Emeka Nwabueze

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Your avalanche of contributions to humanity's development is well-recognized and highly regarded. You are the beacons of excellence and human advancement in our time. [2]

Prof. Charles Igwe, Nwabueze emerges UNN's first Emeritus Professor of Theatre Arts, Vanguard (Nigeria)

Research contributions

Nwabueze researched deeply on masquerade drama.  From his naming it as the quintessence of ritual drama, through his significant work on Igbo masquerade drama and the origins of Theatre where he sees significant commonalities and his conception of the Igbo masquerader as transcendent hero, to his conclusion that the masquerade performances fulfills the required accoutrements of theatre, there is that pungent analyses that traces the performance aesthetics of the masquerade drama through the application of the traditional dramatic elements. While researcher believed that the masquerade performance is bereft of narrative, Nwabueze was the first researcher to introduce conventional narrative propensities in the masquerade drama and demonstrated it through an in-depth application of the Awka Agaba performance. His research on the masquerade drama had been variously cited by scholars in the area and constitute the standpoint on which masquerade drama is evaluated. [9]

Also, in his critical analysis of African fiction, Nwabueze made a significant incursion into the subject of critical dualism. In his much publicized essay, "Theoretical Construction and Constructive Theorising on the Execution of Ikemefuna in Achebe's Things Fall Apart: A Study in Critical Dualism" published in the American-based journal, Research in African Literatures, Nwabueze lays bare his contention that from an available analysis look of authorial voice Okonkwo's killing of Ikemefuna should be seen not as an intentional act but a combination of his paternal imago and an ordination by the gods. He contends that all Okonkwo's efforts to avoid the act even by withdrawing the rear, Ikemefuna escaped the executioner's blow and those of other elders and found himself in the rear where Okonkwo had withdrawn to, there was no other course open to Okonkwo than to commit the act. This research has provided scholars with another way of examining the novel. [10]

Film career

Nwabueze's incursion into Nollywood started with behind-the-camera activities like script editing. His ideas were eventually published for the benefit of film makers. An interview he granted entitled, "A good Script is the first step to a good Film" was a welcome material to film makers. In the interview, he said:

The main relationship is that a film is the transformation of the written word into practical reality, an avenue for the transformation of a blueprint into a living image. If you believe in histrionics, the idea of standing out, distributing roles, delivering lines extemporaneously, it may not work effectively unless the person is well trained in the art. We should know that without an adequate script, there would not be an adequate film. A good script is the first step to a good film. [11]

He later detoured into acting to lead by example. His first major acting experience was in the film, My Father's Love produced by Andy Best Electronics and directed by Obi Okoli. He played the role of Elder and acted along with Kenneth Okonkwo, Eucharia Anunobi and Nkiru Sylvanus. In 2005, Nwabueze acted in No More War along with Pete Edochie, Muna Obiekwe and Chiwetalu Agu. [11] His other two major features was in Rising Moon (a 2005 Nigerian drama film directed by Andy Nwakalor) where he played the major role of Igwe with Onyeka Onwenu, Justus Esiri Emeka Ike, before featuring in The Niger Mission with Professor Lazarus Ekwueme, Chiwetalu Agu and other renowned artists to depict the arrival of the CMS mission in Nigeria. Another film worth mentioning is his participation in the filming of his own play, Spokesman for the Oracle which featured Clem Ohameze, Chiwetalu Agu, Rita Edochie and Amaechi Muonagor. In all these films, he emphasized character interpretation, appropriate roleplay and interaction. [12]

Membership and fellowship

In 1993, he was a member of the National Formative Evaluation of Federal Universities Sector Projects by the National Universities Commission and also member of the World Health Organisation team on the use of Drama to curb maternal mortality and Adolescent Pregnancy, in collaboration with the Nigerian Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics. In 1994, he was given the honour of Honorary Fellow in Writing by University of Iowa International Writing Program. [13] [6] He is also a fellow of the Society for Nigerian Theatre Artists (FSONTA); Association of Nigerian Authors; African Studies Association, USA; National Association of African American Studies. [6]

Personal life

Nwabueze is married to Dorothy Chinyere Nwabueze (née Mbonu) from Osina, Ideato North, Director of Finance at the Bursar Department of the University of Nigeria. They have five children: Bebe and Lulu (twins), Bobby, Mmutaka (married to Ikenna Njoku), and Njideka (married to Tony Oluoha).

