The Gods are not to Blame: A play

by Ola Rotimi

The theme of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is skillfully transplanted to African soil. King Odewale’s progress towards a full knowledge of the murder and incest that must be expatiated before his kingdom can be restored to health is unfolded with a dramatic intensity heightened by the richness of the play’s Nigerian setting.
The Gods are not to blame was first performed in Nigeria at the Ife Festival of the Arts in 1968, has since been staged with great success across Africa Europe and the USA

Genres: Plays, Nigeria, African Literature, Drama, Africa, Classics, Fiction

87 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Olawale Gladstone Emmanuel Rotimi, best known as Ola Rotimi (13 April 1938 – 18 August 2000), was one of Nigeria's leading playwrights and theatre directors. He has been called "a complete man of the theatre – an actor, director, choreographer and designer – who created performance spaces, influenced by traditional architectural forms."

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember when I read this for my African Literature class in high school. After we had finished reading the book, discussion and analysis were the next things up the list of things to do next. And so we did that. The question which was thrown out to us for dissection by our teacher was: Are the gods to blame?
Now this is the part where I tell you exactly why this book is memorable for me. But first, If you know this book: Oedipus Rex, then you already have an idea of what this story is about, it's implications, the cruelty of it's tragic plot, and amount of debate the question above presents. A boy destined to succeed, to be a king and be great, to kill his father and marry his mother. A boy who would be the author of many tragedies. Did the gods watch in calm amusement as humans tried to undo this monstrous prophecy by decreeing that the boy be killed when he was born? And were they fascinated by the blind confidence of men, and the uselessness of their fumbling schemes as they failed and the boy survived? Did they smile sinister, knowing smiles as the die was cast? I prefer the original from which this story was adapted. Oedipus Rex was one of the books I book-napped from my father's shelves and read as a little girl. I only remember bits and pieces from it. But I love it still.

▶ THE QUESTION WAS "WHY?" THE ANSWER IS...
At the time, I thought(and still think) the title of the book: The Gods Are Not To Blame wasn't an assertive declaration by the author - even if it simply presented itself as such - but rather it was the exact opposite, an open question in disguise, delivered for thought. An atmosphere for doubt and pensiveness. I thought about it(and not for long because I knew what my answer was from the first page to the very last page), and maintained what I saw as the truth long after I had put the book down. My answer was a negative. They were to blame goddamit. They were full of blame, stinking and rotting from it. They decided the fates, and they presented you with a false sense of choiceness, an empty cruel gesture. Daring you to outsmart, thwart, and evade the cunning lord, Kismet.

But we were having a discussion, and like all discussions, contradicting opinions were guaranteed. My closest friend at the time, gave an answer, her opinion, which was in strong opposition to mine. And let me tell you something, that was the year of hormones. I got offended, how could she be so silly? Of course they were to blame! And this led to another question: Are we the writers of our destiny? Do we make our own destiny out of a few choices and nothings, or are we still unwittingly playing into the clammy hands of fate, believing these - the lives we live - are all our crafts? For a while, I refused to be faulted for what came next:

And this:

One word led to many, and many words led to a sentence, then sentences. And before anyone could put the flame out, it turned into a wild, poisonous fire. The whole class was screaming at, and yelling over each other. Needless to say, for a while African Literature class was a silent graveyard only disturbed by the swish-swosh of pens dragging across papers, students robotically taking notes and analyzed thoughts dictated to us by our teacher. If we weren't mature enough to handle a discussion, then there would be no discussion. But nobody agreed to take the fall for that moment of madness. It was the hormones and along with them came pride. Years later, I'm still pondering the same questions. Now, I really don't know now how I feel about this book after going over it again. All I know is people got screwed over and some people in high places were enjoying doing the screwing.

[Adeola]

The Summary of the Gods are to blame is about boy who was born and was fore seen to end up killing his father as to marry his mother,but he wasn't aware of that fact,until he ended up killing his father in a bush part and married his own mother ,then calamity befell the village ,when he became the king and all his children fell sick at the verge of dieing.

