This is an African retelling of Euripides: an unnervingly topical story of a people and a beloved city destroyed by the brutality of war. The play was first performed in Lagos in 2003 under the distinguished director Chuck Mike, and subsequently toured the UK.

This book is an extensive and captivating study of the work of Femi Osofisan, one of Nigeria’s most important dramatists and postcolonial playwrights. It explores a variety of his plays to gather together insights on the role of art in social change, and discusses the relationship between literature and politics.

The late Dr. Tai Solarin was the Principle and Proprietor of the Mayflower Grammar School at Ikenne, and Public Complaints Commissioner of the former Western State of Nigeria. This play by Femi Osofisan, the distinguished Nigerian playwright, is in his honour. Isola, a rascally and irresponsible traveller, is mistaken for the dreaded Public Complaints Commissioner, Solarin, by the corrupt officials of the Local Government Council. He plays on this until the real Commissioner arrives. The classic play was first published in 1978; and this new edition includes the first Tai Solarin Memorial Lecture, delivered in 2004 by Femi Osofisan.

Ancient Songs Set Ablaze constitutes the first systematic study of the plays of Femi Osofisan, winner in 1983 of the first Assciation of Nigerian Authors prize for drama. Osofisan is one of the most respected and prolific African writers. He uses a postcolonial history of poverty political unrest, and social corruption to create theatre pieces that range from social protest dramas, to murder mysteries, to farces. His style encompasses such African performance practices as story-telling, dance dramas, and dilemma tales. As his work gains in popularity in the United States, Osofisan has begun to obtain commissions and productions on American college campuses and regional theatres nationwide.

The distinguished Nigerian playwright directed the first performance of this play at the Arts Theatre at the University of Ibadan. Osofisan's incisive vision is put at the service of oppressed humanity. His over-riding theme is that the machinery of oppression in human society is created by man, but man is also capable of demolishing it. The production includes Yoruba songs and incantations, and a glossary provides an English translation - as a guide for other directors to substitute appropriate dirges.

The contributions to this volume in the African Theatre series make clear that the role of women in the theatre across the continent has changed as control is mainly held by literate elites and women's traditional standing has been lost to men.

This anthology presents the most comprehensive and up-to-date critical works on the creative ingenuity of Femi Osofisan, one of the most prolific contemporary African writers ever. With contributions from a distinguished set of literary scholars, Toyin Falola and Tunde Akinyemi's innovative anthology covers a broad range of themes, including literature and society, gender, style and the use of language, the mobility of oral tradition and translation/transliteration.

"Based on the ancient myth of Moremi, the Ife queen who infiltrated the enemy camp to ensure her people's triumph, Morountodun brilliantly brings the story up to date. No More The Wasted Breed and Red is the Freedom Road complete a collection by one of Nigeria's best-known playwrights."--Page 4 of cover