Journal of Development Communication And Applied Theatre

This paper offers an ecocritical interrogation of Hard Ground by Ahmed Yerima, situating the play within contemporary environmental discourse in Nigeria and extending its relevance to Plateau State. The paper is anchored on the premise that dramatic literature serves as a critical medium for articulating ecological crises and interrogating the socio-political structures that sustain them. The objectives of the study are threefold: to examine the representation of environmental degradation in Hard Ground; to analyze the relationship between ecological crisis and socio-political instability; and to establish the play's relevance to environmental challenges in Plateau State. The study adopts an ecocritical theoretical framework and employs qualitative textual analysis. Primary data is derived from the dramatic text, while secondary data is drawn from recent scholarly works in ecocriticism, African theatre, and environmental humanities. The methodology is interpretative and analytical, allowing for a contextual reading of environmental representation in drama. Findings reveal that Hard Ground foregrounds ecological devastation— manifested through oil spills, water contamination, and loss of livelihoods—as a catalyst for social unrest and militancy in the Niger Delta. The study further demonstrates that these environmental anxieties resonate strongly with the realities of Plateau State, where issues such as deforestation, overgrazing, poor sanitation, and abandoned mining sites continue to threaten ecological sustainability and human survival. The play thus transcends its geographical setting, functioning as a national allegory of environmental crisis. The study concludes that theatre remains a potent instrument for environmental advocacy and social transformation. It recommends integrating ecodramatic texts into environmental policy discourse and community-based awareness programmes to promote sustainable development.

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