TOPIC OF THE HAND: DICTATORSHIP

The play centers on a group of tyrannical or dictatorial African leaders in the bay of an embassy in New York. The four African heads of state – Benefacio Gunema, Emperor Kasco, Field Marshal Kamini and General Barra Tuboum – believe in dictatorship by acquiring so much power, brutality of power and dehumanization. They are ruthless and there is no room for humanity’s freedom. They mismanage the nation’s resources (part 1, p. 4) believing that they are the power (part 1, p. 10).

These leaders do not allow for human self-expression and they exploit the defenseless masses. They take pleasure in wars, “we fight, we kill or we die” (part 1, p. 21). They see themselves as born to rule and refer to themselves, especially Kamini, as president for life (part 1, p. 26). They seize power through any means available, including voodoo, and imprison those who dare to challenge their authoritarian rule. Gunema sentenced to death those who conspire against him.

The evils of these leaders do not end there; they also violate the dignity of women. They have no respect for women, force themselves on women and have sex with them by force (part 2, p. 58). Friends believe that rebellion is a contagious disease and so they spend a lot to acquire destructive weapons in case of war or coup (part 2, p. 63).

Other themes in the book include hatred, racism, selfishness (egocentric), the struggle for power, and imperialism.

SCENARIO: The action takes place at the Bugaran Embassy to the United Nations, New York. The timer is a few years before present.

CHARACTERS: The play, A work of giants, has the following characters:

Benefacio Gunema, Emperor Kasco, Field Marshal Kamini, General Bara Tuboum (these are the four African heads of state), Gudrum, Scandinavian journalist, President of the Central Bank of Bugara, sculptor, Ambassador of Bugaran, Mayor of Hyacombe, Professor Batey, Two Russian delegates, two American delegates, task force specials, guards and United Nations secretary general.

CHARACTERIZATION: The author himself presents the characters to the reader as a prologue or interlude at the beginning and during the course of the work respectively. He took a critical look at the resemblance between African Heads of State and recent historical figures that has been too pronounced; leaders such as Macias Nguema (deceased) from Equatorial Guinea, Jean Basptiste Bokassa from the Central African Republic, Mobutu Sese Koko from Congo Kinshasa and the Hero of Heroes, Field Marshal El-Haji Dr. Idi Amin from Uganda.

STRUCTURE: The work is divided into two (2) parts: the first and the second.

USE OF LITRARY DEVICES: The author makes use of the narration in the course of the work. It also shows elements of conflict through aggressive African Heads of State and representatives of the UN and America.