Counter-Narrative Communication versus Dominant Hegemonies: An Analysis of the Niger Delta Problem in a Nigerian Play

Abstract Since oil exploitation started in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, soon after the discovery of same at Oloibiri, in 1956, the area has known no peace. The violent dimension to the crisis and persistence of same over the years is an indication of some problem with its management by the government, but, what’s the problem? This is what this paper seeks to investigate, using Tess Onwueme’s play, Then She Said it as paradigm. The paper adopts the descriptive and content analysis methods; and Miller’s theory of Justice as framework. Our findings show that the failure of the state in the discharge of its social responsibilities to the citizens accounts largely for the spate of violence. Being the dominant hegemony, government presents only the official narrative that stigmatises the militants and sees no justification for agitation, but Onwueme adopts a counter narrative that exposes the insincerity of the government. The paper, therefore, concludes that nothing short of a concrete demonstration of sincere political will by the government to address the Niger Delta problem will extirpate the insurgency. The paper’s relevance lies in its attempt to seek solution to national problems; and recommends the counter narrative communication to creative writers. Key Words: Violence; Social Responsibilities; Narrative; Counter Narrative; Dominant Hegemony. _______________ *Michael Olanrewaju Agboola is an Arts Fellow at the Department of Performing Arts, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria. JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 9, No. 1, April 2017, 73– 84