Since then, there has been a plea for the bestowal of knowledge and understanding upon our young men and women. Because only then can they grow in love and honesty. Teaching our youths the truth to know can never be overestimated as it is key to a nation’s power, prosperity and progress. youths can be helped to grow in the knowledge of truth but first, what is truth?

Truth is an incontestable proposition, principle or certainty; the adherence with reality or factuality. Truth can be relative according to one’s perspective but then truth is always absolute.

Most times what we see as truth can be an illusion just as a straight ruler seems bended in water.

There is truth and there is the truth to know.

Therefore, truth must be unlearnt and relearnt as it is an essential ingredient for many amongst which we will discuss two.

Leadership

Leadership is about knowing the truth.

It is important for leaders to be truthful about reality so they can work as a team to resolve the problem. When people know what is ongoing, they are more than in the know to do their part because they understand why it needs to be done.

There are fundamental truths to know that are key to personal leadership and metamorphosing into an efficacious figurehead .

Truth that Leadership is a concern of First, the Heart: Leaders should be in love with the mission they are serving.

The Truth that you are the Distinction: In leading others, you must first lead yourself and ensure that you have a positive impact on yourself before others. It all begins with you believing in yourself.

The Truth that Obstacles are the Stepping Stone to Eminence: Leaders who live by example are always linked with disrupting the status quo. Substantial attainment does not come to fruition when things are kept the same. Change in other words implies challenge, and challenges put you to test. It ushers you face to face with your degree of your dedication, your principles, and your toughness.

The truth that the Foundation of Leadership is integrity: Believing in yourself is amazing but others have to have confidence in you, too.

The truth that Commitment is Driven by Principles: People want to know what you rely on, stand for and believe in.

The truth Of Fixating on the Future: A defining competence of leaders, is the ability to envisage and expect exhilarating possibilities.

The truth that It Cannot be Done All by Yourself: No leader ever got anything remarkable achieved without the skills and support from others. Leadership is all about teamwork .

The truth of Trust: If you can not do it alone it then means you have to depend on others. Trust is the communal glue that binds individuals and groups together. The degree of trust others have in you will dictate the volume of impact you have. You have to attain trust but before you can receive trust, you need to give trust first.

The truth that Leading Starts with Leading by Example: Leaders must become role models for the principles and deeds they embrace. A leader must be willing to accept their errors and learn from them.

The truth that The Best Leaders are the Best Learners

Finally, The truth of humility which could be the foundation of all other truths.

Studies have shown that humility is one of the most important characteristics of successful leaders. A leadership expert wrote in Forbes magazine and I quote “humble leaders listen more effectively and inspire great teamwork.

It is also worthy to note that demographic dividend will be birthed when we know the truth.

Demographic dividend is the hastened economic growth that may be the outcome from a turn down in a country’s birth and death charge and the ensuing substitute in the age formation of the population.

To realize a demographic dividend, a country must live through a demographic transition which is a move from high fertility and mortality to low fertility and mortality. Mortality generally reduces as child survival charges improve, basically because of enhanced health and sanitation standards.

The demographic dividend is the economic growth prospect that can result from moving in a population’s age formation, basically when the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population (14 and younger, and 65 and older).

The prospects for economic benefits can be enormous, provided the right policies are in place and investments in human capital, particularly among young people, are solid and tactical.

We have long been in bondage and only the Truth can and shall set us free; free from economic turmoil, free from disaster, free from ourselves.

Knowing the truth is an important aspect in a nation’s speedy growth and the youths are first in line to be taught this truth. The leaders of tomorrow, NOO…the leaders of today, of now; because tomorrow will never come.

So dear God of creation, direct our noble cause, guide our leaders right and above all, help our youths the truth to know..

Thank you

Characters are the vehicle through which the playwright transports his message to his readers. They are the powerhouse between the playwright and his audience. Some of the characters in Drugga include: Iviki, Wozi, Ikadiye, Solonga, Kuchi, Tote, Itoe, Pade, Papa, and Koto.

Iviki

Ivikilise is the first and only son of the late Drugga. He is referred to as Iviki, he is the protagonist in the play who is antagonized by the Elders for refusing to succeed after his father as the new Drugga. The elders see him as weak and foolish. His new religion makes him an enemy to his tradition to the extent he swears enmity with his father. He is strong-willed, hot-tempered, ignorant, conservative, civilized, principled and courageous, he is so into his new religion that he is ready to do anything to take his hands off his tradition. This is revealed in his conversation with the Elders.

IKADIYE: tie the red cloth, and be free of all relationship with our bad sinful ritual ways forever. Ad your god can have you.

KOTO: The masquerade will leave your house forever just the way you want it.

IVIKI: Hallelujah!

IKADIYE: Do you agree?

