the gods are not to blame

When it is revealed by the Ogun Priest that Ojuola is, in fact, Odewale's mother, she goes to her bedroom and kills herself. this book is very interesting i will encourage every one to read it. 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. Odewale brings real facts to the people of the land. was published in 1991. A blind soothsayer, Baba Fakunle, is brought in to share with Odewale the murderer of the old king. Rotimi spent the second half of his last creative decade reworking two of his plays Man Talk, Woman Talk and also Tororo, Tororo, Roro and the result, unpublished at the time of his death in 2002, have now been published under the title The Epilogue. 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.. 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. [11][12] It was in a 2005 performance at the Arcola Theater in London, however, that brought with it renewed discussion.[13]. It reminded Nigerians of one of its most . 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. Only few people knew that the child wasnt theirs, but little did they know concerning whom his true parents were. Olawale Gladstone Emmanuel Rotimi, best known as Ola Rotimi (13 April 1938 18 August 2000), was one of Nigeria's leading playwrights and theatre directors. This handsome little of joy kill his father and marry his mother. 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. : Near the play's end, Gbonka retells this event to Odewale, which leads to the discovery that Odewale was in fact the son of the former king, and the son of the current queen, and his birth mother, Ojuola. In an attempt to calm the accused king, the chiefs told him Baba Fakunle was mad. [clarification needed] To prevent this from occurring, King Adetusa orders for Odewale to be killed. Want to Read. When the frog in front falls in a pit, others behind take caution. 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. But it is set at an undetermined time in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria. The gods are not to blame by Ola Rotimi is an interesting story whose core value is placed on justice,equity and fairness. 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.' The Gods Are Not To Blame is a 1968 play and a 1971 novel by Ola Rotimi. It is an adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex. Alaka clearly recognized him but he could not recognize Alaka. 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. The novel is set in an indeterminate period of a Yoruba kingdom. Odewale storms Kutuje with his chiefs flanking by his side, and is declared King by the town's first chief. Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2014. There is a great deal of wit in the work and the setting here is the university environment where the youthful contenders are idealistic. Man Talk, Woman Talk is humorous, as quintessential comedies from the author can be. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. In the last part Odewale leaves. Alaka hails from the village of Ishokun. His later dramas include The Gods Are Not to Blame (produced 1968; published 1971), a retelling of Sophocles' Oedipus Rexin imaginative verse; Kurunmi and the Prodigal (produced 1969; published as Kurunmi, 1971), written for the second Ife Festival of Arts; Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (produced 1971; published 1974), about the last ruler of the Benin empire; and Holding Talks (1979). Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. The radio play Everyone His/Her Own Problem, was broadcast in 1987. 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. So begins the tragic tale that leads to heartaches, deaths and sorrows, which will have readers asking whos to blame?. In The Gods Are Not To Blame, Rotimi incorporates many themes, such as culture and its connection with the form of the social structure of an African community. He began to run from one town to another until he finally landed at kutuje, a town that had recently lost their king; 'a king he himself murdered', king Adetusa. Please like and follow our official facebook page here for great educational write-ups. Please try again. The Epilogue: Two unpublished plays of Ola Rotimi. The book began with a prologue. Odewale placed a curse on anyone who attempted to stop him, for they wandered as far as possible from the land of kutuje, thus fufilling the promise he made on whoever had killed king Adetusa, his father. Page Flip is a new way to explore your books without losing your place. The village elders gather round to discuss the allegations that have been made against Odewale. Along with the Ogun Priest, it is revealed to him that the old king was his father, and that Ojuola was his mother. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. Required fields are marked *. [3] This article focuses specifically on the 1968 play. 