DRAMA AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE IN S.N.A AGORO’S SOMETHING TO DIE FOR

Abstract

Drama has long served as a medium through which societies interrogate dominant ideologies, challenge oppressive traditions, and advocate social transformation. While existing scholarship has extensively examined the social functions of African drama, limited scholarly attention has been devoted to the representation of social change in S.N.A. Agoro's Something to Die For. This article therefore examines how Agoro employs dramatic conflict, characterisation, and dialogue to critique discriminatory cultural practices and promote social reform within the Epie cultural setting. The study adopts a qualitative literary research design based on textual analysis of the selected play, complemented by the consultation of relevant books, journal articles, and other secondary sources. Drawing on close textual analysis, the study argues that the playwright constructs drama not merely as a vehicle for entertainment but as an instrument for confronting entrenched cultural prejudices, particularly the stigmatisation and social exclusion associated with individuals from leprous lineages. Through the experiences of Tokieme and Asueme, the play demonstrates that love, courage, and individual resistance can challenge inherited traditions that undermine human dignity and social justice. The study further establishes that Agoro presents drama as a catalyst for critical reflection and social transformation by encouraging audiences to question obsolete customs and embrace more inclusive social values. It concludes that Something to Die For reinforces the enduring role of African drama as a powerful agent of cultural reformation, social consciousness, and progressive societal development.