Playwriting In Nigerian Arabic Literature: A Study Of Form, Content And Cultural Influence

Abstract

The paper aimed at presenting the play in Arabic literature in Nigeria by considering the form, content, and cultural influence. The paper analyzes its basic historical perspective, structural components, thematic views and cultural significance. The study indicates that, in contrast to poetry and prose, drama has garnered insufficient focus within Nigerian Arabic literature, despite its increasing significance. In reaction to the growing worldwide cultural interaction and the necessity for indigenous expression, Arabic play has developed as a vibrant medium through which Nigerian playwrights articulate religious, moral, and societal concerns. The study adopted historical and descriptive methodologies to analyze specific Arabic plays authored by Nigerians. Hence, the study examined the plays for their conformity to classical Arabic aesthetics, incorporation of indigenous cultural tales, and representation of Islamic principles. The results indicated that Arabic play in Nigeria serves as both a literary invention and a strategic pedagogical and ideological tool. This study analyzed Arabic language in Nigeria by focusing on its evolution and assessing the elements contributing to its persistence in a challenging environment. Findings showed a significant convergence of tradition and modernity, functioning as an effective instrument for cultural preservation, moral instruction, and literary enhancement within the Arabic-speaking Nigerian populace.