Fate and Predestination in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are not to Blame

Abstract

Fate and Predestination have turned out to be one of those things human beings do consider in their lifetime. It is believed that in African cosmology that one is a product of his “chi” who serves as his protector, shield and the writer of his fate. This divine being plays a major role in the life every average African man. Having the divine being as the supernatural force over the affairs of man, yet man is given an opportunity to choose his fate. Once the fate of is chosen, it cannot be altered. This is the reason why when someone faces a kind of misfortune or a mishap, people tend to tell him that his “chi” is not actually with him. This work then helps to bring out the roles of this fate and predestination through the play understudy. At times some people tend to change their fate, but no matter what they do, they must end up fulfilling that their predestined fate and that is what the Igbos call “o mere ma chi ekweghi” meaning that the person tried but his personal divine being thwarted his efforts. The theoretical framework used is existentialism which has to do with the absurdity of human life. From the work it is observed that though everyone is created by a Supreme Being, yet we should not overlook the roles of this Supreme Being because whatever it predestines, comes to pass; and failure to abide by its laws might result in disaster.