A Review of Eziwho Emenike Azunwo's Black Sheep

Eziwho Emenike Azunwo’s Black Sheep is a reflection of the social and political decay that continues to plague African societies. Set in a community where hunger and hardship have become the norm, the play examines the fall of a once-righteous leader who succumbs to the very system he fought against. The playwright uses powerful imagery to build a story that is both realistic and symbolic. The play captures the danger of misplaced trust and highlights the consequences of moral compromise in leadership.

Through the character of Honorable Femi Adekule, Azunwo interrogates the concept of integrity, showing how even the most committed reformers can lose their sense of purpose when faced with temptation. Other characters such as the Councilor, Deji, Ikenna, Harmony, and the Host serve as mirrors reflecting society’s diverse reactions to corruption and disillusionment.

Eziwho Emenike Azunwo’s Black Sheep is a politically charged stage play that exposes the corruption and hypocrisy embedded in modern governance. The play explores how power corrupts even the most principled individuals and how betrayal can wound a community deeper than external oppression. Through its gripping dialogue, sharp conflicts, and thought-provoking climax, Black Sheep mirrors contemporary Nigerian society, revealing how integrity often collapses under the weight of greed and self-interest. The play unfolds across six scenes that move from communal struggle to political compromise, tracing Honorable Femi Adekule’s journey from a courageous voice of justice to a symbol of betrayal.

SUMMARY OF THE PLAY

Black Sheep opens with the pulse of a suffering community, a setting plagued by hunger, unemployment, and despair. The first scene establishes the atmosphere of frustration and collective disillusionment as the people, represented by Deji, Ikenna, Harmony, and Alice, gather to lament the worsening conditions under the rule of a selfish councilor. Their conversation reflects both the anger and the faint hope that someone, someday, will speak boldly against the oppression that holds them bound. Among the murmurs of pain and resistance, one name echoes repeatedly: Honorable Femi Adekule, the man they call the people’s voice.

In the following scenes, Femi appears as a courageous activist and moral crusader who challenges the corruption of the ruling class. His speeches ignite fire in the hearts of the poor and awaken a sense of civic courage. Through Deji’s passionate words and Ikenna’s boldness, the audience witnesses a rising movement of youthful awareness, while Harmony and Alice represent the silent suffering of women and children who bear the heaviest burdens of bad leadership. Together, they look up to Femi as their symbol of truth and integrity, a leader who cannot be bought.

As the play progresses, tension deepens between Femi and the Councilor, a manipulative and politically cunning man who has mastered the art of pretense. The Councilor’s character embodies the deceptive charm of corrupt leadership: outwardly generous and fatherly, but inwardly driven by greed and self-preservation. Through subtle exchanges and rumors that circulate among the townspeople, the audience senses that a confrontation between the reformer and the ruler is inevitable.

In Scene Five, the long-anticipated meeting takes place. The setting shifts dramatically into the Councilor’s luxurious office, a space filled with national emblems and symbols of authority that immediately contrast with the poverty of the earlier scenes. Here, Azunwo’s dialogue becomes intense and psychologically revealing. The Councilor uses flattery and charm reasoning to disarm Femi’s defenses. His words drip with manipulation, portraying power as a “remote control” that decides what the people see or hear. Femi, though initially resistant, begins to waver. The Councilor hands him an envelope, a silent symbol of bribery and moral compromise. The lights dim on Femi’s confusion and the Councilor’s victory, signaling a turning point not only in the story but also in Femi’s character.

Scene Six opens with energy and glamour, presenting a sharp contrast to the moral decay beneath the surface. A live television interview is set up with The Host, an articulate and fearless media personality known for questioning hypocrisy. Before the cameras, Femi appears transformed, calm, stylish, and confident, yet disturbingly different. When the Host questions him about his former activism and criticism of the Councilor’s administration, he shocks everyone by saying, “I was.” His sudden change of tone and allegiance leaves both the Host and the viewing public stunned.

