Some Things Are Better Unknown: Confronting Traditional Practices of Prophecy in African Cultural Beliefs through Ola Rotimi's The Gods Are Not to Blame

Opeyemi Emmanuel OLAWE; Adekunle ADEGITE; Olaide Morayo BABALOLA; Dunsin Oyindamola ADEOSUN

doi:10.24071/joll.v24i2.8922

Some Things Are Better Unknown: Confronting Traditional Practices of Prophecy in African Cultural Beliefs through Ola Rotimi's The Gods Are Not to Blame

Opeyemi Emmanuel OLAWE^(1*), Adekunle ADEGITE⁽²⁾, Olaide Morayo BABALOLA⁽³⁾, Dunsin Oyindamola ADEOSUN⁽⁴⁾,

(1) University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
(2) Department of Languages and Linguistics, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti
(3) Department of Languages and Linguistics, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti
(4) Department of Languages and Linguistics, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

In contemporary Nigeria, the proliferation of prophetic claims has profoundly influenced popular religious practices across all societal strata. This phenomenon engages individuals from various backgrounds as they seek divine insights and prophecies from spiritual leaders. This study focuses on Ola Rotimi's play The Gods Are Not to Blame to critically examine the role of prophecy within African cultural beliefs. While existing scholarship on Rotimi's work often analyzes themes of fate, tragedy, and the allocation of blame within the play among others, scant attention has been paid to the fundamental role of prophecy itself as the root cause of the play’s tragic events. This research aims to conduct a deconstructive reading of the play, scrutinizing how the characters' pursuit of foreknowledge and attempts to alter their fates paradoxically precipitate their destinies. The method involves a detailed textual analysis of the play, focusing on key dialogues and actions that highlight the characters' motivations and the unfolding of events. The findings reveal two key instances: first, Baba Fakunle’s prophecy, which foretells disaster for Odewale’s family, leads his parents to attempt to kill him to prevent the predicted calamity. Ironically, this attempt to alter the future sets in motion the very disaster they sought to avoid. Secondly, an elder’s parable causes Odewale to discover the prophecy's truth. In trying to understand and avoid his destiny, Odewale discovers that his actions to prevent it end up fulfilling it. Both instances suggest that the desire to know and change the future is fraught with peril, often precipitating the very outcomes one seeks to avoid. The conclusion emphasizes the prudence of embracing the uncertainty of the future, as attempting to alter it can lead to unintended and often tragic consequences.

Keywords

Prophecy, African cultural beliefs, Ola Rotimi, "The Gods Are Not To Blame", Predestination, Consequences

Full Text:

PDF

References

Adamu, P. (2017). Context and Politeness in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame. Issues in Language and Literary Studies, 1(1).

Adeniyi, V. O. (2015). Portrayal of Indigenous Religions and Ifa. African Indigenous Religious Traditions in Local and Global Contexts: Perspectives on Nigeria, 175.

Adiele, P. (2024). The Delphic Oracle and Ifa Oracle: Limits of Divination in Oedipus the King and The Gods are not to Blame. Interdisciplinary Literary Studies, 26(1), 23-40.

Adiele, P. O. (2022). Tragedy as a Component of Liberation and Freedom in Ola Rotimi's The Gods are not to Blame. AKSU Journal of English, 1, (2), 67-88

Amanze, J. N. (2013). The Role of Prophecy in the Growth and Expansion of the Synagogue Church of All Nations. Scriptura: Journal for Contextual Hermeneutics in Southern Africa, 112(1), 1-14.

Anayochukwu, A. A. (2016). Dealing with The Recent Epidemic of Prophecies in Nigeria: Towards a Theology of Prophetism. A Valedictory Speech at the 45^th Convocation Ceremony of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, on this 19^th of March, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.bigardenugu.org/dealing-with-the-recent-epidemic-of-prophecies-in-nigeria-towards-a-theology-of-prophetism.html

Anigbogu, N. C., & Ahizih, F. C. (2020). Language use in Ola Rotimi’s the Gods are not to Blame: a psychological perspective. Socialscientia: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(1).

Anjorin, G., & Nwosu, C. (2018). The Playwright as a Crusader of Societal Transformation: An Evaluation of Some Selected African Plays. Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development. 1(4). 98-111.

Apuke, O. D. (2016). Thematic Analysis/Review of Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame. Studies in Literature and Language, 13(5), 11-13.

Awojobi, P. O. (2018). “Prophets as Consultants in Ancient Israelite and Nigerian Socio-Cultural Contexts” in The Heart of the Act: Church, Politics and Social Transformation. A Festschrift in Honor of His Grace, Most Rev. Michael Kehinde Stephen. Edited by Rosaline O. Opeke et al, UI Press. p. 125.

Awojobi, P. O. (2021). The Place of Music in Prophecy in 2 Kings 3: 15-16 and the Nigerian Context. International Journal of Innovation and Research in Educational Sciences, 8(2), 2349–5219

Awojobi, P. O. (2023). Predictive Prophecy: A Catalyst for the Growth of Christ Apostolic Church in Nigeria. Lafia Journal of Religion and Humanities, 3(1).

Balogun, O. A. (2007). “The Concepts of Ori and Human Destiny in Traditional Yoruba Thought: A Soft-Deterministic Interpretation,” Nordic Journal of African Studies, 16(1), 116-130.

