There is no established literary tradition of writing long plays on the Ifá oracle in a Shakespearean style. While the rich oral tradition of the Ifá corpus has inspired modern playwrights like Ola Rotimi, who used Ifá divination in his play The Gods Are Not to Blame (an adaptation of Oedipus Rex), these works are not typically written in Shakespearean English or dramatic structure.
Here is a list of potential plays that blend the thematic depth of Ifá with the linguistic style (blank verse, archaic diction) and structural elements (five-act structure, soliloquies) of the Shakespearean tradition:
Twenty Ifá Oracle Plays in the Shakespearean Tradition
Tragedies
Focusing on human frailty, destiny, and the consequences of ignoring divine counsel.
The Tragedy of King Ogbè’s Folly
Synopsis: A proud king, given a dire warning by the Babaláwo (priest) through the Ogbè Odu (sign) about a hidden betrayal within his court, dismisses the prophecy as mere superstition. His willful ignorance allows a jealous half-brother to usurp the throne, leading to war, the king's tragic downfall, and the kingdom's ruin. The play explores the theme of predestination versus free will.
The Moor of Òwu: An Ìrosùn Tale
Synopsis: A valiant general of a city-state, a man of noble standing, is swayed by the insidious whispers of his ensign. The ensign manipulates an ambiguous Ifá divination (Ìrosùn) to convince the general that his loyal wife is unfaithful, leading to a jealous rage, murder, and the general's eventual, devastating realization of his folly and suicide.
Òfún-Mèjì; or, The Sovereign's Shadow
Synopsis: A righteous ruler struggles with the moral weight of leadership after the Òfún-Mèjì sign portends a great pestilence unless a specific, seemingly unjust, sacrifice is made. The ruler's internal conflict and ultimate choice—sparing an innocent individual and thereby condemning the kingdom—mirror the profound ethical dilemmas found in Hamlet or King Lear.
The Life and Death of Prince Òyèkú
Synopsis: A young prince, burdened by the ghost of his father and the pronouncements of the Òyèkú Odu regarding a usurpation, delays his revenge. His overthinking and philosophical musings lead to a series of mistaken identities, madness, and a climactic duel that leaves the stage littered with the bodies of the noble and the damned.
The Merchant of Ìwo
Synopsis: A wealthy merchant, needing funds for a friend, makes a pact with a conniving moneylender. The bond's condition is an ounce of the merchant's flesh if repayment fails, a fate foreseen by the oracle but ignored. The play culminates in a tense trial scene where a wise female judge, citing Ifá philosophy, saves the merchant through clever interpretation of the bond's exact words.
The Tempest of Ògúndá
Synopsis: A banished duke, using the esoteric knowledge granted by the Ògúndá sign, controls the elements and spirits on a mystical island. He orchestrates a tempest to shipwreck his usurping brother and their retinue, ultimately leading to a confrontation, forgiveness, and the duke's choice to abandon his magical powers and return to his rightful place.
Macbètì: The Curse of the Three Witches
Synopsis: A brave general encounters three priestesses (witches) who prophesy his rise to kingship. Driven by ambition and his wife's urging, he commits regicide. The Ifá oracle condemns his actions, and his reign is one of paranoia, bloodshed, and ultimate defeat, illustrating the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition.
Comedies & Romances
Featuring mistaken identity, clever servants, journeys, and divine intervention leading to harmonious resolution.
A Midsummer Night’s Divination
Synopsis: Two pairs of lovers, in an enchanted forest on the eve of a major festival, have their romantic entanglements and mistaken affections manipulated by forest spirits and the trickster Orisha Eshu, all under the guiding hand of the Ifá wisdom that eventually restores order and leads to multiple marriages.
Twelfth Night; or, What the Oracle Wills
Synopsis: A woman, shipwrecked and believing her brother dead, disguises herself as a man to serve a local duke. A series of comedic mix-ups involving love triangles and a pompous steward ensues, all resolved when the oracle is consulted at the play's climax, revealing identities and leading to harmonious pairings.
As You Like It in the Forest of Ìpetè
Synopsis: Banished characters find refuge in the idyllic Forest of Ìpetè. The oracle's wisdom is found not in a temple but in nature and the simple life. The play involves cross-dressing, pastoral poetry, and a divinely guided reunion of families and lovers.
The Taming of the Shrewd Bàbá
Synopsis: A wealthy man with two daughters struggles to marry off the elder, who is known for her fiery temper and disrespect for tradition. A bold suitor, guided by the Òsé Odu (which speaks of bringing sweetness to a bitter situation), attempts to "tame" her, resulting in a witty battle of the sexes and a surprising mutual respect.
The Comedy of Errors at Ile-Ifè
Synopsis: Two sets of identical twins, separated in infancy, unknowingly converge on the sacred city of Ile-Ifè. A series of comical misunderstandings, false accusations, and beatings leads to chaos until the chief Babaláwo consults the oracle, revealing their shared history and reuniting the families.
Much Ado About the Opele Chain
Synopsis: Two couples navigate love and deception. The central conflict arises from a plot to ruin one bride's reputation, overheard by a bumbling constable. The oracle's simple wisdom eventually exposes the treachery, allowing for a joyful, dance-filled resolution.
All’s Well That Ends in Ìwòrì
Synopsis: A low-born woman, in love with a nobleman who scorns her, uses the guidance of the Ìwòrì Odu and her wit to overcome seemingly impossible tasks set by the nobleman's family. Her perseverance and cleverness ultimately win his respect and affection.
History & Problem Plays
Exploring leadership, political turmoil, and the complex nature of justice.
Henry the Fifth and the Battle of Ògún
Synopsis: A young, newly crowned king must prove his mettle as a leader when facing a rival kingdom's invasion. Consulting the warrior deity Ògún through the Ifá oracle, he leads his troops to a decisive victory, a historical drama detailing the trials of kingship and martial strength.
Richard the Second’s Fall
Synopsis: A weak, self-indulgent king, who disregards the counsel of the elders and the oracle, is challenged by his capable cousin. The Ifá oracle justifies the cousin's claim, leading to the king's deposition and a study of the divine right of kingship versus competent rule.
Measure for Measure, the Oracle’s Way
Synopsis: A duke leaves his strict deputy in charge, who enforces an old, harsh law, condemning a man to death for fornication. The man's sister pleads for his life, leading to a moral dilemma and a complex exploration of justice, mercy, and hypocrisy, all ultimately untangled by the returning duke, who acts as the oracle's agent of balance.
Cymbeline in the Land of the Yoruba
Synopsis: A British king in ancient times clashes with Roman powers. The plot, set in a fictionalized Yoruba kingdom, involves a banished husband, a loyal wife, a villainous schemer, and a powerful Ifá vision that ultimately predicts a time of peace and reunification between the warring cultures.
The Winter’s Tale of Ogbè-Kà
Synopsis: A king, consumed by baseless jealousy, accuses his wife of infidelity, leading to the banishment of his newborn daughter and the death of his son. Sixteen years later, the daughter, raised as a shepherdess, falls in love with a prince. A statue comes to life, and the oracle's wisdom of the Ogbè-Kà Odu helps reconcile the families and heal old wounds.
Titus Andronicus and the Vengeance of Òsun
Synopsis: A Roman general returns victorious to his city but is embroiled in a cycle of vengeance with a captured queen and her sons. The escalating violence and brutality are a dark reflection of societal breakdown. The oracle of the gentle Òsun, goddess of harmony, is ignored until it is too late, offering a grim moral on the destructiveness of endless retribution.
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