| Title: |
Oil and Women in Niger Delta Drama: A Study of Ahmed Yerima’s Little Drops and Hope Eghagha’s the Oily Marriage |
| Author(s): |
Uchenna OKEN, Emeka C. ONUNWA, Ijeoma N. ARUOMAH & Cornelius C DIM. |
| Abstract: |
Oil has become a dominant issue in Niger Delta drama. This is because its misuse/‘overuse’ has caused social unrest, poverty, marginalization, degradation and ‘sexploitation’. This paper is designed to examine the consequences of oil exploration on theNiger Delta women in particular and on Deltans in general, concentrates its examination on the plays of Ahmed Yerima’s Little Drops and Hope Eghagha’s The Oily Marriage. The plays in this study draw attention to the conflict caused by oil exploitation and environmental issues in the region from the angle ofthe women folk. Thesecontentions result in decrease in fishing and farming activities, and the increase in contaminated streams and rivers, forest destruction, bio- diversity loss, environmental pollution and the attendant poverty. The complacency of the Federal Government in tackling the multinational companies to resolve some of these problems and to address the unfair distribution of the accrued ‘oil dollars’ had been the cause of persistent conflicts and confrontation in the area. These heinous acts that befall the region, have caused great havoc on the lives of the people, especially women who suffer great hardships. This study uses the theory of ecofeminism to analyze the connection between the degradation of both women and the environment. |
| Keywords: |
Oil, women, conflict, Niger Delta, drama, ecofeminism
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EBONYI JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE
