Themes in Once Upon an Elephant- Literature. “Major themes in Once Upon an Elephant” by Bosede Ademilua-Afolayan.
This play is a satirical drama that provides a critical lens through which we can examine various aspects of leadership, power, and tyranny.
NOTE: Once Upon an Elephant is WASSCE Approved Literature Text for SS1-3. Thus, the thematic analysis in this text covers SS1-3 Lessons/Work plan.
Read Also: SS1 Literature Lesson Notes- Third Term
Major Themes in Once Upon an Elephant
- Dictatorship and “Sit-Tightism”:
- The play prominently addresses the theme of dictatorship, often referred to as “sit-tightism.” It portrays autocratic leaders who cling to power beyond their constitutional limits, disregarding democratic processes. These leaders manipulate elections, suppress dissent, and perpetuate their rule through force or manipulation.
- The African context serves as a backdrop, but the play’s themes resonate globally. It sheds light on the nature of political leadership across different regions and historical periods.
- Tyranny and Self-Perpetuating Leaders:
- The characters in the play exemplify tyrannical behavior. Olaniyonu, the self-proclaimed Ajanaku, epitomizes those who seek power and fame without regard for the lives they destroy. His actions mirror real-life African leaders who prioritize their own ambitions over the well-being of their citizens.
- Serubawon, the kingmaker and manipulator, represents the timeless lesson of human foibles. His scheming contributes to the oppressive regime, emphasizing the dangers of unchecked power.
- The Elephant and the Tortoise Metaphor:
- The play draws from Yoruba folklore, where the elephant never asks the tortoise how to become king of the animals. Similarly, Olaniyonu doesn’t concern himself with the legitimacy of his claim to power. His arrogance and disregard for due process parallel the haughty elephant’s fate.
- The metaphor underscores the consequences of vainglory and the abuse of authority. Just as the elephant meets a swift and predictable death, so do leaders who prioritize their own interests over the welfare of their people.
- Brutish Leadership and Abuse of Power:
- Ademilua-Afolayan critiques the brutal leadership prevalent in Africa and beyond. The play highlights leaders like Idi Amin Dada, Hosni Mubarak, and Sanni Abacha, who flouted constitutional norms and ruled through fear.
- By ridiculing both Serubawon and Olaniyonu, the play condemns the abuse of power. It serves as a cautionary tale against tyranny and the erosion of democratic values.
In summary, “Once Upon an Elephant” invites us to reflect on the impact of autocracy, the role of self-serving leaders, and the need for collective action to dismantle oppressive regimes.
JSS2 English Lesson Note and Plan-Third Term
Contextual Analysis
The play dwells on several themes, chief among which is dictatorship or what some have called “sit-tightism”. It is about autocracy and the tyrannical actions of dictators who have been visible in Africa in the last few decades.
The play deals with this self-perpetuating syndrome of African leaders. Although set in an African community, the play provides a view of the nature of political leadership in Africa over the years.
The political history of Africa is replete with stories of leaders who stay in power beyond the stipulated number of years by the constitution, and those who seize power by force usually through a coup.
From Idi Amin Dada in Uganda, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Lauren Gbagbo in Cote d’Ivoire, Sanni Abacha in Nigeria, to Yaya Jammeh in Gambia and others like Paul Biya of Cameroon, political leaders have flagrantly disobeyed the constitution and instituted a reign of terror in their domains.
Like these African tyrants, Olaniyonu, the self-proclaimed Ajanaku, is a vintage example of those who place themselves at the mercy of their own self-conceit and tyranny, who seek power and fame without any qualms for whose lives are destroyed in the process, and whose dreams are truncated for theirs to be fulfilled.
Similar to Serubawon, then, he represents for us a timeless lesson in human foibles. As the elephant of the Yoruba narrative never bothered to ask the tortoise how he can become king of the animals in the same jungle where the lion lives with the other more agile, stronger animals and jungle dwellers, Olaniyonu also does not bother to address how Serubawon hopes to manipulate such a long process of kinship, and how he wants to deal with his father, who is still very much alive as at that time.
In short, he does not care about anything else so long as he is the absolute ruler of the land.
Since the haughty elephant that meets a swift and predictable death is also the moral of Ademilua-Afolayan’s story, the play ridicules vainglory and the abuse of power by both Serubawon and Olaniyonu, as a metaphor for brutish leadership and tyranny in Africa that is exemplified by the aforementioned African leaders and their compatriots.
