Metatheatre in Femi Osofisan’s Morountodun

Abstract EN

This paper aims at examining the metatheatrical devices used by Osofisan in his play Morountodun.

It also reveals his purpose from using these devices; that is, his attempt to incite the audience / readers to reform their socio-economic conditions and challenge the existing social hierarchy that is unjust.

To do that, Osofisan uses multiple metatheatrical techniques such as addressing the audience, self-reference of the play to itself as a play, role playing-within-a role, the play-within-a play, music, songs … etc.

He successfully creates a distance between the audience and the theatrical situation, by using such techniques, to allow them to reflect on what they see and relate it to the real life in which they are supposed to be active participants.