Friday 28 September 2012

Greg Mbajiogu’s Wake Up call: A Theaterical wand against Climatic Change…


Greg Mbajiogu’s Wake Up call: A Theaterical wand against Climatic Change…



on FEBRUARY 10, 2011 · in THE ARTS
12:03 am
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By Chidi Nwankwo
The playwright, Greg Mbajiorgu, Senior lecturer in Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka wrote Wake up as a guest dramatist to African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS), Nairobi. He was commissioned to produce this climate change adaptation advocacy drama for the International Conference on Africa’s Response to Global Challenge through Science Technology and Innovation.

Prof. Ukwu i. ukwu and Playwrigth, Greg Mbajiogu
Wake up which thematizes the nexus of climate change, global economic crises, and poverty was presented as command performance at Nicon Luxery Hotel, Abuja, in 2009.
The play,Wake up is an ebullient dance in the jungle universe of creative writing. It is a bold volume which immediately establishes the author as a unique artist among contemporary African playwrights.

Dramatising climate change


Dramatising climate change

Greg Mbajiorgu
Lecturer and actor, Greg Mbajiorgu, deploys theatre to the cause of climate change, writes AKEEM LASISI
 Solo performer and Senior Lecturer, Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Greg Mbajoirgu, has stepped up his interest in environmental drama. His new play, Wake up Everyone, which centres on challenges of climate change, was recently staged in the university.
On why he dedicates a drama text to the subject, Mbajiorgu says more than any other media of artistic expression, drama and theatre provide society access to a truthful recreation of both the adverse effects of climate change and its consequences on human lives and even on our ecosystem.   
He notes, “Through the vicarious platforms of theatre we experience these human conditions not directly but by way of witnessing the experience of other persons. Thus drama and theatre afford us the rare opportunity of gaining both practical and in-depth experience of the consequences of man’s ecological irresponsiblity in a pleasurable    and extra-ordinarily empathetic manner.”

Homecoming for The prime minister’s son


Homecoming for The prime minister’s son


Greg Mbajiorgu, presenting copies of the book to Cross Rivers state Coordinator, Engr. Nkereke Ibangha, with Prof Kalu Uka,Obi Okoli and Denja Abdullahi
It was a day full of reminiscences and power-packed emotions as soloist and monodrama exponent, Greg Mbajiorgu, took time off the annual conference of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artist (SONTA) in University of Calabar to re-visit the premises of the State Secretariat of The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) where he conceived, wrote and premiered his enigmatic solo artist play The Prime Minister’s Son 21 years ago.

Thursday 6 September 2012

Wake Up Everyone

Wake Up Everyone, by Greg Mbagiorgu, 
Kraft Books Ltd, Ibadan, 2011. Pp 79
By CHIDI ONAH 

In April 2008, Elizabeth Kolbert did a series of articles for The New Yorker about climate change and environmental degradation. In one of her articles, she told an interesting story about some of the effects humanity is already experiencing from global warming and environmental degradation. 

 In his inaugural speech on November 28, 2008, President Barack Obama of the United States of America observed that the two greatest wars staring humanity on the face are a climate in peril and the worst financial crisis in the history of the century. Given the pressures and problems before developing worlds, little or no attention is given to issues about environment. 

 In developing climes, the subject has received tremendous attention. Attention in this respect is not just in beautiful policy statements but in pragmatic, practical and pro-active steps and programmes that are geared towards curbing the menace of global warming, climate and environmental disasters. Environmental imbalance and upsets have been with man but Nigeria nay Africa is just coming to the consciousness that the menace deserves receiving our attention. Scholars and writers too have been forthcoming in putting their ink on paper to write about the perils and raise consciousness on how to ameliorate them.