Language, Power Dynamics and Societal Hierarchies in Femi Osofisan’s Plays

This study addressed the research gap in scholarship on Femi Osofisan's drama by focusing on how language mediates power dynamics and societal hierarchies, a dimension often overshadowed by thematic and political readings of his works. Specifically, the study (1) examined how linguistic choices by characters reinforce existing power structures; (2) analysed the use of vernacular, Pidgin English, and indigenous expressions as acts of resistance; and (3) explored how Osofisan's linguistic strategies reflect broader socio-political realities. Guided by Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as the theoretical framework, the study employed qualitative analysis of selected plays—The Chattering and the Song, Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels, and Once Upon Four Robbers. The study found that formal English served as a linguistic marker of elite dominance, indigenous languages and vernacular expressions functioned as tools of resistance, and code-switching facilitated negotiation between oppressive structures and subversive agency. It also found that Osofisan's linguistic strategies created layered meanings that reflected Nigeria's socio-political realities. The study concluded that language in Osofisan's plays is both a site of oppression and a resource for empowerment, capable of reshaping societal narratives. The study contributed to existing knowledge by demonstrating how dramatic language operates as a performative tool for contesting entrenched hierarchies, enriching the discourse on postcolonial literature and linguistic resistance.

Keywords

Language; Power dynamics; Societal hierarchies; Femi Osofisan; Critical Discourse Analysis

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How to cite this paper

Language, Power Dynamics and Societal Hierarchies in Femi Osofisan's Plays

How to cite this paper: Olusegun Oladele Jegede, Patricia O. Arubuola. (2025). Language, Power Dynamics and Societal Hierarchies in Femi Osofisan's Plays. Journal of Literature Advances, 2(2), 77-89.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jla.2025.12.001

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Language, Power Dynamics and Societal Hierarchies in Femi Osofisan’s Plays

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