Telephone number:	+31 (0)71 527 2777
E-Mail:	r.j.julius-adeoye@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Faculty / Department:	Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen, Institute for Cultural Disciplines, Literatuurwetenschap
Office Address:	Witte Singel-complex van Wijkplaats 2 2311 BX Leiden Room number 2.01b

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Research

PhD thesis title:The Dramaturgy of Ahmed Yerima

My thesis explores the aesthetics, thematic preoccupation, recurrent ideologies, language, style and the relevance of the plays of Ahmed Yerima to African socio-cultural milieu. It also reveals how Ahmed Yerima has allowed ideology and style to merge with dramatic technique, and at the same time speaking against various Nigerian governments’ anti-people policies.

This research also looks at the position of Ahmed Yerima as Cultural Officer in charge of Nigeria’s National Troupe and The National Theatre. I interrogate his written and staged works during military regime in Nigeria as well as in the nascent democratic rule. Ahmed Yerima firmly establishes his presence on the Nigerian stage during these periods with a succession of theatrical outputs and productions. 

In addition to analyzing the historical developments of Ahmed Yerima as  a dramatist; I also attempts unearthing several cultural imports of some selected plays. In selecting these plays, special emphasis is placed on those works that have political and social relevance to the contemporary Nigerian society.

Although focusing on Ahmed Yerima, the thesis, nevertheless, traces the historical development of Nigerian drama from the pre-colonial ritual theatre, colonial Yoruba Traveling Theatre, to the 21st Century.

Curriculum Vitae

Julius-Adeoye Rantimi Jays, is a PhD candidate in the Institute of Cultural Discipline (LUICD), Leiden University. He is a graduate of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he also obtained a Master of Arts degree in the same field. He taught briefly at the Department of Photojournalism and Cinematography, School of Communication, Lagos State University, Nigeria before joining the teaching faculty of the Department of Theatre Arts, Redeemer’s University, Nigeria where he teaches theatre history, acting and directing, media arts/studies. He also specializes in African drama, dramatic theory and criticism, Theatre for Development, African video-film, and is also interested in the sociopolitical discourses of dramatic texts.

He has publications in books and has presented research papers on African video-film, the drama of Ahmed Yerima, issues in African drama, Theatre for Development (TfD) at conferences in Europe, Asia and Africa. He has directed and acted in more than 30 plays, organized and facilitated about ten TfD projects, as well as produced and managed many concerts within Nigerian universities. He is a theatre director, media and events management’s consultant, as well as a TfD practitioner. A member of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes (SONTA), and the International Federation of Theatre Research (IFTR).

Publications

“…On The Pedestal Of Social And Political Relevance: Voyage Around Osofisan’s Who Is Afraid Of Solarin And Yerima’s Kaffir’s Last Game.” In Relevance Arts for Sustainable Global Development: Proceeding of Prof. Femi Osofisan International Conference Edited by Izuu Nwankwo, et al. (2008)

“Nigerian Playwrights and the Issues of Official Corruption: A study of Selected Plays” Literature,corruption and Good governance in Nigeria and Beyond: Critical Essays Edited by Barth Oshionebo and Mbachaga Desen J. (2009)

“History as Drama, Drama as History: A Study of Three Plays as Windows into People and Groups in the ‘Niger Area”’ in Readings on Issues and Challenges of Nigerian Societies, Edited by ‘Jide Osuntokun, Victor Ukaogo and Akachi Odoemene (Forthcoming first quarter 2010).