Africa was not an isolated continent and had contact with explorers and traders from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for millennia before formal colonial governments were established by the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. It was then that Africa was formally divided among twelve European nations, based on their resources and politics. Though each country ruled their colonies differently, colonialism is a structure that oppressed Africans on their own soil and disregarded millennia of cultures and kingdoms. Innumerable artistic practices were lost as a result of colonialism, but the exchange also brought artistic variations to long-established traditions.
The British governed Nigeria by a system called indirect rule, in which they were concerned with the economy, education, and the enforcement of laws, but left the day-to-day issues to locally appointed Nigerians. Colonial officers were often assigned with little training in the cultures and customs of the people where they were stationed, making their behavior the subject of local satirical plays and social commentary. This figure is easily recognizable as a colonial officer in his uniform and is also a puppet used in Ekonplays. On a seven-year cycle, the Anang Ibibio men’s Ekon drama society in southeast Nigeria created public performances that were not only entertaining, but also allowed them to communicate social and political messages. In this case, they are revealing the hypocritical paradox that the officers who are trying to enforce the law and stamp out corruption are the very same officers who are holding out their hand demanding a monetary bribe.
