112:, Africa's first Nobel Prize winner in 1986. "A Play of Giants" is a satire that takes aim at dictators in Africa, including the notorious Idi Amin. Set at the New York embassy, the play ingeniously portrays a gathering of dictatorial African leaders, highlighting their absurdities and follies as they attempt to navigate cooperation and decision-making. Through sharp wit and clever dialogue, the play-offers a scathing commentary on power, politics, and the human condition, inviting audiences to reflect on the nature of tyranny and its impact on society. It was published on January 1, 1984.
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confidence, he harbors deep-seated paranoia, constantly purging perceived threats to his reign. Kasco's methods include brutal repression and manipulation, reflecting his willingness to do whatever it takes to maintain control. However, beneath his facade of strength lies a fragile ego, easily wounded by dissent.
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inspired by Mobutu Sese Seko, a cunning and ruthless character. He commands respect through quiet authority, always staying ahead of his adversaries with masterful strategy. Tuboum is a pragmatic realist, unhampered by moral concerns, viewing power as the ultimate goal. He is willing to betray allies
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make an appearance, their indifference to
African suffering highlighting the cynical geopolitics of the Cold War era. As the play reaches its climax, the façade of power begins to crumble. Kamini, desperate to maintain control, resorts to increasingly brutal tactics, alienating even those who once
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after Jean-Baptiste
Bokassa, embodies relentless pursuit of absolute power. He exudes regal authority, relishing in the symbols of his self-proclaimed empire. Kasco views himself as beyond the mundane concerns of politics, believing himself to be a divine ruler chosen by fate. Despite his outward
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The absurdity reaches new heights as the
African leaders grapple with their own delusions of grandeur. Gunema attempts to solve his country's financial woes by simply printing more money, while Kasco declares himself above politics, embracing absolute power as emperor. Amidst the chaos, Kamini
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Kamini, one of the main cast of the play(charismatic host), takes center stage, regaling the others with his grandiose tales of conquest and power. Despite his charm, there is an underlying sense of unease among the group, as they constantly fret over the stability of their
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in New York City, adorned with decorations and displays of wealth. In the center stands a sculptor, attempting to capture the likeness of
African tyrants. Enter Gunema, Kasco representing, Kamini, and Tuboum with each representing a country as listed respectively
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emerges as the central figure, his erratic behavior keeping everyone on edge. Despite his bluster, he is haunted by the specter of betrayal, as his once-loyal followers begin to defect in the face of his tyranny. Meanwhile, representatives of the US and
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in stone, they offer unsolicited advice and criticism, revealing their vanity and insecurity. Meanwhile, their
Western admirers, including the Scandinavian journalist Gudrun and professor Batey, fawn over them with feigned admiration.
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supported him. In a moment of rare engagement, Kasco reflects on the nature of power and politics, questioning whether his fellow tyrants are truly free or merely trapped by their own ambitions.
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175:, inspired by Macias Nguema, a character that constantly seeks validation and adulation, but underneath his bravado lies a deep insecurity as he struggles to control his failing
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dissent only isolates him further. Despite his flaws, there's a tragic aspect to Gunema, haunted by his past atrocities and consumed by his own insecurities.
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and sacrifice anything to satisfy his ambition for power. Despite his calm exterior, Tuboum
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Chronicles from the Land of the
Happiest People on Earth
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back home. As the sculptor struggles to immortalize the
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311:The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News
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307:"Greed for power resonates in a Play of Giants"
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285:(First ed.). London; New York: Methuen.
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233:"The Nobel Prize in Literature 1986"
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518:The Beatification of the Area Boy
332:"A Play of Giants – Wole Soyinka"
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476:Death and the King's Horseman
281:Soyinka, Wole (1984-01-01).
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490:Requiem for a Futurologist
413:The Trials of Brother Jero
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448:The Bacchae of Euripides
263:. Yale Repertory Theatre
131:Central African Republic
336:www.complete-review.com
667:African Writers Series
511:A Scourge of Hyacinths
455:Madmen and Specialists
420:A Dance of the Forests
406:The Lion and the Jewel
462:Camwood on the Leaves
207:General Barra Tuboum,
197:Field-Marshal Kamini,
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504:From Zia with Love
399:The Swamp Dwellers
257:"A PLAY OF GIANTS"
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313:. 2016-03-27
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261:yalerep.org
139:Congo/Zaïre
672:1984 plays
661:Categories
549:Screenplay
525:King Baabu
341:2024-04-17
317:2024-04-17
267:2024-04-17
242:2024-04-17
219:References
167:Characters
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382:Works by
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611:Ẹni Ògún
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639:Nigeria
625:Portals
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190:modeled
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53:fiction
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135:Uganda
79:Africa
34:Author
391:Plays
84:Pages
50:Genre
287:ISBN
160:USSR
116:Plot
93:ISBN
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