Literature-In-English Paper 3 Nov/Dec 2015

Question 3

    FEMI OSOFISAN: Women of Owu

    Justify the attack of the Allied Forces on Owu.


Observation

This was a popular question which many of the candidates answered.  Many of them narrated the incidents of the play, however, only a few could justify the attack of the Allied Forces on Owu.

The required answer should include:

  • Owu has in the past, been blessed by the gods and prospered. With her prosperity, however, she descends into arrogance. For example, Owu goes to war against fellow Yoruba kingdoms; attacks Apomu market and take them as slaves.
  • Owu falls into the habit of selling fellow Yorubas into slavery, much against the age-old taboo that no Yoruba should enslave a fellow Yoruba nor “sell another Yoruba into slavery”.
  • The gods, led by Lawumi, urges the Allied Forces to lay siege to Owu in order to punish her for breaking the taboo, her arrogance and unneighbourly conduct.
  • Maye Okunade, the General of the Allied forces has an axe to grind with Owu. When Owu attacked Apomu market, they took a lot of booty, including men and women. Among them is Iyunloye, his wife who was later married off to the Prince of Owu.
Candidates’ performance in this question was fair.