LingLit Journal Scientific Journal for Linguistics and Literature

The Theatrics of Religious Gymnastic in White Garment Church; Wole Soyinka’s The Trials of Brother Jero’s Performance as Directed by Ade Adeseke in Focus

Josiah Adewale Apalowo — 2025-06-18

Religion in Africa functions not only as a system of spiritual beliefs but also as a cultural performance deeply embedded in social practices. In many African Indigenous churches, particularly the white garment churches—religious expression frequently transcends conventional worship through stylised bodily movements, choreographed dances, and the incorporation of secular songs. While these practices are captivating and energising, they often lack explicit spiritual significance and instead serve to entertain, unify congregants, and cultivate a shared religious identity. This study critically examines Ade Adeseke’s stage direction of Wole Soyinka’s The Trials of Brother Jero as a lens through which to explore the performative dynamics of religious expression within these church contexts. By employing performance theory as its analytical framework, the study interrogates the intersection of theatricality and spirituality, revealing how certain churches employ spectacle and performative strategies not solely for worship but as mechanisms of attraction, inclusion, and socio-cultural resonance. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, with data gathered through content analysis of both the dramatic text and relevant performance recordings. Findings suggest that Adeseke’s rendition of Soyinka’s satire offers a compelling critique of how performance can be manipulated to simulate divine presence, blur the lines between the sacred and the secular, and reinforce systems of power and deception within religious spaces. Ultimately, the study concludes that such performative elements, while engaging, often compromise the authenticity of spiritual experience, thereby transforming worship into theatrical display.

Technical Directing in Arts and Media Production: Ensuring Credibility

Kareeem Kolawole Ganiyu — 2025-06-24

An Arts and Media artist is a professional who applies artistic creativity through the media as a tool to convey sociological messages about art and humanity. They work with more modern media beyond traditional artistic drawing such as film, documentary, animation, and design. While assessing the technical directing in Arts and Media production, attention is given to how well the technical equipments: (sound systems, lights, projectors, sets) is used to achieve a successful production. Using a qualitative participant observation, this study dopts John T. Caldwell's Media Production Theory (2008) as a theoritical framework. The study finds out that the utilization of modern technical equipments has enhanced Arts and Media productions in aesthetic terms. Hence there is a recommendation that high-quality technical equipments be used all the time in Arts and Media production to guarantee maximum aesthetic and audience impact.

Performance Analysis of Yoruba Traditional Beliefs in Lekan Balogun's Oya (Goddess of whirlwind): Art and Cultural Perspectives

Emmanuel Godwin Kalu — 2025-06-25

This study explores the interplay of art and cultural dynamics in the Yoruba cosmology, performance analysis of Yoruba traditional beliefs in Lekan Balogun's Oya: Goddess of the whirlwind play. It examines how Oya, Ogun, Sango and Orunmila as deities materialize Yoruba cultural identity and shared values through rituals, myths, incantations, songs, dances, and symbols. Using a qualitative participatory observation method, the research hinges on Richard Schechner's Performance Theory (2003) and Oludanmini Ogunnaike's Yoruba Epistemology (2010) as theoretical frameworks. The research points to the Yoruba universe's dominance in shaping early beliefs, highlighting its central position in ensuring spiritual continuity and social integrity. The research reaffirms the dynamism of Yoruba society, as postulated by Edward B. Tylor, and its adaptability in contemporary pieces of art. Recommendations include further exploring Yoruba performance in the contemporary setting and keeping traditions orally alive to preserve cultural heritage.

Ethnic Identity through Character Construction: Examining Semantic Essence of Yoruba Names in Femi Adebayo’s Jagun Jagun and Bode Sowande’s Arede Owo

Kareeem Kolawole Ganiyu — 2025-06-26

This study looks into the significance of thematic nomenclature in character construction within the rich cultural lineage of the Yoruba tradition, as depicted in the film "Jagunjagun" by Femi Adebayo and the stage play "Arede owo” by Bode Sowande. Through meticulous linguistic analysis of character names, this research uncovers the layers of meaning interwoven into each name, serving as a reflection of socio-cultural themes and enhancing narrative complexity. In "Jagunjagun", names such as Gbogunmi and Ogundiji resonate with the spirit of war, while in "Arede owo", characters like Ajeigbe and Surulere encapsulate themes of wealth, friendship, and misery. The comic relevance in Arede Owo begins from the choice of names given to character and the theme of war reflect in almost every characters names in the movie Jagun Jagun. Having experienced both the stage play and the film, our methodology involved immersing ourselves in the linguistic mosaic of these works, allowing us to discern the transformative power of language in shaping narrative identity and imbuing characters with authenticity and resonance. It is evident that in Yoruba culture, as in many other cultures, names are imbued with profound meaning, often serving as signifiers of individual identity and societal values. The observation that plays and films with meaningful character names tend to captivate audiences and draw crowds to cinemas and theatres reveals the enduring fascination with the exploration of linguistic symbolism in storytelling. Indeed, the resonance of these works lies not only in their narrative arcs but also in the symbolic weight carried by the characters' names. As such, this study sheds light on the interplay between language, culture, and storytelling.