Varsity Don launches book on Radio Play

A university lecturer and playwright, Gbenga Ariba has launched a book with a collection of 14 plays, titled: ‘Radio Play.’   The 180-page book comprises short plays, 13 of which have enjoyed broadcast time on Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) in the ’70s and ’80s. At the book launch in Lagos, Ariba, a former head of drama, […]

A university lecturer and playwright, Gbenga Ariba has launched a book with a collection of 14 plays, titled: ‘Radio Play.’  
The 180-page book comprises short plays, 13 of which have enjoyed broadcast time on Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) in the ’70s and ’80s.
At the book launch in Lagos, Ariba, a former head of drama, FRCN, Lagos said his decision to author a book was based on the urgent need to preserve many of the intellectual works that are fast getting lost in archives and libraries. He said as an artist with many creative writings on man and society, it is only important to document all his numerous works which have been put together over the years.
“As at the time, many of the plays featured in this book were written; radio was a powerful means of reaching a large and diversified audience. We did use radio to communicate with people and it has wider impact. I have a total of 14 plays in this collection. I lost numerous plays to a fire incident in Radio Nigeria II. But I think a time has come to document all of these, especially those I can lay my hands on.
“Apart from my personal documentation, I also taught courses in Mass Communication in two universities and I discovered that there are not many books for students running courses such as Television Drama, Radio Drama and Documentary. And when you ask students to go and do assignments, they return to tell you that there are no books or references. So I think with this effort, such complaints will reduce. I particularly believe students of higher institution of learning, especially those in Theatre Arts, Mass Communication and English will find it useful,” Ariba said.
The book reviewer, Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi who also recommended the book for practitioners, said of all radio programmes and types, it is only the radio drama that fully exhibits virtually all the characteristics of radio.