The Journey Motif in Butakean Dramaturgy: Lessons for the Developing World

This paper seeks to demonstrate in what perspectives the plays of Cameroonian prolific literary baobab, Bole Butake, could be relevant not only to his ancestral territory but also to continental and transoceanic geopolitical realms. Among several plausible matrixes, it examines the journey motif in his nine published plays, two collections of plays, two adaptations for cinema and stage performances to underscore salient beyond-border migratory phenomena characteristic of his craftsmanship. Taking Thomas Sebeok’s global semiotics, Sanders Peirce’s triads and Jack Child’s pansemiotics into account, the paper adopts as approaches theasemiotics and cinesemiotics in the critical study of the key constituents of paratextuality, dramatic composition, and performance features in Butake’s plays. Through this endeavour, the paper establishes a reliable continuum among different plays by the same author; it highlights the much acceptable taxonomy of Butakean drama as well as enkindles interest in the art world on Butake’s invaluable input to the definition and edifice of African dramaturgy – a dramaturgy that is simultaneously committed, functional and educative for a universal readership and audience

Keywords: Dramaturgy, signs, theatre, drama, theasemiotics, cinesemiotics, semiotics.