[Liz Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so glad this story was set in a period during the Yoruba Kingdom, because this is the sort of thing that I grew up with, as a Cuban, it is a part of every ethnic group's culture, one of the many things that threads us together. Aside this amazing influence, it was basically Oedipus Rex, with some slight changes. Sadly, I prefer Sophocles' writing much more than Ola Rotimi's. Although his adding of an allegory of colonization and decolonization was a nice bonus, and I did love the ending scene and quote: ″the gods have lied″ (which they tend to do a lot in myth)

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

"It is always best to keep your words soft and sweet, you might never know when you'd have to eat them"

Odewale's tragic end might have been saved if only he let go off his pride.

[Uche Stella]

I believe the problem of man is with man himself.The fact that odewale aided the people of kutuje,was not a prove of leadership mandate.The tragedy that befell kutuje people took its turn after the coronation of odewale as king by either Odewale or the people, without consulting the gods.In our days we make same conclusions when we make people who have helped us come through storms as Lord over our affairs.

[Ojo Eunice]

The Gods are not to be blame is a story of a mans fate. king odewale who told will kil his father to marry his mother, in his attempt to run away from this to happen, ran to fulfil it. the gods are not to blame, because they have spoken and it is left for the subject to obey. if Gbonka had killed him in the bush as an infant, the curse would have been averted.

[Omoropo Odunlade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LEARN ONE BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFRICAN TRADITIONAL NORMS AND THAT OF THE WESTERN WORLD WHICH IS AFRICANS BELIEVE THAT ONES DESTINY IS DECIDED BY THE GODS BUT THE WESTERNERS BELIEVE YOU MAKE YOUR OWN DESTINY WHICH I BELIEVE IS TRUE.

[Sadiq]

a very interesting novel, a story of a man who killed his father and married his mother, this is something which does not happen very often.

[Bodosika Bodosika · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Good read!

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like odewales bravery and hot temper.

[Bob Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heerlijke herschrijving van Oedipous Turannos door Ola Rotimi. De setting is verplaatst van het antieke Thebe naar het Yoruba koninkrijk in West-Afrika. De grote lijnen blijven uiteraard hetzelfde (die tragische ironie is hier net zo pijnlijk als bij Sofokles) maar hoe Rotimi de klassieke mythe naar zijn hand zet is fenomenaal.

[Edmund · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Gods Are Not To Blame" is Ola Rotimi's retelling of Sophocles' "Oedipus The King" using a traditional African setting and characters. It was through this book that I first became acquainted with Oedipus' tale. What really stricks me about this book now is the title Rotimi chose.

Rotimi's tale, like that of Sophocles, is about a man's struggle to avert his fate, and unfortunately, in the process, actually helps to bring about its fulfillment. That is why "The Gods Are Not To Blame."

[Victoria]

that we shld not let our temper let us into other bad things that we are going to regret later in the future because it is going to affect us very badly like Odewale's temper lead him to his grave that should not happen to any reasonable humanbeign who have consience.

[Cendy Okana]

Ola Rotimi

[Shafaat Abubakar · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is very interesting i will encourage every one to read it

[Emiliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

What first swims up to the surface of my memory when I remember this novel is "the place where three footpaths met".
A really wonderful read.
Calamity forseen, yet inevitable!

[s4m4nts · Rating 3 out of 5]

crazy how he actually plucked out his own eyes

[mia ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow forgot this was a retelling while reading and was thus agog and really into the story.

[B-right · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my most favorite book in my literature class in High School.
Though it portrays the African Traditions, there is a lot to learn from irrespective of whom you are and where you come from. "Kola nut indeed, last longer in the mouth of the one who cherish it".
- From the book 'The Gods are not to Blame.

[Ama · Rating 4 out of 5]

ola Rotimi's book is very inspiring.i learnt that what we say,do,watch,portray and everything else around us determines our destiny.trully the gods are not to blame for whatever happens.I believe odewale's fate would have been averted if he had stayed with his real parents.