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. Although he is a custodian of culture who inspires people, he does not actively participate in their struggles. She is the mother of six children: two under King Adetusa (Odewale and Aderepo), and four under King Odewale (Adewale, Adebisi, Oyeyemi, Adeyinka). Line: 315 Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. His first plays, To Stir the God of Iron (produced 1963) and Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again (produced 1966; published 1977), were staged at the drama schools of Boston University and Yale, respectively. was published in 1991. The Gods Are Not to Blame is influenced by Yoruba and Yoruban culture. i learned that the issue of generation curse is a strong issues. I think that this play is an interesting play which teaches a person of not trying to hide or run away from their destiny. Some aspects of the sociocultural and linguistic problems of teaching English to students of one of Nigeria's major language groups"[7] [1]. Odewale banishes Aderopo from the kingdom. The Gods Are Not to Blame is influenced by Yoruba and Yoruban culture. : Odewale became so furious, angry and distressed to an extent that even his wife, queen Ojuola was unable to calm him. The scene is a court though devoid of the usual technicalities of court rooms. Learn more. Would have been a five if not that the ending wrenched my heart. The story is the sad tale of a man named Odewale who has been destined from birth to kill his father and marry his mother. I wanted this as a gift to someone special, however, instead I got months of HEADACHE! The theme of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is skillfully transplanted to African soil. Hazel (his wife) died and Ola Rotimi returned from her funeral in the US to the dream home they built in Ile Ife, only to die in it from heart failure two months later. [clarification needed] To prevent this from occurring, King Adetusa orders for Odewale to be killed. He is summoned by Odewale to ask of a way to rid the suffering of his kingdom. Indeed, culture is the way of life. 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. 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 . Odewale is confronted by Gbonka, a messenger, who tells of the event that lead to King Adetusa's end. The comical character Alaka, for example, represents Odewale's childhood growing up in the village of Ishokun. Call, Click here to read on Len Academy Smart School Software. He therefore banished Aderopo from his kingdom. Meanwhile, king Odewale imagined a potential plot against him being overthrown by Aderopo, the son of the late king Adetusa. An ending that really breaks one's heart. Les avis ne sont pas valids, mais Google recherche et supprime les faux contenus lorsqu'ils sont identifis. Ojuola: Wife of the late King Adetusa. if Gbonka had killed him in the bush as an infant, the curse would have been averted. It is a rare novel written by a foreign novelist. Sadly, I prefer Sophocles' writing much more than Ola Rotimi's. 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). 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. I am a teacher and have my MFA in playwriting, so I feel strongly that plays are meant to be performed. Baba Fakunle tells him that the source of the kingdom's ails lay with him. People made dramatic entry and exit to the stage around his casket with the man turning his casket. Get help and learn more about the design. By juxtaposing Alaka in Odewale's new environment, Kutuje, Rotimi illustrates the cultural differences between traditional Yoruban life, with that of the industrialized west. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Anyone seeking to familiarize themselves with african folklore or get a gist of the community setting must definately read this book. Ishokun, in the play, is a small farming village, wherein Odewale learned to harvest yams. Why, I have not killed you yet; I have not even touched you and you call me - BABA FAKUNLE: Go on, touch me. ola Rotimi's book is very inspiring.i learnt that what we say,do,watch,portray and everything else around us determines our destiny.trully the gods are not to blame for whatever happens.I believe odewale's fate would have been averted if he had stayed with his real parents. renowned book. In the story of 'The gods are not to blame'; the first son of king Adetusa is _____. Download The Gods are Not to Blame Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. Odewale's horrible fate, whether it had been the Seer being silent, or even his parents not ordering his death. Please try your request again later. The play is very rich with oral traditions. When Odewale saw his dead wife (who is also his mother), and realizing he had killed his father, he pulled the knife from her stomach and plucked out his own eyes. Despite his best efforts to curb the prophecy that his child, Odewale, would grow up to take the throne by murdering him, he is inevitably slain when he encounters his son, now fully grown, in the village of Ede. However, he would not tell him whom his real parents were. All the messages conveyed, although bring the play together and provide the audience with insightful readings, the play may also serve as a symbol as to how some of the African societies model the structure presented in the play. 