Language Problem in African Dramatic Literature: An Examination of Ola Rotimi's Dramatic Experiment

Abstract

This paper explores the enduring problem of language in African literature, with a particular focus on African dramatic texts and Ola Rotimi’s innovative response through multilingual dramaturgy. Situated within the frameworks of decolonisation theory and postcolonial literary criticism, the study interrogates the ideological and practical challenges African writers face in selecting a language of literary expression. The central question — What should be the language of African literature? — continues to provoke spirited debate, shaped by colonial histories, linguistic diversity, cultural identity, and audience accessibility. The paper identifies and critically engages with four major schools of thought on the issue: the linguistic purists who advocate for indigenous African languages; the foreign language realists who prioritize global intelligibility through colonial languages; the proponents of Pidgin English as a bridge between oral and literary traditions; and, finally, the multilingualists exemplified by Ola Rotimi, who seeks a reconciliatory path. Using close readings of If…: A Tragedy of the Ruled and Hopes of the Living Dead, the paper examines how Rotimi strategically assigns different language registers — indigenous languages, Pidgin English, and Standard British English — to characters based on their social status, ethnicity, and communicative roles. Rotimi’s method does not merely reflect Nigeria’s linguistic plurality; it actively constructs a theatre of inclusivity and realism, one that foregrounds language as both a performative and political tool. Moreover, his technique of multilingual layering, supported by in-text interpreters and strategic translation, illustrates how African literature can maintain cultural authenticity while achieving global intelligibility. In conclusion, the study advocates for multilingualism not merely as an artistic device but as a sustainable linguistic philosophy for African literature. It underscores the importance of writer intentionality, audience scope, and translation in resolving the language dilemma in African literary expression.