Malfunctioning polity, conflicts and victims in Soji Cole's play Embers: Violent rebellion and the agony of the internally displaced

This paper examines Soji Cole’s dramatic portrayal of the atmosphere of agony and predicament that subsist in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Northeast Nigeria in the play Embers. The play relays the disquieting social implications brought about by the rebellion and insurgency, such as the wanton destruction of lives and properties, rapidly growing poverty due to loss of livelihood, and investment halt. By applying the Jungian theory of archetypes, this paper examines the play characters' exhibition of the archetype (shadow), which exemplifies man's moments of inordinate, despicable, and inhumane behaviour. In the end, through the words and actions of the characters, the story indicts the political elite and the Government for failing to avoid the atmosphere leading to insurgency, their inability to end it immediately, and their poor handling of IDP. The play serves as a reminder that poor governance will lead to a socio-economic crisis and inhumane proclivity.