The representation of myth in okoiti omtatah's play, lwanda magere

Abstract

This study explores the representation of myth in Okoiti Omtatah’s play, Lwanda Magere, with a focus on characterisation, use of setting and portrayal of tradition. I examine how Omtatah re-creates elements of myth in Luo mythology in the form of a play performed in the context of a contemporary Kenyan and East African situation. The play dramatically retells the story of the heroic Lwanda Magere, a mythic Luo warrior believed to have been until his secrets were revealed by his traitor wife leading to his death in battle. It concludes that Omtatah’s representation of myth in the Lwanda Magere play serves both as a fresh re-telling of the myth and a preservation of Luo cultural heritage and a commentary on contemporary social issues. Overall, I argue, that Omtatah demonstrates that the relevance of myth in African literature continues to grow. The findings show that the play gets its power from blending characterisation, setting and tradition with elements of myth. The study recommends continued research on how myth, especially in terms of gender, influences especially East African creative writers.