Intertextual adaptation in Ahmed Yerima’s <i>Otaelo</i>

Abstract

A close reading of intertextual adaptations in African drama shows the relationship between African drama and European plays. With insights from Intertextual and Cultural theories, this study examines the convergence of cultural dynamics and comparatively investigates the themes and characters in Yerima’s Otaelo, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. There is a relationship between the themes and characters in both plays. This study is significant in its proposition as it places African culture and European culture side by side to bring out the semblance and little differences that exist between both cultures in order to prove that most cultures in the world are homogenous with little heterogeneity and convey the relevance of intertextual adaptation in the African play to the contemporary audience and readers. The use of dramatic techniques in the adapted play provides the tools to effectively communicate the plot and themes to the readers so they can understand the narrative better and become emotionally invested in the characters. Ahmed Yerima, therefore, draws extensively from European text, and this source conduces to the thematic preoccupation of the play Othello. In other words, it is anticipated that this has gone a long way in attesting that some cultures are homogenous globally.