Dramatic art as a viable model for stemming Migration-bred insecurity in 21st century Nigeria

Abstract

Dramatic Art has the potential to address societal challenges. It illuminates our inner lives, enriches our emotional world, as well as serves as catalyst for societal stability and cohesion. This study looks at dramatic art as a cultural complement to tackling insecurity in 21st century Nigeria that is faced with severe security issues. This study adopts the critical analytical approach, making use of various information resources. It content-analyses the illustrative drama, A Mirage for a Dream, and leans on theatre for development to advance the argument for eliciting change. The study identifies some useful self-help strategies such as the brother’s keeper concept, know-your-neighbour, and proposes group advocacy like mass audio visual communication platforms and sustainable community theatre skits to help stem such societal malaise engendered by insecurity; these conditions include ill-informed migration and get-rich-quick mentality among youths. The study uses Toni Duruaku’s A Mirage for a Dream to draw attention to the danger of cross-border youth migration, positing that dramatic art would make a good advocacy channel for engaging the socio-political challenges in Nigeria, and discourage the Sahara-Mediterranean routes misadventure. The paper recommends better governance, overall improvement of socio-economic security, youth employment, and continual deployment of the recommended advocacy strategies to eradicate the situations and inducements that feed the migration to Europe by Nigerians.