Protest as Environmental Stewardship

Tess Onwueme masterfully threads together a narrative that transcends the bounds of traditional storytelling, elevating it to a powerful manifesto for change.

Book review written by Abidemi Oguntunji. Jan 2024

Published in 2003, Tess Onwueme’s theatrical masterpiece, What Mama Said, serves as a poignant critique of the dire circumstances prevailing in the Niger Delta region. Against a backdrop of multifaceted exploration, the play weaves together themes of women’s resistance, environmental degradation, militancy, prostitution, unemployment, and political corruption, delving into the intricate fabric of societal maladies. The twelve-part epic narrative unfolds around characters such as Oshimi, River Niger, Imo, and Omi, collectively uniting to confront exploitative leaders and foreign interests, ardently advocating for justice in the vividly depicted Sufferland—a symbolic representation of the beleaguered Niger-Delta community.

Onwueme’s opus marks a departure from the male-centric perspectives characterizing previous depictions of Niger Delta issues, charting a new course by spotlighting the resilience and agency of women in the face of repression, exploitation, and disempowerment. The characters, aptly named after rivers and bodies of water, both significant and diminutive, come to life through emotionally charged scenes, embodying a tumultuous movement for change and a formidable challenge to established norms. The symbolic use of smaller waters represents the youth, dynamically evolving, while the larger bodies symbolize constancy amidst change. Characters like Omi, River Niger, and Oshimi embody the transformative forces that reshape the consciousness of a people grappling with existence and power dynamics. The deliberate name choices underscore the exploitation wrought by oil extraction and reflect the pollution of the region’s water bodies. Language, a potent tool in Onwueme’s hands, also mirrors the Indigenous language of the Niger Delta, imbuing the narrative with authenticity. 

What Mama Said resounds as a rallying cry for women’s liberation and collective protest against the despoliation of the Niger Delta’s environment. Onwueme’s insistence on unity among women as they bear the brunt of the pervasive adverse effects of oil exploration echoes through the play. The clarion call for togetherness permeates the narrative through dramatic techniques, such as songs, reinforcing women’s need to unite in their struggle for a healthier environment. The demand for “resource control” underscores the inseparable link between a flourishing existence and a pristine environment, as the play advocates for a clean, resource-managed landscape that fosters meaningful human activities in the oil-producing region.

Tess Onwueme masterfully threads together a narrative that transcends the bounds of traditional storytelling, elevating it to a powerful manifesto for change. With an unwavering focus on the plight of the Niger Delta, the play serves as a reflector for societal ills and a clarion call for collective action. Onwueme’s brilliant fusion of language, symbolism, and dynamic characters resonates with a pulsating energy that reverberates long after the final act. This theatrical opus challenges prevailing norms and empowers its audience, urging them to join the chorus for justice, unity, and environmental stewardship. What Mama Said is more than a play; it is an impassioned plea for a brighter future and a testament to the transformative power of storytelling in shaping our shared destiny.