By: Yemi Alesh
Dr. Doyin Aguoru, a lecturer at the department of English, University of Ibadan has on Friday, September 28th, 2018 launched two plays, “Refugees of the Great Lakes” and “Stolen Seeds”
The book launch which took place at the Faculty of Arts Conference Centre was chaired by Prof. Jide Owoeye, the Chairman of Council, Lead City University. He lauded the ingenious work of the author in capturing a salient issue like the war in Rwanda. He further expressed confidence that the plays, like Half of a Yellow Sun, which captured the incidence of the Nigerian civil war, would also be staged severally as time passes.
The task of reviewing the book, TWO PLAYS, was vested on Dr. Shola Olorunyomi, of the Institute of African Studies, who did justice to the same by analyzing the drama texts.
In his review of the Refugees of the Great Lakes, Dr. Olorunyomi said that the play centres on life struggles of victims of war, the survivors, educated or uneducated. He said that the author, Dr. Aguoru tells her readers in the play that she does not commend women as victims of war. “In this book, Aguoru has made an effort to tell a story which does not in any way shy away from the reality of life. “, he added. Dr. Olorunyomi also said that the play covers a lot of gender empowerment, symbolom and a graphic illustration of the horrors of war.
The deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admimistrative) Professor Kayode Adebowale, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abel Olayinka at the book launch commended the launch of the book as an academic success of the scholar and a contribution to scholarship. In his comment on the plays, Professor Adebowale mentioned the relation of the subject matter of the plays to the concept of marriage, and how domestic violence, like war, causes not only physical injury but also emotional and psychological hurts.
During the programme, the premiere performance of both plays were staged by Jewel Drama Group, amid much applause.
Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, professor of English and former Dean of Faculty of Arts presented the book for launching, which was eventually sponsored by certain dignitaries present at the event like the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administrative), Professor Adebowale; Dean of Students, Professor ATP Ajuwape; Dean of Faculty of Arts, Professor Ademola Dasylva and author Odia Efunam, among others.