Chabi, M. S., & Dadja-Tiou, P. (2022). Yoruba Beliefs and Monarchy in Yorubaland As Seen Through Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame. Akofena 1, 313-332

Dick, T. O. (2015). Patterns of Deviation in Niyi Osundare’s Poetry. Mgbakoigba: Journal of African Studies, 4, 1-12

Etherton, M. (1982). The Development of African Drama. Hutchinson University Library for Africa, 1982.

Hornby, A. S. (2015). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 1027.

Inyang, H. (2019). Conceptual Analysis of Ola Rotimi's The Gods Are Not To Blame.
https:harrilibrary.blogspot.com/2019/05conceptual-analysis-of-ola-rotimisgods.html.

Irele, A. (2001). The African Imagination: Literature in Africa and the Black Diaspora. Oxford University Press.

Iwe, E. C. (2016). The Role of Contemporary Prophecy in the Lives of Members of Pentecostal Churches in Africa. Azusa Pacific University.

Jegede, O. O., & Adesina, O. B. (2020). Conversational Strategies in Ola Rotimi’s the Gods are not to Blame. Studies in Literature and Language, 21(2), 64-75.

Jeyifo, B. (1985). The Truthful Lie: Essays in a Sociology of African Drama. New Beacon Books.

Kehinde, O. & Ibrahim, N. (2021). Language and Difference: A Deconstructive Reading of Niyi Osundare’s “Poetry Is” and Abubakar Othman’s “Wordsworth Lied”. LingPoet: Journal of Linguistics and Literary Research, 2(3), 75-91

Kpodoh, D., & Olatunji, O. F. (2022) Playwriting: Therapies and Prophecies, Finding Meanings in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame. Port Harcourt Journal of History & Diplomatic Studies, 9(1) 61-71

Mbachaga, J. (2014). The Creative Writer as a Social Critic: James Alachi’s Enekole Approached. Theatre and Socio criticism: The Dramaturgy of James Alachi. Ed. Ododo. S., & Mbachaga, J. SONTA: 43-52.

Mokani, J. (2021). The Role of Fate in Tragedy: A Case Study of Rotimi’s The Gods are Not to Blame. European Journal of Literary Studies, 3(1).

Nutsukpo M. F. (2019). “Beyond Adaptation: The Representation of Women in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame,” International Journal of Development Strategies and Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, 9(2), 99-111.

Nutsukpo, M. F. (2019). Beyond Adaptation: The Representation of Women in Ola Rotimi's The Gods are not to Blame. International Journal, 9(2).

Nwabudike, C. E. (2017). Sociolinguistic Investigation of the Proverbs in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame, Kurunmi and Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (Doctoral dissertation).

Nwabudike, C. E. (2020). A sociolinguistic Analysis of Proverbs in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame. Journal of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria, 23(1), 139-147.

Obielosi, D. and Idonor, C. U. (2021). False Prophetism in Nigeria: Effect on The Credibility of The Ecclesial Communities. Journal of Chinese & African Studies (JOCAS), 2 (1)

Obika, A. N., & Ojiakor, C. T. Historical Implications in the Plays of Ola Rotimi: A Study of Kurunmi, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi and the Gods are not to Blame.

Odebode, I. (2015). Ethnography of Communication in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame: A Pragmatic Study. British Journal of English Linguistics, 7(1)

Odebunmi, A. (2008). Pragmatic functions of crisis–motivated proverbs in Ola Rotimi's The Gods are not to Blame. Linguistik online, 33(1), 73-84.

Ogunbiyi, Y. (Ed). (2014). Nigerian Drama and Theatre: A Critical Source Book. 2nd Ed. Tanus.

Ogunfeyimi, L. (2020). Beyond Western Medicine (Drugs): Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame and James Henshaw’s This is our Chance. Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Development in Africa, 187-205.

Olaosun, I. E. (2012). Incantation as Discourse: A Discourse-Stylistic Study of the Confrontational Scene of Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are Not to Blame. In Style in African Literature (pp. 423-437). Brill.

Olu-Osayomi, O., & Adebua, B. (2023). The Relevance of the Practice of Ifá Divination in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame. Yoruba Studies Review, 8(1), 105-129.

Onkoba, S. O., Rutere, A. M., & Kamau, N. G. (2022). Confluence of Kinship and Divinity in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame and Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. East African Journal of Education and Social Sciences (EAJESS), 3(2), 102-109.

Rotimi, O. (1971). The Gods Are Not to Blame. Oxford University Press.

Sesan, A. A. (2014). Text and (Con-) Textualization of Justice and Human Dignity in The Gods Are not to Blame and Hopes of The Living Dead: Lessons for Nigeria. Justice and human dignity in Africa, 227.

Ukande, C. (2014). The Playwright and Commitment: The Example of James Alachi’s The Gods Are to Blame. Theatre and Socio criticism: The Dramaturgy of James Alachi. Ed. Ododo. S., & Mbachaga, J. SONTA: 254-263.

Yakubu, S., & Jeremiah, H. I. (2022). Turn-Taking Mechanism in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame. Glob Acad J Linguist Lit, 4.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v24i2.8922