Journal of Development Communication And Applied Theatre

The study interrogates the crisis of leadership and the pervasive culture of irresponsible governance in postcolonial Africa through a critical examination of Julie Okoh's Throes of Leadership. Situated within Postcolonial and Marxist theoretical frameworks, the research explores how Julie Okoh dramatizes the disintegration of ethical leadership and exposes the socio-political contradictions that underpin postcolonial governance structure, this research critiques the narcissistic proclivities of political elites and the disquieting complacency of the masses amid systemic collapse. Through a deconstruction of the play's dramatic structure, character interplay, thematic configurations, this research demonstrates how Throes of Leadership operates not only as a reflective commentary on Nigeria’s is political malaise but also as a penetrating critique of the broader patterns of leadership failure across Africa. The play accentuates the tragic paradox of leadership as both a beacon of hope and an agent of ruin a platform envisioned for transformation that has degenerated into a tool of oppression and moral decay. Moreover, this study examines how the apathy and passivity of the governed facilitate the entrenchment of corrupt and ineffectual leadership. At its core, this study underscores the indispensable function of literature in unmasking socio-political decay and promoting civic awareness and responsible leadership across Africa.

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