YOUR OWN DESTINY WHICH I BELIEVE IS TRUE. 4TH CHIEF: It is so, the blood of youth has left the head, the mind is weak. He named him Odewale. Please try again. It particularly highlights the emotional language used in the drama. At this point we are introduced to Alaka, who claims to have known King Odewale since before he came to conquer Kutuje. He comes to Kutuje to tell Odewale that the man he called father had passed two years prior and that his mother, though old, was still in good health. Of spoilers odewale brings real facts to the land that the child wasnt,... Left in a bush far from Kutuje against odewale 's end not ordering his death to this topic commenting. Life, odewale killed the old man by striking him with a.! Part of the land that the ending wrenched my heart site to begin getting this.. That Baba Fakunle made her kill her first born son, convinced that her first son had bad! Attempt to save his life, odewale killed the old man by striking him with hoe. Has left the head, the curse would have been a five if not that ending! Between them elicits lessons as both share each others problems play comes to a close King! 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