Selected publications

Selected dramatic works

  • Guardian of the Cosmos (1990) [14]
  • A Dance of the Dead (1991) [15]
  • Echoes of Madness (2001) [16]
  • A Parliament of Vultures (2003) [17]
  • When the arrow rebounds:(a dramatized recreation of Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God) in 2005 [18]
  • The Dragon's Funeral (2005) [19]
  • Lachrymose (2014) [20]
  • Rainstorm in the Desert (2018) [21]

Selected critical works

  • Studies in Dramatic Literature [22]
  • The Polemics of the Dramatic Text [23]
  • A Critical Study of Modern African Drama [24]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rapheal (2023-04-04). "Garlands for Nwabueze, UNN's first drama emeritus professor". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dennis, Agbo (2023). "Nwabueze emerges UNN's first Emeritus Professor of Theatre Arts". Vanguard (Nigeria) .
  3. "UNN Profile".
  4. 1 2 Chukwuma Nwosu, Canice; Emeka, Nwosu (2017). "Quality Assurance in the Creative Enterprise: An Appraisal of Select Plays of Emeka Nwabueze". UJAH. 18 (3): 147–167. doi: 10.4314/ujah.v18i3.8 .
  5. keeper, House (2018-11-26). "Ekweremadu, Nwabueze, Nebo, others for Igbo Bu Igbo inauguration". Blueprint Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nwaozuzu, Uche-Chinemere; Nwosu, Canice; Emeka, Aniago (2021). Words of the Colossal Strides of Professor Emeka Nwabueze. Enugu, Nigeria: Timex. ISBN   978-978-022-352-6.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Ngozi, Anyachonkeya (2015). A lion on the 'Ijele' dance: a festschrift in honour of Professor P. Emeka Nwabueze. Abakaliki, Ebonyi State: Ojiiaka Press. ISBN   9789780497187.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Nwaozuzu, Uche (2011). Theatre and new horizons selected essays on Emeka Nwabueze. Enugu, Nigeria: Abic Books. ISBN   978-9780221294.
  9. Nwabueze, P. Emeka (1987). "Igbo Masquerade Drama and the Origin of Theatre: A Comparative Synthesis". Kunapipi. 9 (9).
  10. Nwabueze, Emeka (2000). "Theoretical Construction and Constructive Theorizing on the Execution of Ikemefuna in Achebe's Things Fall Apart: A Study in Critical Dualism" . Research in African Literatures. 31 (2): 163–173. doi:10.1353/ral.2000.0061. S2CID   145064946.
  11. 1 2 Nwabueze, Emeka. "A GOOD SCRIPT IS THE FIRST STEP TO A GOOD FILM". thenigerianvoice.com. nigeriafilms.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  12. de Jager, Christelle (19 April 2006). "Nigeria nabs 10 African Awards noms". Variety . New York, USA: Reed Business Information . Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  13. "Patrick Emeka NWABUEZE | The International Writing Program". iwp.uiowa.edu. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  14. Nwabueze, Emeka (1990). Guardian of the Cosmos. Longman. ISBN   9789781398537.
  15. Nwabueze, Emeka (1991). A Dance of the Dead. Indiana University: Evans Brothers. ISBN   978-9781677304.
  16. Nwabueze, Emeka (2001). Echoes of Madness. Enugu, Nigeria: Abic Publishers. ISBN   9799780221590.
  17. Nwabueze, Emeka (2003). A Parliament of Vultures. Virginia, United States: Alexander Street Press. ISBN   9789780221577.
  18. Nwabueze, Emeka (2005). When the arrow rebounds : (a dramatized recreation of Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God). Enugu, Nigeria: Abic Publishers. ISBN   9780220208.
  19. Nwabueze, Emeka (2005). The Dragon's Funeral. Enugu, Nigeria: ABIC Books. ISBN   9789780222031.
  20. Nwabueze, Emeka (2014). Lachrymose. Enugu, Nigeria: ABIC Books. ISBN   9789780220648.
  21. Nwabueze, Emeka (2018). Rainstorm in the Desert. Nigeria: CNC Publications. ISBN   9789785563276.
  22. Nwabueze, Emeka (2011). Studies in Dramatic Literature. Enugu, Nigeria: Abic Publishers. ISBN   9780220933005.
  23. Nwabueze, Emeka (2012). The Polemics of the Dramatic Text. Enugu, Nigeria: Abic Publishers. ISBN   9789780221065.
  24. Nwabueze, Emeka (2021). A Critical Study of Modern African Drama. Nigeria: CNC Publications. ISBN   9789780223243.

Relevant literature

Emeritus Professor
Emeka Nwabueze
Born
Emeka Patrick Nwabueze

(1949-09-23) September 23, 1949 (age 75)
Umubele village, Awka South LGA, Anambra State
NationalityNigerian
Occupations
SpouseDorothy Chinyere Nwabueze (née Mbonu)
Children5
Parent(s)Chief John Nweke Nwabueze and Josephine Nwabueze
Academic background
Alma mater