COMEDY AS A TOOL FOR REFLECTING NIGERIA'S SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITIES: AN ANALYSIS OF ZULU SOFOLA'S THE WIZARD OF LAW

This study examined comedy, with a focus on its manifestation in Zulu Sofola's The Wizard of Law as a case study. It investigated how Nigerian playwrights, particularly Sofola, captured the socio-economic pressures that characterize the nation. The study adopted a qualitative methodology, employing content analysis to examine critical issues and the realities of Nigerian society. The research was guided by Herbert Spencer's Relief Theory and found that comedy is a relevant genre that goes beyond mere entertainment. Comedy reflects socio-political and economic realities, providing both amusement and critical insight. The study concludes that plays like Sofola’s The Wizard of Law are important for promoting awareness and positive social change. It recommends that such plays be televised so that those whose behaviours are satirized can see that their actions are publicly recognized.