[Paul Lothane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classical tale (play here) transposed onto African soil, as it were. An ending that really breaks one's heart. As usual with Rotimi, the dialogue is colourful, fecund, brimming with camaraderie or even enmity...a superb work.

[Osifade Jide]

i learned that the issue of generation curse is a strong issues

[Alice Taiwo]

D gods re 2 blamed....

[Machieng Chan]

The play is very rich with oral traditions.

[Deprofeci]

reading

[Ifeoma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been a five if not that the ending wrenched my heart.
But beautiful, beautiful twists I didn't see coming.

[Abiodun Feyisetan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great dramas held me captivated

[Mihla Nhlabatsi]

Hi members please help me on this question: You are Ogun priest after you discover that Odewale is the boy that was to be sacrifificed in the evil grove. Write your thoughts.

[Reatile]

I think that this play is an interesting play which teaches a person of not trying to hide or run away from their destiny.

[Benjamin Amoako · Rating 4 out of 5]

A folklore that tells the dire consequences of the slightest neglect of instructions and duty.
A royal child, a prince, foretold by the gods to be the slayer and the bed sharer of his father, witnesses his misery just as it was foretold despite efforts of man to change its course. Can a man run from his fate? Is man only a tool in the hands of the master craftsman, mother nature? Indeed, what must be will always be.

Set in pre-colonial times, in the language and culture of a conservative tribe of Nigeria, the writer through acts and scenes unravelled the tragedy that beheld the royal family of Kutuje village. The first son bore by Queen Ojuola the wife of a mighty king King Adetusa, later to be known as King Odewale, predestined to slay his father and inherit his mother. In human’s quest to terminate this unheard-of abomination in the land, Gbonka the King’s messenger was sent to kill and dispose-off this evil baby in a faraway evil forest, but out of pity and mercy for the innocent child, hands him over to a hunter and his mentee, Ogundele and Alaka respectively charging them never to let the child return to Kutuje village or reveal his identity but fate catching up on man brings Alaka, an old time friend to the doorstep of Odewale after many moons of search, whose revelation became the key to the puzzle he the king sought to solve.

Ola Rotimi’s play, arguably one of the best of the African Writers Series takes the reader through series of lessons to be learnt and I have not missed any that will have an impact on my life. However, out of the lot, the depth of one makes it quite unfair to be classified as equals with the others. It stands out, well to me. The twist of the story. What would have happened if Gbonka did exactly what he was instructed to do, kill the baby? Or perhaps the gods possessed him not to, that they may not be mocked by mortals?

A little familiarity with the ways of a soldier by reason of staying in the barracks for a number of years has exposed me to the consequences, both good and bad of obeying an instruction even before understanding the logic of the action. Discipline and obedience to instructions are primarily what one is trained on during his time of training to join the force and even thereafter within his period of service. They say, “respect and obedience are of the utmost significance in the military as it helps maintain the internal stability and enables the military therefore to carry out its operations in confidence. To join the army is to surrender your reasoning to the man in the rank before you. You obey before complain”.

One way or the other we all have been victims of disobedience and flouting direct instructions just like Gbonka. It may not be to kill a cursed-from-birth child but disobedience to authorities, to systems or even to our responsibilities as private individuals or citizens. Doing what we are not supposed to be doing or not doing what we are supposed to do and this without doubt is the genesis of the financial woes Ghana finds itself. She still goes hand-in-hand to nations and organisations for alleviation from poverty despite being engulfed in raw wealth. The greatest lesson I have learnt and affirmed from this story is to live everyday like a soldier, a good citizen obeying every instruction and abiding by the rules expected of me. Firms like abiding citizens should also report their accurate financials and pay their taxes accordingly. In times of difficulties when their services are needed for national assignments, money should not be option weighed against patriotism. As a nation, much we can do to ourselves is to abide by own rules and live it to the latter.