Q 2 Can the subaltern speak?

The concept "Can the Subaltern Speak?" was introduced by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak in her
1988 essay. It questions whether the subaltern, or marginalized groups, can express themselves
and be heard within dominant power structures. It argues that the global division of labor and
capitalism's "worlding" of the world are major obstacles to the subaltern (marginalized groups)
being heard . The essay also explores the historical and ideological factors that prevent the
subaltern from being heard, and the implications of this for political subjectivity and human
rights .

Relation to "A Dance of the Forest"

The play is an allegory for the political condition of post-colonial Africa and criticizes the
Nigerian government . The play also resists the nationalistic notion of a historical or future
"Golden Age" in Nigerian history . The author, Wole Soyinka, was also against the Negritude
movement, which glorified pre-colonial Africa.
In "A Dance of the Forests," the subaltern characters include the Dead Man and Woman, Aroni,
Murete, Eshuoro, Ogun, Oremole, Demoke, Rola (Madame Tortoise), Agboreko, Adenebi and
Obaneji.
The play amplifies their struggles and resistances, challenging dominant narratives and power
structures.
Through play subaltern are given voices through different characters. These characters and
entities represent the subaltern voices that are silenced, marginalized, and oppressed by the
dominant powers.
It depicts how the marginalized and oppressed like dead woman and dead man are silenced. It
highlights the erasure of the subaltern from history and the need for remembrance and
recognition.
These characters are from the lower rungs of society, and their stories are told l. The Dead Man
and Woman are the protagonists of the story, and their story is told through flashbacks and the
Dance of the Dead. Aroni, the one-legged forest spirit, summons the dead to confront the living
who wronged them. Murete, a tree demon, provides expository information, while Eshuoro, an
unsettled forest spirit, seeks revenge on Demoke, the master woodworker. Demoke's patron god,
Ogun, fights with Eshuoro to protect Demoke. Oremole, Demoke's apprentice, was murdered by
Demoke out of jealousy. Rola, a local prostitute, is revealed to be Madame Tortoise, the evil wife
of Mata Kharibu, who ordered the Dead Woman's execution. Agboreko, a messenger and
soothsayer, summons the dead, while Adenebi, an orator, bears witness to the suffering of others.
Obaneji, the mysterious office clerk, is revealed to be the human form of the Forest Head, the
ruler of all forest spirits. The characters speak through their actions, and their stories are woven
together to form the narrative .

These characters illustrate the struggles of the subaltern to assert their voices, preserve their
cultural heritage, and resist dominant forces that seek to marginalize and oppress them. They
highlight the importance of memory, remembrance, and the reclaiming of cultural identity, and
emphasize the need for self-determination and autonomy.