GAPS IN COMMUNITY BASED RESEARCH; A STUDY OF SELECTED UNIZIK TfD PROJECTS

Abstract

Suffice it to say that Theatre for Development projects has continued to contribute to ongoing discourses on the socio-economic fabric of human vis a vis communal existence. Indeed, as an ideological construct within the performing arts, TfD possesses qualitative potentials through diverse methodological approaches to engage members of society directly in the development agenda. This, amongst others provides a spectrum for various stakeholders to engage in an intellectual as well as practical "reversal of roles" which could propel a process of concientization and mobilization of needed action in addressing shared realities. The part, thus, played by development agents becomes imperative in bridging certain gaps before, during and after Applied theatre projects as well as in providing balanced thematic material so as stimulate development-driven responses from the host communities. The study adopts the qualitative research method: two TfD projects provide as primary sources of data. The researchers also relied on textbooks, journals and other library sources. The study also involves participant observation of the subjects of research for objective interpretation and analysis. The study evaluates two TfD projects carried out by 300 level students of the Department of Theatre and Film studies; namely: “Nke onye metara Oburu†and “Ugwo Oruâ€. The study finds that the indispensability of adequate community-based research to the success of TfD workshops in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized and as such should form a crucial component to the theory and practice of TfD in Nigeria and beyond.