Language, Power Dynamics, and Societal Hierarchies in Post-Osofisan Nigerian Drama

Abstract: This paper argues that in post-Osofisan Nigerian drama, language serves as both a tool for reinforcing power dynamics and a medium for subverting societal hierarchies. Through an examination of key works by playwrights such as Wole Soyinka and Femi Osofisan, the paper explores how language functions to perpetuate or challenge class, gender, and ethnic inequalities. It asserts that language in these plays is not merely a means of communication but a strategic instrument through which characters explore, contest, and redefine societal structures. The paper reveals how formal English is used by elites to assert dominance, while marginalized characters employ vernaculars and indigenous expressions to resist and reclaim their identity. Drawing on Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a framework, the study investigates how linguistic choices reflect and influence power relations, both within the plays and in the broader socio-political context of postcolonial Nigeria. Through case studies from plays such as The Chattering and the Song, Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels, and Once Upon Four Robbers, the paper demonstrates how language becomes a powerful tool for challenging entrenched power structures. Ultimately, it emphasizes the transformative potential of language in both drama and society, emphasizing its role in shaping narratives of resistance and empowerment.