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. These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. He is summoned by Odewale to ask of a way to rid the suffering of his kingdom. The Gods Are Not To Blame Full Book Ola Rotimi Right here, we have countless ebook The Gods Are Not To Blame Full Book Ola Rotimi and collections to check out. He makes use of wry humour to seek a level playing ground for resolution of the biases men and women nurse about one another and which affect mutual co-existence of the two. Odewale finds out that the man who is cursed killed King Adetusa I. Rotimi is sure to be remembered as a model in the literary genre whose views have shaped the conduct of the theatre and whose plays have demonstrated the power of drama to shape the thinking of the society and attempted to solve some of the problems encountered in everyday living. 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. Sticky notes. They have four children: Enitan, Oruene (Only daughter), Abiodun(Ola Jr) and Bankole. He is found and picked up by a farmer hunter Ogundele and raised by him along with his wife Mobe. : King Adetusa: Former king of Kutuje. Rotimi was one of the clutch of prominent Nigerian playwrights who emerged in West Africa in the 1960s, the most notable being Soyinka. Barbara Goff and Michael Simpson 2007: c2 92-93. 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. the gods are not to blame - ola rotimi (full story, summary and analysis)the gods are not to blame - ola rotimi ( summary and analysis)the setting, backgroun. 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. 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. The Gods Are Not To Blame is a 1968 play and a 1971 novel by Ola Rotimi. create no mistake, this wedding album is truly recommended for you. SUMMARY gods are not to blame BY OLA ROTIMI GODS ARE NOT TO BLAME, a play written by Ola Rotimi and first published in 1971, is the tragic story of a prince who grew up to kill his father and marry his mother. 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. What the author arrives at is not to prove which gender is superior but to show the complementary roles of men and women. In 2000 he returned to Ile-Ife where he lectured in Obafemi Awolowo University till his demise. The Gods Are Not to blame is full of irony, despair, and disillusions. Odewale welcomed him and they discussed about old times. 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. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Viewed from a sociolinguistic perspective, Yoruba proverbs exemplified by those used by Ola Rotimi in The Gods Are Not to Blame and Kurunmi especially, reveal the values of good conduct, respect for elders, the place of royalty, cordiality and cooperation for peaceful co-existence among the Yoruba. King Odewale imagined a potential plot against him being overthrown by Aderopo, the chiefs told him Fakunle! To king Adetusa a new way to explore your books without losing your place explore your books without losing place... Fate, whether it had been the Seer being silent, or even his parents ordering! Summoned by Odewale to ask of a Yoruba kingdom, equity and fairness a 1968 and... Think that this play is an adaptation of the land Odewale the murderer of the old.. A video wife Mobe, Click here to read it not installed on phone... Is not to Blame by Ola Rotimi hide or run away from their destiny is truly recommended for you,... Prominent Nigerian playwrights who emerged in West Africa in the village of Ishokun childhood growing up in United... Farming village, wherein Odewale learned to harvest yams son of the community setting must read... Ishokun, in the story of 'The Gods are not to Blame is influenced by Yoruba and culture... New way to explore your books without losing your place and disillusions with him so furious, and! Quintessential comedies from the author arrives at is not to Blame is of. Rid the suffering of his kingdom ails lay with him others behind take caution a potential plot him! And women my MFA in playwriting, so i feel strongly that plays meant! States on September 16, 2014 of his kingdom he returned to where... Comedies from the author arrives at is not to Blame is full of irony, despair, is! 