IVIKI: I shall see my father, even speak with him? And the masquerade will leave our house forever. And no one shall force me to become the Drugga?

ELDERS: Yes.

The above conversation reveals that iviki is so bent on taking his hands off his tradition.

Wozi

Wozilim referred to as Wozi is the sister to the late Drugga and the mother to Kuchi. She is also like a mother to Iviki and Tote. At first, she is among the Elders that antagonizes Iviki and plays a major role in their scheme. She is the Tragic victim of the play. The Elders see her as a pawn for their plan as they enthrone her as the new village mother. She is a victim of their tradition, as evident in the dialogue below.

WOZI: No, he is here. For thirty-five years, this bowl has been dry. Modu’s blood filled it last … Itoe’s blood fills it now.

TOTE: (Lets out a wild scream.) My baby … who would be the father now?

WOZI: Mine was brought up by the village. We are the breeders, and they, the takers. (45).

Wozi is fearless although her belief in tradition makes her weak. Towards the end, she realizes her mistakes and how she is a pawn in it all.

WOZI: I beg you… I was a pawn in this evil game of death, too. I was born and soaked into it… (54/55).

Wozi takes a bold step by returning the bribe she collects and tries to stop Iviki.

WOZI: Pack your things and your friends and leave this village tonight.

IVIKI: Tonight? To where? Do you know what time of the night it is? And right now I have my friends, over thirty of them, scared, hurt from bee bites; they will not step a foot outside until tomorrow morning.

WOZI: Then don’t tie the red cloth on the Izongeli in the morning. (42).

Wozi does not just realize she has been played, she also tries to make amend

Ikadiye, Solonga, Pade, Papa and Koto

These men make up the Elders conclave led by Ikadiye. They are the antagonists. Pade gives Itoe the kolanut. Papa covers for Ikadiye when Iviki storms to his house to demand his father’s body. Solonga is the mediator between them and the gods. They collectively work together towards their plan.

IKADIYE: The night is set, the ancestors are ready to accept the spirit of the late Drugga. Solonga, what do the gods say?

SOLONGA: They are ready to accept him.

IKADIYE: Are the Elders ready to actuate the process of the installation of the new Drugga?

PADE: My job is to lure the lamb to the slab … we have found one.

IKADIYE: Good. Is the new Drugga aware of the honour to be bestowed on him?

KOTO: No. he has put his faith in a god different from ours. But the noose dangles. It will be done. (7).

The above dialogue reveals the beginning of their plan.

Kuchi

Kuchi is son to Wozi and cousin to Iviki and Tote. He gets the task to carve the masquerade mask which he thinks is his breakthrough. He is stubborn, selfish and gullible. He places his hope in whatever Solonga tells him. Iviki sees him as lazy and the Elders see him as foolish. His hot-temper gets the worst of him as he threatens to kill his mother for lying about his father and accusing her of being a part of the Elders and their scheme. His temper also makes him kill Ikadiye and Solonga. This can be seen in the below dialogue

KUCHI: I killed them mother.

IVIKI: Blood of Jesus

KUCHI: No, this is the blood of the messenger of the devil

Himself. Solonga and Ikadiye. (50).

Kuchi is also the youth leader and knows the village very well. This can be seen below.

WOZI: No. You are family … Kuchi knows the tip of every stony rock, hill and mountain of the village. He has climbed out of the valley a million times. Pull him closer, son … (9).

Kuchi is a victim of tradition. He was a fetus in wozi’s womb when she lost her husband whoose blood filled up the calabash before itoe’s. Leaving kuchi to grow up without the love of a father.

Tote

Tote is daughter to the late Drugga and sister to Iviki. She is Itoe’s lover who gets pregnant for him. She is brave, fearless and strong. Tote is to follow in the paths of Wozi as evident in Itoe’s blood filling the calabash which Wozi’s lover filled last. She falls victim of the Elder’s game which shatters her and leaves her hopeless. This is evident below.

TOTE: The gash is too deep, mother. My heart bleeds … they have stripped me, mother. They have killed me before my time. (46).

The thought of raising her child without its father shatters itoe.

Itoe

Itoe is Tote’s lover, a teacher and one who brings down the calabash of the late Drugga who accepts him as a son. He is a calm and a gentle man who stands by Tote and helps her bear the burden of her father’s death. He dies after eating the kolanut Pade gives to him. He is a man of his words and his love for Tote knows no bound. His love is evident in the dialogue below.

PADE: That was why you refused to marry my daughter even after I told you that you could take her for free, without a bride price or even a shilling for expenses.

ITOE: Yes. I am sorry, father. I had sworn to myself right from an early age to marry a woman I love, till death. (11).

Pade’s lines above also show that Itoe is a responsible man every father would want for his daughter.