Themes Of Let Me Die Alone

In Let Me Die Alone, John Kargbo pulls together most of the concerns that have been at the heart of modern African drama. These thematic concerns include the following.

THE THEME OF TRADITIONAL SOCIETY AND CIVILIZATION

Conflict between a proud traditional society and a haughty and eve contemptuous alien civilization bent on imposing its will on the people and the environment. The Mende society runs on clearly set out traditional values but the colonial masters as represented by the Governor in the play bring their own civilization which is alien to the people. Their structuring and taxation programmes brought Governor Rowe in direct conflict with the leadership of the people. For taking sides with John Caulker against his brother, the Governor rebukes Gbanya this way: "Shut up! (soldiers enter with guns) When people like us leave our civilized society to come and bring both the light and the word to you out here in the bush, we expect you to conform" (p. 97).

THEMES OF TRADITIONS AND UNFAIR DEMANDS on WOMANHOOD

In Let Me Die Alone, Yoko does call into question a tradition that insists on her relinquishing motherhood for the crown of leadership when she dotes on Jeneba, a.much loved child in her kingdom, and when she openly laments the sacrifice of childbearing. Since leadership and motherhood are mutually exclusive, the Mende culture seemingly presents leadership as a male domain. Lamboi, Yoko's brother, exploits this flawed belief when he accuses his sister of sacrificing children (in this case Jeneba) to formulate powerful medicinal powers to keep her on the throne. By framing Yoko as a heartless female, who does not know the pains of childbirth, Lamboi essentially reconfigures her as male. By implication, herbsuccess as a leader cannot therefore be credited to her femaleness.

THEMES OF BATTLE OF THE SEXES- CONFLICT BETWEEN GENDERS IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING SOCIETY

The play critiques a traditional culture that insists that women be confined to traditional female roles. in spite of the fact that there have been successful women leaders among the Mende people throughoutbrecorded history. This conflict suggests that a prevailing tension in male-female power sharing exists. Male and female roles in Mende society are clearly drawn out, but the society also allows women with exceptional qualities to cross gender lines as leaders in various capacities. This paradoxical, boundary-shifting identification often brings a lot of tension between the sexes because of the implications and consequences. Yoko, for instance, had to renounce childbearing in order to become man-woman to be eligible to ascend the Mende throne.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL DANCING, SINGING AND BELIEFS

It is interesting that the play opens with singing and Sande drumming; it paints for us a happy society that is culturally vibrant. Yoko is in charge of this singing and dancing ensemble that also exercises some political control in the Mende social set-up. It is from this group that Yoko emerges to occupy the throne of the land with the full support of the Sande women. The women also denounced her when she was erroneously thought to be high-handed. As the Sande women/dancers provide entertainment at every auspicious occasion, so they also provide socio-political control for the good of the society. All their actions are guided by the belief system of Mende.

MODERN FEMINIST CONCERNS

The play is a feminist critique of a masculinist culture, at a time when feminism as a theme was still unpopular and rare among male playwrights in Africa. Kargbo deals with wife beating, male prejudice against female leadership, the problems of loveless marriages, and the tendency to measure masculine virility and sexual dominance against female oppression and sexual dominance. It also considers relations between husbands and wives, women forced into loveless mariages, brutal husbands, women forced into stereotypical roles, and the right of women to determine whether their femininity should consist solely in their ability to bear children.

COLONIALIST ARROGANCE

Governor Rowe, the representative of Her Imperial Majesty, has an air of overbearing dominance. He has little or no regard for the Mende society, her people and leaders. The height of his arrogance is demonstrated when he commands his soldiers to stretch out the chief, Gbanya, for thorough flogging and fined him in addition. Just digest this exchange when Governor Rowe enters Gbanya's palace: Gbanya: My master, Governor, I welcome you to Senehun. (he moves to embrace Rowe) Don't put those filthy paws on me, you savage! (p. 97) Rowe: The chief of the chiefdom does not even qualify as a human being before the colonialist, instead of hands, Rowe sees 'paws' and nothing but a savage in his own domain. Perhaps this is part of what Queen Yoko cannot stand ultimately and she commits suicide to save the dignity of her throne and her people.

THE THEME OF BLACKMAIL

Ordinarily, Musa wouldn't have contemplated poisoning Chief Gbanya and abducting and killing Jeheba, but he succumbs due to Lamboi's blackmail He reminds Musa of his other secret deeds that are not in the open. If he wants them to remain hidden, he has to cooperate. Musa: Lamboi, are you deaf?... Lamboi: Ngo Musa, if you have never killed a man, here, swear:.. Musa: Why should I swear to Poro? Lamboi: Ngo Musa, our elders say, only the guilty are afraid. If you know your hands are clean, I dare you to swear. Musa: My hands are clean, I wash them every day in the river. Lamboi: Yes indeed, in the river of blood, rich and hot human blood... The blood of Yattah's son and Mama Kadi's daughter. Those you slaughtered and whose fat you used for your bofima. You want me to name what charms you made with their private parts? Or do you want me to lead Gbanya who you want to protect to their shallow graves out there in the bush? Lamboi! Ndake, what are you getting angry for? I was just trying to make sure you are serious. You know I will do anything you say. After all, we are both working for the good of the chiefdom (pp. 92-93). Musa: From this point on, both men become partners in crime with reckless abandon.

THE THEMES OF INTRIGUE AND MURDER

The quest for political power in the play stimulates high level of intrigues culminating into murder and broken relationships. Lamboi is the chief manufacturer of falsehood and intrigues and ably aided by Musa to cause disaffection, destabilise the society and destroy the character and image of Chief Yoko in the eyes of her subjects. Yoko is accused of being a murderer, killing young girls for the efficacy of her charms for power retention and to be loved by the Governor. Jeneba, an innocent girl, is killed in the process by Lamboi and Musa to justify their claim. The intrigue worked because all critical segments of the chiefdom - Sande women, warriors, Ndapi's family and everyone - turned against Yoko. She lost face and honour before her people; she became a scum with no regard. Only thc power of Poro that revealed the actual culprits restored her innocence and dignity.

THE THEMES OF IMPOSITION AND RESISTANCE

Gbanya tries to impose Ndapi on the throne, Yoko resists and eventually gọt the nod of her husband because of the treachery of Lamboi and Musa. Lamboi and Musa also try to impose themselves on the throne of Senehun but Poro the people's oracle, resists. Governor Rowe imposes taxes on the people but they also resist the imposition.

THE THEMES OF BARGAIN FOR POWER AND DOMINANCE

Conflicts and struggles within that traditional society itself are laced with various elements of jockey and bargain for power and dominance. Yoko bargained for power from her husband and got it. She goes into expansionist wars to extend and expand her power base. When Rowe tries to reduce her territorial control and dominance, she feels insulted and humiliated and consequently commits suicide. Lambor her brother also bargained for power using intrigue, blackmail and murder but fails woefully.

THE THEME OF BETRAYAL

Gbanya trusts Musa his medicine man and Lamboi one of his trusted warriors and brother to his wife, Yoko. These two unfortunately betray this trust. It is in their hands he dies. Musa poisons Gbanya under the pretence that he is administering pain relief medicine to him. Similarly, Governor Rowe betrays Yoko's loyalty by devolving her powers to humiliate her; she commits suicide. Lansana also betrays Ndapi his best friend by seducing and sleeping with his wife, Jilo.