In a chilling twist, Femi now praises the same leadership he once condemned. He urges patience, claiming that the Councilor has “extraordinary plans” and that rebuilding takes time. His words reveal a complete moral turnaround, the voice of resistance now silenced by comfort and political inclusion. The Host’s visible discomfort and the heavy silence in the studio communicate what words cannot: the death of integrity before the eyes of the nation.

Throughout the play, supporting characters like Deji, Ikenna, Harmony, and Alice serve as mirrors to the changing moral temperature of society. They embody the ordinary people who suffer from leadership failures yet remain hopeful for genuine transformation. Their early admiration for Femi turns to disbelief and disappointment, reflecting the heartbreak of a people betrayed by their own hero.

The play closes with the Host addressing the audience directly, breaking the fourth wall in a moment of truth. Her words strike deep: integrity, once the pride of elders, has become a commodity easily exchanged for influence or comfort. The drumming that ends the play, once a rhythm of resistance, now beats like a funeral dirge for the death of conscience in public life.

Through these six powerful scenes, Azunwo constructs a moral tragedy that mirrors real social and political realities. Black Sheep does not simply tell the story of Femi’s fall, it exposes the complex web of manipulation, greed, and human weakness that continues to plague societies today.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Honorable Femi Adekule is the central figure and tragic hero of the play. His journey from a reformer to a conformist mirrors the decline of moral leadership in politics. His downfall is not forced by external power but by internal weakness, the lure of greed and relevance.

The Councilor represents manipulative authority. He is cunning, calculating, and patient, preferring persuasion over violence. His success in corrupting Femi shows how systemic evil sustains itself through subtle compromise.

Deji and Ikenna are the voices of the youth. Their outspokenness captures the frustration of a new generation desperate for accountability.

Harmony and Alice embody the struggles of ordinary citizens, especially women and children who bear the brunt of poor governance. Harmony’s emotional depth humanizes the political argument, showing that corruption is not only a moral issue but a human tragedy.

The Host functions as the play’s conscience and the voice of truth in the final scene. Her confrontation with Femi brings closure, exposing his hypocrisy and forcing the audience to reflect on their own moral choices.

THEMES AND SYMBOLISM

The major themes of Black Sheep include corruption, betrayal, loss of integrity, moral hypocrisy, and the silence of the righteous. The play also explores the seductive nature of power and the fragile balance between truth and convenience.

Symbolically, the “black sheep” represents the individual who strays from the path of righteousness, not because he was born evil, but because he allowed compromise to redefine his values. The drumming throughout the play is both cultural and emotional, reflecting the heartbeat of the people and the tension of change.

DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES

Symbolism:

The envelope represents bribery and the death of integrity.

The remote control metaphor illustrates the manipulative power of leadership.

Dialogue:

Azunwo’s dialogue is sharp, realistic, and emotionally charged. It drives both character and tension, particularly in Scenes Five and Six.

Music and Drumming:

Traditional drumming punctuates scenes, heightening mood transitions, from protest and excitement to betrayal and revelation.

Contrast:

The contrast between Femi’s fiery activism and his later calm defense of corruption underlines the play’s tragic irony.

MESSAGE AND RELEVANCE

Black Sheep mirrors Nigeria’s socio-political reality, where many reformers begin as heroes but later become accomplices of the system. The play challenges readers and audiences to question the sincerity of leadership and the personal integrity of those who claim to represent the people. It warns that the greatest tragedy is not just bad governance, but when good men lose their moral compass.

CONCLUSION

Black Sheep is a powerful mirror of society. It challenges the audience to examine the integrity of leaders and the complicity of followers. The play warns that betrayal from within is more dangerous than oppression from above. Azunwo uses relatable characters and simple dialogue to communicate profound truths about politics, morality, and human weakness. Through Honorable Femi’s fall, the playwright reminds us that the greatest battle for justice begins within the conscience of man.

REFERENCES

Azunwo, Eziwho Emenike. Black Sheep: A Play.
Scene 2, Dialogue of Femi and Councilor (Conflict of Integrity).
Scene 6, Live Interview (Femi’s Betrayal and the Host’s Commentary).
Stage Directions: Use of Drumming and Light (Symbolism of Tension).