A Nigerian Playwright Tackles Abuse Head On in "My Room, My Doom"
Through a variety of production types, we’ve been able to explore the world of victims who have suffered abuse. This year the Sundance Film Festival presented the story of Drew Dixon who was assaulted during her tenure as an A&R executive at Def Jam Recordings. The political fallout over that production was quite high as Oprah Winfrey first produced and then distanced herself from the story. Leaving Neverland and Surviving R. Kelly were two other notable documentary film productions that have dealt with abuse at the hands of powerful entertainment figures. My daughter actually told me not to watch them because she worried that I would simply get too angry. As she said “Mom, it’s too close to home. I could only watch Leaving Neverland in 30-minute increments.”
One can imagine then, what it’s like to deal with the impact of abuse in a live theatrical performance—when you can’t turn it off.
Yemi Akande, is a playwright, theatre director, and artistic director of YemiArts Creation. Ms. Akande wrote and directed ‘My Room, My Doom’ which was selected for the 2020 Lagos Theatre Festival. This production explores the world of domestic violence and its consequences on society. I have the privilege of interviewing Ms. Akande and learning about her motivations and goals for her project—and how through a live theatrical performance she is challenging her audience to take a stand.
What is ‘My Room, My Doom’ about?
My Room, My Doom is a one-woman play that tells the story of a woman suffering from mental illness due to happenings in her life. Bimbo, the character in the play, represents women who are subjected to rape and domestic violence in our societies. She stands as a mirror for us all. From childhood, she has been exposed to domestic violence. She watches her father molesting her mother until the point of her death. After the death of her mother she stays with her Aunty who also maltreats her. She denies her education and makes her hawk all kinds of goods. This allows Uncle Jide, their neighbor, to manipulate and rape her. She becomes a fugitive, a wanderer roaming the street, groping for food like an animal and sleeping under the bridge, until a woman takes her in as her own child.
At the University, she meets Richard and after school, they become husband and wife. After some years, Richard starts abusing her, raping and whipping her. Her inability to conceive and bear children turns her mother-in-law against her. She also suffers emotional abuse from the mother-in-law who tags her as "an empty vessel". This is one of the problems facing African women. She develops psychological problems due to loneliness, depression, frustration and addiction. She tries to commit suicide but she later murders her husband after a struggle in the house. The audience stands as a jury that will determine her fate. The end of the play lies in the hands of the audience who is going to decide whether she is guilty or not. In this case, it's the audience that is on trial.
Why did you write this play?
Oppression, suppression and exploitation of women are very rampant in our societies and I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility as men and women to fight against gender inequality and violence in our homes, offices, schools, in our religious gatherings and in our communities. I wrote the play as my own contribution to the campaign against child abuse, rape and domestic violence.
What message do you want the audience to take away from the play?
I want my audience to see the effects that rape and domestic violence can have on us as individuals and as a society at large. A lot of people are mentally, emotionally and physically deranged as a result of various types of abuses they have suffered. A lot have died, some are in rehabilitation centres while some are in prisons. Abuse of all kinds is an enemy to us all and we all need to kick against it.
What challenges did you face producing a play with a sensitive topic?
Aside from financial challenges, I wasn’t really faced with challenges in producing this play. Some people felt the play was too harsh on men— but that's the reality. Though it was one of the hardest plays for me to direct I had the help and talents of my great actors, Emmanuela Igboanugo and Nneamaka Nwadei. Together, we were able to achieve the play. My percussionist, Femi Abiola and sound man, Chinedu Anatune were also instrumental in making the play a great one.
Describe the challenges that women in Nigeria face when confronting assault.
We shut them up! Some of them were silenced and when they refused to keep quiet, we regard their words as lies. They don't get justice and they become a laughing stock in the society. As a result of this, some of them commit suicide or develop mental issues. But recently, more people are rising against this dehumanizing act and this has helped some of the victims to get justice and healing.
Why did you become a playwright?
I love writing and creating stories. It is something I started doing from a young age. I enjoy writing plays so much. It is an addiction for me.
What are your ambitions for the play?
I have great ambitions for the play. I want the play to go round the country (Nigeria) and to travel to African countries and to also tour European and American countries as a form of reaching out to the victims of abuse and as a campaign against rape, child trafficking, and domestic violence. The production team has been invited to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa to perform the play but we really need financial support to make this a reality.
Will the play be filmed and out on YouTube?
Yes. We are working on that.
What other productions are you working on?
I am working on a collaboration with artists from Zimbabwe to present a production that will discuss the issues of xenophobia, terrorism, tribal war, and political violence in African countries. My production company will also be partnering with an NGO on a campaign against female genital mutilation. I am also creating a piece that will feature two actresses from two different continents, a black and a white to discuss the issue of racism and its effects. For this, I am on the lookout for a British or a European actress who will join me on this project. And also, we need support from NGOs, companies, governments, and influential individuals as sponsors or partners.
What one thing would you like for victims of abuse or assault to know?
That they are not alone in this and it is not the end of life. They should know that better days are ahead.
What one thing would you know encourage victims of abuse or assault to do?
They should speak up. They should be bold to talk about it. If your relationship is killing you, leave. Suicide is not an option.
Please name one thing that we as a society should be doing to stop abuse and assault.
According to my mentor, Chimamanda Adichie, "We should all be feminists." It is our responsibility. All of us, men and women, boys and girls, we should all join hands together to fight against abuse or assault. From a young age, let us teach our male children to value their female counterparts and vice versa. Don't teach girls to be inferior to boys and boys to be superior to girls.
What is the most important thing we should be doing to help support victims and why?
We should be with them, struggle together with them, help them to get justice for the crime committed against them. And we should also help them to get healing and freedom. This will make them feel important again and ready to make the world a better place.