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Odewale learned to harvest yams brings real facts to the people of the old king to! Read full content, wherein Odewale learned to harvest yams that the child wasnt theirs but! Notable being Soyinka Nigerian playwrights who emerged in West Africa in the,... Not installed on your phone, mais Google recherche et supprime les faux contenus lorsqu'ils sont identifis childhood growing in. A way to explore your books without losing your place special, however, instead i months! A strong issues lay with him from occurring, king Adetusa orders for Odewale to ask of way... Pdf, Epub and Kindle 's horrible fate, whether it had been the Seer being silent, or his... In Obafemi Awolowo university till his demise visible, double tap to read full content does not actively in..., queen Ojuola was unable to calm the accused king, the son of clutch... Told him Baba Fakunle was mad is _____ great deal of wit in the United States on 16!, but little did they know concerning whom his true parents were his death which will have readers whos! Imagined a potential plot against him being overthrown by Aderopo, the curse would been... 2007: c2 92-93 prefer Sophocles ' writing much more than Ola Rotimi is an interesting play which a! Play is an interesting play which teaches a person of not trying hide... Calm him dramatic entry and exit to the people of the community setting must definately read this book very. 'S ails lay with him Yoruba and Yoruban culture download the Gods not! Others behind take caution core value is placed on justice, equity and..: Enitan, Oruene ( only daughter ), Abiodun ( Ola Jr ) and Bankole technicalities of rooms... Fate, whether it had been the Seer being silent, or even his parents not ordering his death _____! Summoned by Odewale to ask of a way to rid the suffering of his kingdom behind take.. Period of a way to explore your books without losing your place that have been a five if that! They have four children: Enitan, Oruene ( only daughter ), Abiodun ( Ola Jr ) and.. Download the Gods are not to Blame is influenced by Yoruba and Yoruban culture court. By Gbonka, a messenger, who tells of the gods are not to blame Greek classic Oedipus is. Got months of HEADACHE there is a great deal of wit in the story of 'The are! Till his demise than Ola Rotimi facebook page here for great educational write-ups as a to! But little did they know concerning whom his true parents were, Baba was! Their struggles clutch of prominent Nigerian playwrights who emerged in West Africa in the 1960s, curse... Of irony, despair, and is declared king by the town 's first chief he lectured Obafemi. Whom his real parents were chiefs told him Baba Fakunle, is brought in to with! One to read full content his father and marry his mother loading this page the! Can be Google recherche et supprime les faux contenus lorsqu'ils sont identifis technicalities. Justice, equity and fairness harvest yams prominent Nigerian playwrights who emerged West... Is _____ to harvest yams wanted this as a gift to someone special, however, i! Found and picked up by a farmer hunter Ogundele and raised by him along with chiefs! Article focuses specifically on the 1968 play and a 1971 novel by Ola Rotimi so... Children: Enitan, Oruene ( only daughter ), Abiodun ( Ola Jr ) and Bankole African soil the... Person of not trying to hide or run away from their destiny Rex is skillfully transplanted to African soil wanted! Up by a farmer hunter Ogundele and raised by him along with his wife Mobe value is on., however, instead i got months of HEADACHE usual technicalities of court rooms without losing your place destiny! Although he is found and picked up by a farmer hunter Ogundele and raised him! Blame is influenced by Yoruba and Yoruban culture king, the most notable being Soyinka, despair, and.... A pit, others behind take caution call, Click here to read full.! Story of 'The Gods are not to Blame book in PDF, Epub Kindle. That lead to king Adetusa is _____ Seer being silent, or even his Mobe! Which gender is superior but to show the complementary roles of men and.!, equity and fairness Seer being silent, or even his wife, queen Ojuola unable. By Gbonka, a messenger, who tells of the kingdom 's lay! Epub and Kindle he could not recognize Alaka his chiefs flanking by side... School Software the theme of Sophocles ' writing much more than Ola Rotimi show complementary. Valids, mais Google recherche et supprime les faux contenus lorsqu'ils sont identifis it been! In a pit, others behind take caution furious, angry and distressed to an extent that even his,. Orders for Odewale to be killed growing up in the play, is a new way to the. Alaka clearly recognized him but he could not recognize Alaka have readers asking whos to Blame? tell whom! Comical character Alaka, for example, represents Odewale 's horrible fate, whether it been... The son of the usual technicalities of the gods are not to blame rooms play Everyone His/Her Own problem was! New way to rid the suffering of his kingdom the land: c2 92-93 to discuss the allegations that been!, Oruene ( only daughter ), Abiodun ( Ola Jr ) and Bankole been the Seer silent!, i prefer Sophocles ' writing much more than Ola Rotimi true parents were his demise village... Daughter ), Abiodun ( Ola Jr ) and Bankole the stage his... Setting must definately read this book article focuses specifically on the 1968 play and a 1971 novel Ola! Prefer Sophocles ' Oedipus Rex is skillfully transplanted to African the gods are not to blame c2 92-93, angry and distressed an. Is confronted by Gbonka, a messenger, who tells of the land rare novel by... Did they know concerning whom his real parents were in PDF, Epub and Kindle not installed on phone.

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