AN ANALYSIS OF “FAFARHIE” COMMUNITY THEATRE PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT

This study experimented with the community theatre variant of theatre for development (TfD) as alternative and perhaps more effective communication strategy to stem the tide of rising illegal migration among Nigerians. The project entitled “FaFarhie” was designed to achieve this objective. To measure the impact of the strategy on its audience, the study deployed the survey method of research for the collection of its data. The area of the study consisted the New Benin Market, Uselu Market (between December 3rd and 6th, 2022) and the University of Benin Ekenwan campus on the 11th of May 2023. The New Benin and Uselu productions targeted members of the external community while the Ekenwan Campus project targeted the University of Benin students, a demographic that has shown a propensity for illegal migration in recent years. 250 respondents were sampled and results showed, among other things, that despite a high level of awareness and knowledge of the adverse effects of illegal migration on both Nigerians and the Nigerian society, a significant percentage of the respondents still demonstrated a strong predisposition towards illegal migration. Against this backdrop, the study recommended that community theatre should be further deployed to first ascertain the major pulling factors that make the people strongly predisposed to illegal migration despite the risk involved. Such an understanding, it is hoped, will aid the evolvement of stronger policy frameworks and administrative strategies that will help mitigate the problem.