Resolving Niger Delta crisis through theatre

As part of efforts to engage youths in more productive ways than violence, the Nigerian Popular Theatre Alliance (NPTA)/Theatre for Development Centre (TFDC) engaged them in what they called, ‘Local Voices and Choices: Promoting Grassroots Agency in the Niger Delta through Participatory Drama and Video’. The organisers began with a refresher training which took place […]

As part of efforts to engage youths in more productive ways than violence, the Nigerian Popular Theatre Alliance (NPTA)/Theatre for Development Centre (TFDC) engaged them in what they called, ‘Local Voices and Choices: Promoting Grassroots Agency in the Niger Delta through Participatory Drama and Video’.

The organisers began with a refresher training which took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The training was cast in the form of community simulation and the trainers also adopted a hands-on practical and participatory approach. Locals were exposed to the understanding of camera parts, camera care, techniques, framing shots, developing story board, community shoot and organising community viewing. They also mastered the techniques of drama processes – data analysis, scenario building, TFD techniques and community performance/processing amongst other relevant skills.

According to the organisers, “These components were considered key and would address necessary community issues. The consideration here was practical rather than theoretical.” After three days of intense ‘course work,’ participants formed two groups – Erema, Rivers State and Otuasega, Bayelsa State. They shared their experiences with the communities and also learned from the realities of the communities. Most critically, it was time to put into practice the skills and techniques to research, analyse community issues and plan action strategies.

The community implementation of the theatre skills phase had two aspects. One was the training of selected members of community-based organisations in each community on the use of theatre for development and participatory video as tools for community development. The point of significance, however, was to understand the use of these tools in relation to community issues and for the groups to explore them within their own particular context. Therefore, the entire exercise encompassed training and practice.

When put to practice, the emphasised issues focused on poor health services, bad leadership, poor educational facilities and uneven distribution of water in the community. Other issues that were put to practice were bad roads and poor drainage, oil spillage, teenage pregnancy, unemployment and lack of women participation.

This further led to an analysis of the issues and the consequences of each of the problems, which were outlined. For example, in regard to poor health services, it was perceived to be as a result of poor management, greed and political interest that were really for the common good. The consequences of these included the spread of diseases and risk to life. Leadership issues came out strongly in the analysis of the problems.

The analysis of this problem located it first of all in the process of selecting leaders which the participants viewed as corrupt, driven by greed, based on sentiments and favouritism and that the zoning system ignored merit in favour of god-fatherism and mediocrity. The consequences of these on the community and its people have been poor infrastructural development, low morale and self-esteem on the part of the people. Also, in the analysis of the issues, they traced a relationship between bad leadership and the crucial issue of unemployment of the youth in the community.

There was indeed a thread linking most of the issues and many were branches of the same problem or root causes of others. It was based on the findings of this analysis that drama sketches which took place at the Erema Civic Centre were drawn to further emphasise and resolve them.

Members of the Youth Council decided that the issue of highest priority would be what their drama should focus on.

So, the drama was on unemployment. In general, it was a drama of frustrated aspirations, corruption and nepotism by the people in powerful positions. It suggests that some of the actions by people in leadership positions may be responsible for militancy and kidnapping in the Niger Delta. The drama was received enthusiastically and the vibrant discussion of the issues attested to the fact that the drama was close to the heart of the Erema people in the audience.

In an interactive session, the indigenes agreed that, “the things depicted in the drama are the experiences of youths in our community and reflect the re-colonialism of the Niger Delta.” They also said that chiefs alone were not guilty of greed, self-centredness, bribery and corruption, but some youth leaders are also guilty.

Mr Endwell, a graduate applicant, elaborated on the issues. He analysed that, “The problems of the community emanate from leadership problem, resource management and bribery and corruption.” He characterised the new leadership style of marginalisation as: “community colonialism whereby leaders have actually hijacked the community and its resources”. He then cited the example of the hoarding of job opportunities by leaders as one of the elements or signs of this colonialism and argued that the actions of the chiefs and the government representatives amount to betrayal of the trust that the people have bestowed on them.

He posed a philosophical question: “Will the youth stay unemployed forever and not do anything in their lives?” And the ominous conclusion: “That is why the youth are restive; that is why there is crime and violence!”

But the voice of the elders is the voice of wisdom: “We have rulers, not leaders!” This is to mean that the so-called leaders do not do things in the interest of the people. They only know themselves. However, responding to the action taken against the chief by the youths in the drama, he pleads that “violence is not an answer; we will only aggravate the problem.”  

As one of their own had analysed the issues facing them, resolutions were then suggested. These included periodic change of leadership, existence of policies to cater for the youths and the less-privileged, need for a change of consciousness and character, fair distribution of available resources and recourse to traditional practices, occupation and values.

The NPTA and TFDC are Zaria-based non-profit groups aimed at using theatre for societal growth and development.